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About the Book
Bestselling author and Newbery Medalist Applegate launches a new trilogy based on the very real concept of an endling--an animal that is the last living member of its species. With its unique setting, fascinating animal and human characters, and fast-paced adventure, this series is ideal for fans of the Wings of Fire, Warriors, and Spirit Animals series. 5/8.Book Synopsis
A New York Times bestseller from the beloved author of the action-packed Animorphs series and the award-winning The One and Only Ivan. In this first book of an epic middle grade series, Katherine Applegate takes us on an unforgettable journey.
Byx is the youngest member of her dairne pack. Believed to possess remarkable abilities, her mythical doglike species has been hunted to near extinction in the war-torn kingdom of Nedarra.
After her pack is hunted down and killed, Byx fears she may be the last of her species. The Endling. So Byx sets out to find safe haven, and to see if the legends of other hidden dairnes are true.
Along the way, she meets new allies--both animals and humans alike--who each have their own motivations for joining her quest. And although they begin as strangers, they become their own kind of family--one that will ultimately uncover a secret that may threaten every creature in their world.
Building on the success of her critically acclaimed novels The One and Only Ivan, Crenshaw, and Wishtree, while also returning to her action-packed fantasy roots of Animorphs, the Endling series is Katherine Applegate at her finest. With its enthralling characters, unique setting, and gripping adventure, this series is the perfect next read for fans of Rick Riordan, Brian Jacques, and Tui T. Sutherland.
Don't miss the second book in Katherine Applegate's "simply sublime" (Kirkus) epic middle grade animal fantasy trilogy, Endling #2: The First, plus the concluding volume, Endling #3: The Only. Read all three!
From the Back Cover
I REMEMBERED
with a sudden pang, my mother's words the last time we were together: It's never wrong to hope, Byx.
Of course, she'd also said: Unless the truth says otherwise.
Byx is used to being the youngest and the smallest. But for all her life, she's also been part of something bigger--part of a family, part of a pack. Until the terrible day Byx finds herself alone, the last of the dairnes. The endling.
For dairnes, the pack is everything: root and branch, heart and soul. Byx is determined to see if the legends she's heard over the years about others of her kind are true. She sets off on a quest, traveling through the war-torn kingdom of Nedarra. Along the way, she meets new allies who each have their own motivation for joining her: Tobble, the worthy wobbyk; Khara, the girl of many disguises; Renzo, the thief with honor; and Gambler, the principled felivet.
They start as Byx's friends and become her family, and together they uncover a secret that will threaten the existence of not just the dairnes but every other creature in their world.
Review Quotes
★ "A suspenseful, tautly drawn quest."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) ★ "Applegate skillfully builds a fully realized world of intrigue and wonder without ever letting up on the story's quick pace. Themes of genocide, conservation, and magic are interwoven, providing thought-provoking questions for astute readers. A savvy choice for readers of fantasy."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review) ★ "Exemplifies everything youngsters need to know about courage."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Praise for The One and Only Ivan: ★ "Will capture readers' hearts and never let go. A must have."--School Library Journal (starred review) "Endling: The Last blends careful and often lovely prose into a wild, fast-paced fantasy. Readers will fall in love with Byx and race with her through Nedarra, breathless and eager, thinking deeply all the way."--New York Times Book Review ★ "Applegate effortlessly constructs her fantasy world, briskly moving readers through its imaginative details while creating winning, unique characters. This epic series starter is a bracing, propulsive read that will be a challenge to keep on the shelf."--ALA Booklist (starred review) ★ "Animal-loving youngsters and their adults will find plenty of food for thought in Ivan's extraordinary story."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review) ★ "Fantasy lovers are in for a treat with this smartly paced, enthralling adventure. The heart and courage Byx and her companions must find as they stand up against unimaginable odds will inspire and delight. A sweeping fantasy epic that will have readers clamoring for a follow-up."--School Library Journal (starred review) "The first book in a new series, this volume will whet readers' appetites for more of Byx's fascinating world and the next stage of her quest. Give this to lovers of animal fantasies and environmentally minded readers."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books