At the End of Everything
on Goodreads (3,531)
What’s inside...
The Hope Juvenile Treatment Center is ironically named, as no one has hope for the delinquent teenagers exiled there. The guards at Hope start acting strangely and then disappear. When the teens attempt to escape, they find the outside world grappling with a deadly infectious disease, preventing them from leaving. Trapped and unsupervised, they must navigate dwindling supplies and the disease itself, while figuring out who to trust in a world that has always shunned them.
Age
14-18
Length
400 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Grace
Logan
Emerson
Discussion points
How do the characters' responses to adversity in 'At the End of Everything' reflect their personalities?
What role does hope play in the story, and can you think of a time when hope helped you through a difficult situation?
The characters in the book come from different backgrounds. How do you think this affects their decisions and interactions?
What did you learn about teamwork and trust from the story?
If you were in the same situation as the characters, what would you have done differently and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Begin by summarizing the plot with your child to ensure they understand the storyline before diving into deeper discussion.
Relate the themes of the book to your child’s personal experiences to make the conversation more relatable.
Encourage your child to express their opinions and feelings about the book, validating their thoughts to foster an open dialogue.
Use examples from the book to discuss larger life lessons, reinforcing the educational value of reading.
Finish by asking your child how the story could inspire actions or changes in their own life, linking the book to personal growth.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience in adversity
Explanation: The book portrays a group of teens facing extreme challenges while confined in a juvenile detention center during a pandemic. They must learn to collaborate and persist despite the dire circumstances.
Real-World Application: Children can apply the idea of resilience by learning to face their personal challenges, whether they are big or small, with determination and a positive attitude.
Example Lesson: Importance of empathy and understanding
Explanation: Characters in the story come from diverse backgrounds and face various personal struggles, which are explored throughout the book. This diversity helps promote empathy and understanding among them.
Real-World Application: Kids can learn to appreciate and respect differences in others in their community, school, or playgroups, fostering a more inclusive environment.
Example Lesson: Significance of teamwork
Explanation: As the teens in the book must work together to survive, they learn the value of teamwork and mutual support, which is a key theme in the story.
Real-World Application: This lesson can be reflected in group projects or team sports, where cooperation and collective effort are essential for success.
Example Lesson: Making ethical decisions
Explanation: Throughout the book, characters are faced with tough choices that test their morals and ethics. These scenarios highlight the importance of making thoughtful decisions.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to think critically about right and wrong and consider the consequences of their actions both in school and at home.