An emotionally charged story that will close your eyes in despair how neglected children can possibly be forgotten.

This story is reminiscent of Lord of the Flies during Covid-19 pandemic. There are a group of delinquent young adults at Hope Juvenile Treatment Center in the Ozarks. One day, the guards don't show up and some of the kids try to escape but are stopped by soldiers posted outside. They don't understand what is happening and why they were left alone and why they are slowly getting sick with respiratory illnesses. They are confronted with deciding who they can trust and determine what actions will keep them alive. They learn that the Center is shut down due to a contagious Black Death Plague; “Y. pestis is a gram-negative bacterium, widely known by the disease it causes: the plague. The plague is known to take three forms: bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic.”
“The world is crumbling all around us, but we have the chance to build something that is ours. A small outpost against the coming storm, where we’re safe and protected, because we’re the ones who secure and protect ourselves.” Some of them decide to plan an escape past the soldiers and others are determined to stay and tend to the very ill. Both options present the risk of being killed by the soldiers or the plague. There are some very unlikeable characters are there always when put in a desperate situation where the "fight, flight or freeze" response kicks in. It's a story of survival, perseverance and humanity.

You ever read a book and it just feels like it’s just a bit too soon? That’s how this felt. Not that it was terrible, just that it felt too soon especially due to the COVID pandemic. Like it was a COVID book without being an exact COVID book; the plague was different, but it just felt too close for comfort.
I enjoyed the excerpts from health organizations and felt like they were important and there should have been more of them, and felt like the twins who spoke in their own sign language just didn’t really fit in.

Overall, it was just okay. I would probably read another book by this author, but the COVID pandemic theme was just not it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"At the End of Everything" by Marieke Nijkamp delivers a powerful and compelling narrative that transcends the typical survival thriller, offering a unique perspective on the resilience of a group of delinquent teens in the face of a global pandemic. Nijkamp crafts a story that is both heart-wrenching and uplifting, exploring themes of isolation, trust, and the innate human desire for connection.

The premise, centered around abandoned teens at the Hope Juvenile Treatment Center grappling with a world succumbing to an infectious disease, is gripping from the start. The ironic naming of the center sets the stage for a thought-provoking exploration of societal neglect, making readers empathize with characters who have been discarded by the world.

Nijkamp's storytelling is both evocative and poignant, drawing readers into the lives of these marginalized teens as they navigate a world that has never wanted them. The author skillfully balances the elements of suspense and emotion, creating a narrative that is not only about survival but also about self-discovery and the strength found in unexpected places.

The character development is a standout aspect of the novel. Each teen is given a distinct voice, allowing readers to connect with their struggles, fears, and aspirations. The group dynamics and the evolution of relationships within the diverse cast feel authentic, adding depth to the narrative.

The exploration of the pandemic's impact on society, coupled with the confined setting of the treatment center, adds a layer of claustrophobia and urgency to the story. As the teens face dwindling supplies and the threat of the deadly plague, the tension rises, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

Nijkamp's prose is both engaging and thought-provoking, prompting readers to reflect on societal injustices and the resilience of the human spirit. The novel's pacing is well-executed, maintaining momentum from start to finish.

I'm not sure why, but it's not giving me the option to not give feedback. Thanks for the opportunity to review this one.

I've read a few by this author and I just don't like the writing style. The characters become all to one dimensional and clichéd. I couldn't get I to this, sorry I can see other people would like it, just not for me

Imagine being trapped in a juvenile treatment center, abandoned and forgotten, as a deadly outbreak ravages the world outside. What if the only way to survive is to stay locked up inside? But what if even that isn't safe enough?

This thrilling apocalyptic tale follows a group of troubled teens as they navigate a world gone mad. After a violent argument breaks out, they discover a shocking truth: a deadly respiratory disease has spread across the state and the country, forcing the government to put everyone on lockdown. Anyone who tries to leave will be shot on sight. Despite some of them thinking the treatment center is the safest option, unexpected events force them to change their minds.

With multiple narrators and non-stop action, this gripping young adult novel kept me on the edge of my seat. I especially loved Grace, a fiery fighter against injustice who struggles to keep her temper in check. The satisfying conclusion left me with a pandemic-sized rush of excitement, earning this book four stars. Huge thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to like/love this book but I struggled through this the whole time. It was interesting that this was is yet another fiction pandemic book written during the coronavirus pandemic still happening.

I wish it had been better

2 stars

This sadly wasn't really my kind of thing but i can say it was well written and I could see how it would appeal to others.

I really wish this book had a better ending - I want to know what happens after everything the kids go through.

"At the End of Everything," by Marieke Nijkamp is a touching story that revolves around a group of young teens in a detention facility, who are left to survive on their own when The Plague breaks out in the United States.

Told from the viewpoint of a number of the teens, the book leads to questions about hope, trust, worthiness, inequality. sacrifice and forgiveness.

I think this would be an excellent book for High-school English classes, university curricula, and of course book clubs.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC.

This book absolutely gutted me. From the first chapter, I was completely pulled into the struggles of the Hope Treatment Center. Both before they were abandoned, and after. I could visualize each scene in my mind, the descriptions were real and engaging. I plan to read more from Marieke Nijkamp as a result!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for sending me a copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

I loved how fast-paced this book was and the way it keeps you on edge from start to finish. It's slightly hard to read as something that hits a little too close to home with the events of the past few years. That's part of the appeal that drags you in and keeps you from looking away. And then there's the love and hope that comes from this story, and I absolutely adored that part.

This book is a story of found family and what lengths people will go to for those that they love. It's a story of changing lives through hope and acceptance, and the fact that it's done through kids who are seen as useless by the world, it hits even harder. There's so much darkness in the world, and this story gives such hope and light to that.

I also really loved the representation! One of the MCs has autism, is nonverbal, and uses sign language. Her story is one of acceptance and love in a world that is against her from the start.

If you're looking for a compelling read that will keep you wrapped up in the suspense until the end, definitely check this out!

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Sourcebooks Fire in exchange for an honest review.

For some reason I thought this was a zombie book but I was wrong. At the End of Everything is a book about a group of young offenders who get abandoned and forgotten once a deadly plague breaks out. They must fight for their own survival and navigate their new situation, which leads to a lot of drama and unpleasant situations.

If I'd known this was just a plague book and not a zombie book, I honestly wouldn't have requested it. This book hangs uncomfortably in the shadow of the pandemic and that made it a very difficult read. The deadly disease is a cough that kills people, and much of the book is just reading about teenagers slowly dying. There is not much outside of death and interpersonal struggles happening, and even the latter is a little sparse. There are a lot of narrating characters at first, and that made it difficult to get to grips with everyone. I understand that you need a lot of characters because most of them will die in a book like this, but I would have rather met them more slowly and had more time to get to grips with each one. The beginning was hard to get into for this reason.

Having said that, the characters are probably the strongest part of this book. I think the plot could have been more strongly emotion-driven as everything is a little distant, as unpleasant as the events which happen are. This is something I've experienced from this author before with previous books, so I guess it's more of a feature than a bug. I also wish we'd gotten a split narrative as one group goes out to try their luck in the outside world, and I think it would have been more interesting to see what happened to them as well rather than just the sad monotony of the institute.

Overall, I think if you enjoy other works by this author and like the sound of the premise, then you should give this a try. For me, there were too many factors which prevented me from enjoying it. It's a very bleak read and a potentially triggering one, so be aware of that too

Overall Rating: 3/5

I will be honest, I have tried 3 times to get through this and I finally managed it by skim reading it and doing a buddy read. Being an absolute fangirl when it comes to Nijkamps other novels, I feel like this one was just pandering to the 'lets write a novel about COVID over COVID' trend and I am sorry to say I am not here for it.

Maybe its the mood I was in while reading, maybe I just need to attempt to forget the plot and read it again in a few years time.

A great read.the characters were interesting and the story was intriguing. Will look out for more by this author.

A tale as old as a pandemic! These kids have no rules, no help and no chance. Survival is the goal. This was a captivating read with a good pace. The building relationships and peoblem solving are unique to these characters and I was finding myself rooting for them!

The book is everything. An emotional ride that leaves you wanting to know more. You just have to read it.

This book had a ton of intrigue that kept me going! I found the storyline a bit too real at times having just experienced the pandemic but it made the fear of it more real. I was engrossed and wanted to keep reading. It had a ton of great representation of queer characters that we don't see often enough so I really appreciated that as well. I would recommend this as a good read for my students!