The World’s End is the last book in the Misewa Saga and beautiful ending to a fantastic series. Following Morgan and Eli’s journey was a privilege's to witness and I think this should be a Staple for middle grade reading because there is so much value in the messaging.

I can’t say too much of the story because I don’t want spoil it, but there is a moment where Eli says to another character about Morgan where he says “she is fierce, but she isn’t angry anymore” and my heart just melts. Their sibling dynamic through out the six books is so heart warming. Also the family they build in Misewa too. This series embodies the feeling of All our Relations and I think that is beautiful messaging for kids who are trying to find themselves and make connections with the people and communities around them.

I am sad to say goodbye to this series, but I am looking forward to what David has planned next .

This felt like a satisfying end to the middle grade Misewa Saga series (although I have thought that before). There was more fantastical adventures, great found family, Indigenous culture and tradition and characters you can't help rooting for. Good on audio and perfect for fans of The lion, the witch and the wardrobe. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a satisfying end to this saga (is it really the end?). Kids will eat up this fantastical tale of fighting for what’s right, Indigenous ways of being, and connection between two worlds. As unbelievable as the events are, I can readily imagine a class fully enjoying this read aloud by a teacher - the characters, the dialogue! Loved the inclusion of trickster stories too. This is an important series, and I’m so glad this final (really? It’s really the end?) instalment is here. Well done! Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC of this title.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

The World's End by David A. Robertson is a third person-POV Middle Grade fantasy conclusion to the Misewa Saga. Eli creates a portal and enlists the help of James to save one of his friends. In so doing, Eli, Morgan, Katie, and Emily now have to explain what has been happening in Misewa to James while also doing what they can to protect the realm from the people who seek to take it for themselves.

I have not read any of the books in this series before this one. I made a mistake when I requested and thought this was for a brand new series. As such, I went in blind and I think this is definitely not where someone should start. Things are explained, relationships are given labels (such as foster father and grandmother), but it’s so many names so fast because readers should have had five books to get to know these characters. This is a lot like Narnia, but it’s not like Narnia where the books can stand on their own.

While I was missing context for some things, I was able to pick up on how deeply Indigenous this story is and how much care went into it to depict the life of Indigenous Canadians as they are now. Swampy Cree is used throughout and there are references to CFS and how it can destroy Indigenous families. Eli makes a very pointed reference to the colonization of Canada and how it relates to the people now trying to colonize Misewa, highlighting that the pain of generations past hasn’t gone anywhere. There’s also references to the peoples living on Turtle Island today, which help show a young reader that Indigenous people are not a relic of the past nor do they only exist in fantasy.

The integration of Cree beliefs both feels very fresh and very familiar. It’s all tied into the narrative in ways that are going to feel familiar to young readers who are still learning about tropes and archetypes and story structures, but as the names and figures are distinctly Cree, they will be new to any reader who has never encountered them before. This mix is handled very well and feels age appropriate in how it adds humor and action to really sell these unique aspects.

I would recommend this to readers who have read the other Misewa books and readers looking for Middle Grade fantasy that has frank discussions around colonization

“Katie, I didn’t know you were so bada$$!” Emily exclaimed.
“You know I’m a schoolteacher, right?” Katie said, with a smile.

The main message in this sequel is that “interfering with other people’s journeys could have important consequences.” To spotlight this message, Robertson points out that the newcomers to the nation want to colonize after they’ve treated its people badly and overused all its resources. Does this remind you of our own country’s history?

It was good to see the foster parents learn about the portal and the indigenous values of responsibility being taught. I was disappointed with the turn this series took, especially the swearing. It felt as though Robertson went through a ‘hot topics for youth’ list and picked out the top issues to include. It didn’t feel organic from book 5 onwards. It felt more representative. As my niece pointed out, she reads to enter another world and leave the issues from school and the real world behind.

I’m not sure if this is the end of the series or not, but I’m done.

I was gifted this copy by Tundra Book Group and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

The Misewa Saga is one of the most important Canadian series for young people. The final volume does not disappoint. Robertson has skillfully mixed Indigenous stories with fantastic elements and descriptions of young people’s struggles to create a wonderful novel about community, solidarity, and friendship.