Endling #3: The Only
By Mary Eisenhart,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Stirring, triumphant finale to species extinction series.
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What's the Story?
ENDLING #3: THE ONLY finds Byx, the young dairne whose family was murdered in Book 1, joining her friends Tobble (a Wobbyk), humans Khara (aka The Lady) and Renzo (a former thief), panther-like Felivet Gamble, and others in the Army of Peace. Her leader and friend Khara has given her a new mission that will call on skills she didn't know she had (and some of Tobble's, too): persuading the world's other species to join them in opposing two supervillains (one the killer of Byx's family, the other holding a character's children hostage) who are about to clash in a battle that's likely to destroy the world. Ambassador Byx and her faithful BFF travel through scary woods, past piles of bones and other signs of past massacres, under the sea, into the air, beneath the ground, and beyond. They encounter the cultures each species has formed to maintain its way of life and discover that while they may seem strange to outsiders, they make perfect sense to those inside the culture. A lot of eye-opening and mutual understanding ensue; friendship, kindness, and diplomacy will all play an essential role as the Army races against time to avert the destruction of its world.
Is It Any Good?
Katherine Applegate's vivid writing, appealing characters, and ability to look at critical issues from different perspectives make for a thrilling, relatable series finale. Endling #3: The Only finds its cast of characters from multiple intelligent species racing against time to head off a world-destroying clash of villains, building alliances with different species and cultures with respect, kindness, empathy, and problem-solving skills as an antidote to violence -- which is plentiful. En route to the cosmic clash, there are plenty of moments of ordinary joy and discovery:
"Khara touched his check and left her fingers there for what seemed -- to me, at least -- a long time. Renzo bowed his head and for a moment their foreheads touched. It was not the sort of thing a great lady would do with a thief. Nor was it the kind of thing a thief would dare with a great lady.
"'Oh!' I exclaimed, but quietly, so that only Tobble and Gambler heard me.
"'I believe,' Tobble said, looking at Gambler, 'that Byx has just figured something out.'
"Gambler nodded. 'I believe you're right.'
"Both of them seemed amused. Clearly I was the last to see what seemed obvious, now that I thought about it: the Lady and the thief were in love."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Endling #3: The Only concludes the series. Did you find it a satisfying ending?
What do you know about species that have gone extinct, or are facing extinction? What caused them to disappear -- or get close to it?
Have you read any other books by Katherine Applegate? What do you like about them? How do you think the Endling series compares with books like The One and Only Ivan?
How do you like fantasy stories like the Endling series, where non-human characters show traits and behaviors usually associated with humans? Do you find these characters interesting and relatable? Do they add to your understanding of the humans in your life?
Book Details
- Author: Katherine Applegate
- Illustrator: Max Kostenko
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Friendship , Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
- Publication date: March 2, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 304
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: August 4, 2022
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