Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fantasy and real-world violence mix in soaring series start.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Zoe, 17, is still on THE EDGE OF EVERYTHING months after her father died in a caving accident. While she's out trying to find her little brother in a blizzard, she's attacked by a man who claims he knew her father. He also confesses to killing Zoe's neighbors while he was trying to find their hidden store of money. A strange man with magical powers appears, there to collect the murderer's soul and take it back with him to the underworld. But Zoe asks the stranger, whom she calls X, to show mercy and let the bad guy go. From then on, Zoe and X's lives, souls, and worlds will never be the same.
Is It Any Good?
Dark and light, funny and tragic, epic and intimate, real and fantastical, grounded and soaring, this is an amazing first novel. The writing in The Edge of Everything is taut but expressive, and the heroes are likable and easy to relate to. The fantasy world is vividly described and very out of the ordinary. Colorful characters populate both worlds. The pages keep turning thanks to the compelling plot and skillful building of suspense. There's lots of food for thought about compassion, mercy, and forgiveness. And the bittersweet ending will leave readers anxious for the next volume.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the good guys in The Edge of Everything. Who's your favorite character, and what do you like about that person?
Is there too much violence? Does it help the story, or does it seem gratuitous? How much violence is OK in books, on TV shows, in video games, and in other media?
Did you know this is the first in a planned series? What would you like to see happen in the next book? How does it compare with other fantasy series you've read?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Bloomsbury Children's Books
- Publication date : January 31, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 368
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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