Izzy at the End of the World

The Last Kids on Earth meets Margaret Peterson Haddix in this middle grade adventure about fourteen-year-old Izzy, an autistic girl surviving the end of the world who must team up with her loveable dog to uncover the hidden truth behind her family and the rest of humanity’s disappearance.

Ever since Izzy Wilder’s mom died, she’s wanted life to feel normal. She plays video games with her little sister, helps her grandparents around the house, and takes care of her best dog, Akka. But losing her mom is far from normal, and for Izzy, who is autistic, it feels like the end of the world.

When mysterious lights flash across the mountains outside Izzy’s house one night, and suddenly everyone except her and Akka seem to have disappeared in an instant, Izzy is more alone than ever. But Izzy is a fighter and she won’t lose anyone else in her family, even if it means battling terrifying gray, ugly monsters and decoding cryptic messages that seem a lot like her mom talking to her from beyond the grave.

In the face of disaster, Izzy and Akka embark on an epic adventure filled with nail-biting suspense, unexpected allies, and life’s greatest mysteries as they uncover the true endurance of the human spirit and save the world.

One girl. Her loyal dog. A world without people.

• Neurodivergent Hero: Fourteen-year-old Izzy is autistic, anxious, and grieving—and she might be the world’s last, best hope.
• Apocalypse With a Dog: With her family gone in a flash of light, Izzy’s only companion is her brave dog, Akka. Together, they must navigate a world that has gone silent.
• Alien Invasion Mystery: Terrifying creatures now roam the Vermont mountains. Izzy has to fight to survive while figuring out who took everyone and why.
• Messages From the Past: A journal and a playlist left by her mom contain cryptic clues that could be the key to saving humanity—or could lead her into an even greater danger.

“Both heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time, this story has grief, love, and acceptance in its center, encased in an alien adventure that us impossible to put down!” - Beth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Rebel Rising

“There are so many fitting adjectives for Izzy at the End of the World. Heartfelt and humorous are two that will likely spring to mind for many young readers, but I think a third is also true and deeply important: healing. That K.A. Reynolds is able to balance all three elements alongside a truly loveable protagonist, genuine voice and - of course - the end of the world as we know it - once again demonstrates her valuable presence in children's literature as a profound and empathetic storyteller. Beautifully, thoughtfully, lovingly crafted, in a way that will be sure to linger.” - Karuna Riazi, author of The Gauntlet

"Reynolds poignantly explores the complexities of depression and grief." - Kirkus Reviews

"Reynolds twines earth-shattering emotions with a larger-than-life plot, balancing the intensity—including explorations of mental health and suicide—with humor." - Publishers Weekly

"An emotionally powerful novel wrapped up in an action-packed science fiction survival story." - School Library Journal

“With rapid fire pacing this powerful book does not shy away from hard topics like grief and anxiety but instead shines a light on them, showing everyone that the key to facing the hardest truths is to do it with love in your heart. K. A. Reynold proves, once again, that if you listen to what the universe is telling you, you can do anything. Even save the world.” - Ally Malinenko, author of This Appearing House

“Fierce and tender, funny and tenacious, Izzy at the End of the World is the disabled-kids-save-the-world story of my dreams.” - Cindy Baldwin, author of Where the Watermelons Grow

“K.A. Reynolds’s writing grabs you with its magic and holds on tight. You’ll love open-hearted Izzy and her disastrous dog Akka, and you’ll carry their hope and courage with you like an amulet long after you’ve turned the last page.” - Jacqueline West, New York Times bestselling author of The Books of Elsewhere and Long Lost

“In Izzy and Raven, K.A. Reynolds has written the heroes we all need right now. Izzy at the End of the World is a fun, fast-paced sci-fi adventure that's filled to the brim with heart and hope.” - Samantha M Clark, author of Arrow and The Boy, The Boat, and the Beast

“The ones who love us never really leave us, even at the end of the world; Izzy's adventure is like listening to the one song that keeps you believing on repeat.” - Sarah Cannon, author of Oddity

“An action-packed apocalyptic adventure with a beautiful message at its heart, Izzy at the End of the World is both heart-pounding and heart-filling. A book about death that thrums with exuberant life.” - Hayley Chewins, author of The Sisters of Straygarden Place