The Last of Us
Selected for the QI Book of the Year Award, 2016
‘Gripping and utterly believable’ IAN RANKIN, Guardian Books of the Year
‘A story about the strength and fragility of human nature.
Rob Ewing’s writing is powerful, compassionate and brilliant.
I absolutely loved it’ JOANNA CANNON, the author
of THE TROUBLE WITH GOATS AND SHEEP
The island is quiet now.
On a remote Scottish island, five children are the only ones left. Since the Last Adult died, sensible Elizabeth has been the group leader, testing for a radio signal, playing teacher and keeping an eye on Alex, the littlest, whose insulin can only last so long.
There is ‘shopping’ to do in the houses they haven’t yet searched and wrong smells to avoid. For eight-year-old Rona each day brings fresh hope that someone will come back for them, tempered by the reality of their dwindling supplies.
With no adults to rebel against, squabbles threaten the fragile family they have formed. And when brothers Calum Ian and Duncan attempt to thwart Elizabeth’s leadership, it prompts a chain of events that will endanger Alex’s life and test them all in unimaginable ways.
Reminiscent of The Lord of the Flies and The Cement Garden, The Last of Us is a powerful and heartbreaking novel of aftershock, courage and survival.
”'Ewing does a fantastic job of making us feel like children again - not carefree, but lost in a confusing world replete with dangers over which we have little control” - Guardian
”'An amazing book of courage and survival … a book about memory, friendship and hope. It's the kind of book that made me want to wake my children from their beds, just to kiss them and whisper that I love them. A tremendous novel - I absolutely loved it” - Claire Fuller, author of Our Endless Numbered Days
”'Ewing succeeds brilliantly. Be warned: you’ll feel well and truly wrung-out after reading this, but you’ll also hold your loved ones that little bit closer” - The Scotsman
”'A beautiful, heartwarming story of survival and strength . . . an original piece of work, one which grips the reader to the very end” - The Press and Journal