Agnes at the End of the World
by Kelly McWilliams
Agnes knows she loves her home of Red Creek—its quiet, sunny mornings, its dusty roads, and its God. There, she cares tirelessly for her younger siblings and follows the town's strict laws. What she doesn't know is that Red Creek is a cult, controlled by a madman who calls himself a prophet.
Then Agnes meets Danny, an Outsider boy, and begins to question what is and isn't a sin. Her younger brother, Ezekiel, will die without the insulin she barters for once a month, even though medicine is considered outlawed. Is she a sinner for saving him? Is her sister, Beth, a sinner for dreaming of the world beyond Red Creek?
As the Prophet grows more dangerous, Agnes realizes she must escape with Ezekiel and leave everyone else, including Beth, behind. But it isn't safe Outside, either: A viral pandemic is burning through the population at a terrifying rate. As Agnes ventures forth, a mysterious connection grows between her and the Virus. But in a world where faith, miracles, and cruelty have long been indistinguishable, will Agnes be able to choose between saving her family and saving the world?
About the Author
Kelly McWilliams is a biracial writer in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she lives with her partner, and is the bewildered parent of a toddler. She's currently a staff writer at Romper, the millennial parenting site, where she reports on women's health. As a 15-year old, she published DOORMAT (Random House, 2004), a Junior Library Guild selection, and headed to Walnut Hill School for the Arts to finish high school among raucous theater majors. As an undergraduate at Brown University, she studied feminist literary criticism and began writing nonfiction. She loves books for kids and teens that fearlessly tackle big ideas, like what it means to be a woman or a girl. When she's not working, she's trying to recreate the breakfast Beyoncé just posted on Instagram. Her recent manuscript, AGNES AND THE END OF THE WORLD, benefitted from a marvelous We Need Diverse Books Mentorship.
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FROM NOVL NATION
“If you enjoy a character-driven story that will keep you guessing with surprises, unexpected twists and turns, and a slow-burn romance, then Agnes at the End of the World is a book for you.”
– Patti, Lovely Loveday
“Kelly McWilliams brings fresh take on feminism while keeping to its core values. It's a great read about learning to think for yourself, and to use your own experiences and research to make your own path when society tells you 'NO'.”
– Erin, after.thefinal.page
“I loved this book from start to satisfying finish.”
– Celia, @celiamcmahonreads
“Agnes at the End of the World by Kelly McWilliams is a book that I will forever recommend to anyone because the story and the characters are just that good!... This book is a gem and a great addition to YA literature! I’m looking, forward to reading more works by Kelly McWilliams in the future!”
- Kimberley, whimsicalnarratives
“Agnes is one of those stories that brings together multiple plots in a seamless way that makes you wonder how any one author can be so magical.”
– Christy, diamondxgirl
