The End (novel) facts for kids
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| Author | Lemony Snicket (pen name of Daniel Handler) |
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| Illustrator | Brett Helquist |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | A Series of Unfortunate Events |
| Genre | Gothic fiction Absurdist fiction Mystery |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
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Publication date
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October 13, 2006 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 324 |
| ISBN | 0-06-441016-1 |
| OCLC | 70718171 |
| LC Class | PZ7.S6795 En 2006 |
| Preceded by | The Penultimate Peril |
The End is the thirteenth and last book in the popular A Series of Unfortunate Events series, written by Lemony Snicket. It came out on Friday, October 13, 2006. This book tells the final part of the sad and strange adventures of the Baudelaire orphans.
Contents
Story Summary
The story starts with the Baudelaire orphans and their enemy, Count Olaf, sailing away from a burning hotel. After a big storm, the Baudelaires land on an island. A young girl named Friday welcomes them. Count Olaf, however, is not welcomed because he is rude and threatens Friday.
New Arrivals on the Island
Later, Kit Snicket, who is pregnant, and a friendly snake called the "Incredibly Deadly Viper" also arrive on the island after their boat crashes. This snake first appeared in The Reptile Room. Count Olaf tries to trick everyone by dressing up as Kit. But for the first time in the whole series, no one falls for his disguise! The islanders, led by a man named Ishmael, capture Olaf. They also push the Baudelaires away because the children have items that are forbidden on the island.
Island Secrets and a Mutiny
That night, two islanders secretly bring food to the children. They ask the Baudelaires to join them in a rebellion against Ishmael. The children agree and go to the arboretum, which is like a big greenhouse, to find weapons. There, they find a secret room. Inside, there is a book that tells the history of the island.
Ishmael then arrives and explains things to the children. He tells them that their parents used to lead the island. Their parents made many good changes to island life. But Ishmael eventually took over. He made the islanders live a very simple life, while he kept all the nice things for himself.
A Deadly Fungus Spreads
The Baudelaires and Ishmael go back to where the other islanders are. The rebellion has already started. Ishmael accidentally hits Olaf with a harpoon. This causes a helmet to break, releasing a dangerous fungus called the Medusoid Mycelium. This deadly fungus quickly infects everyone on the island.
The Baudelaires rush back to the arboretum to find horseradish, which is a cure for the fungus. They read their parents' history book to find where the horseradish is hidden. As they read, they also start to get sick from the fungus. After thinking about it, they accept that they might die. But then they find that the cure is in special apples growing on a tree in the arboretum.
They gather apples for the other islanders. But they discover that the islanders have given up on the rebellion. They are getting into their boats to leave the island. Ishmael promises to save them by sailing to a horseradish factory. But he refuses to give them the apples, even though he ate one himself.
A New Life Begins
At this point, Kit Snicket is about to have her baby. She is also getting sicker from the fungus. She cannot eat the bitter apple because it would be bad for her unborn baby. When Olaf, who is dying, hears that Kit is still alive, he uses his last bit of strength to help her safely down to the beach. He kisses Kit, and then he dies.
The Baudelaires help Kit give birth to a baby girl. Kit then dies, but not before asking the orphans to name the baby after their mother, Beatrice. The Baudelaires spend the next year taking care of Kit's daughter. They sometimes visit the graves of Kit and Olaf.
After reading another part of the history book written by their parents, the Baudelaires decide to leave the island with baby Beatrice. They want to honor their parents' wishes. Even though they are scared of the outside world, the children get a boat ready with supplies for their journey back to the mainland. Just before they leave, Beatrice says her first word, which is "Beatrice."
TV Show Adaptation
This book was made into the seventh and final episode of the third season of the television series by Netflix. The TV show version is a bit different. In the show, there is no rebellion against Ishmael. Also, the children's parents left the island on their own, not because they were overthrown. The TV series ends with a grown-up Beatrice II, Kit's daughter, telling Lemony Snicket about their adventures after leaving the island. This part was hinted at in a book called The Beatrice Letters.
