Björk has never met her grandmother, so a surprise trip to the remote island where she lives sounds amazing! But nothing is like she expected, least of all Grandma. As the trip turns into more than just a short visit, Björk wonders how anyone can tolerate such isolation and lack of contact with the outside world. Does everybody seriously live in the same building? Why can’t they flush the toilet at will? And as winter starts raging, and strange things happen, Björk begins to suspect someone on the island may wish her family harm.
The Island on the Edge of the Universe tackles topics such as global warming, sustainability, and the roles of individuals in a community in a warm and humorous way.
- Won the 2020 Guðrún Helgadóttir Children’s Literature Prize for an unpublished manuscript.
- Won the 2020 Icelandic Literary Prize in the children’s book category.
- Nominated for the 2021 Reykjavík Children’s Book Award in the original children’s book category.
- Nominated for the 2021 Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize.
- Nominated for the 2024 Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis.
The authors weave together humour and rich creativity in an original narrative, which in itself contains a critique of the consumer society and its abundance. But this message is never allowed to weigh down the story, because playfulness and joy shine through all the time.
The jury for the 2021 Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize.
The story has the ability to fascinate readers of all ages.
The jury for the 2020 Icelandic Literary Prize.
Exciting, funny and heart-warming.
Annelies Harzing, children’s book critic, in de Volkskrant
A classic in the making … Reminiscent of the works of giants of Scandinavian children’s literature, such as Astrid Lindgren.
Brynhildur Björnsdóttir in Fréttablaðið.
Blokkin á heimenda or The Island on the Edge of the World has been published in the following countries:
- Germany, as 12 Stockwerke: Mein unglaubliches Zuhause am Ende der Welt. Translated by Gisa Marehn and published by Arena.
- Denmark, as Blokken ved verdens ende. Translated by Nanna Kalkar and published by Carlsen.
- Russia, as Дом вдали от мира. Translated by Энния Емельянова and published by Издательство «МИФ».
- The Netherlands, as De flat aan het einde van de wereld. Translated by Willemien Werkman and published by Volt.
- Finland, as Maailman lopun saari. Translated by Marjakaisa Matthiasson and published by WSOY.
The book is due out in more countries in 2025 and 2026.
Hulda & Arndís 