Staff Review: THE ISLAND OF LAST THINGS

THE ISLAND OF LAST THINGS by Emma Sloley 
9781250329240 
8/12/25 
Flatiron Books 
Fiction / Literary / Animals 

As natural resources dwindle and the prospect of extinction looms heavy, the responsibility of viewing and caring for animal life grows increasingly complex. THE ISLAND OF LAST THINGS, a stunning debut from Emma Sloley, paints a visceral portrait of a zookeeper’s struggle to do right by the creatures under her care, from the pacing jaguar to the alligator who grows hungrier by the day.

Years in the future, when wildlife is collapsing and the air is so toxic as to be nearly unbreathable, two zookeepers meet on the island of Alcatraz—the location of the last zoo in the world. Camille has dedicated her life to tending to the animals, from their moods to their feeding habits to the immersive experiences they play into, all for the benefit of Alcatraz’s wealthy clientele. Her routine is interrupted when Sailor, an enigmatic revolutionary from the former Paris Zoo, joins the ranks of the zookeepers and quickly forms a bond with Camille. Sailor’s ambitions and acts of resistance go beyond anything Camille has imagined before, and she finds herself faced with an impossible choice: will she put the life she knows on the line for the chance to stand for her principles?

Reading this book, I can’t help but feel that the heart of the narrative lies in the thoughtful conversations between Sailor and Camille. Even as they are grounded by the harsh living conditions and ever-present threats of violence in their community, their idealistic visions for the animals and their belief in each creature’s own umwelt (referring to a being’s distinct perception) never truly fade from the narrative—the prospect of a better world is always something worth fighting for. A book for your friend who loves the zoo (and perhaps equally so for your friend who hates the zoo), THE ISLAND OF LAST THINGS is an exploration of captivity, corruption, and the vibrant inner worlds that persist within cages. 

With a Jurassic Park-style spin on literary fiction, Camille’s journey raises essential questions about the state of life for humans and animals alike when basic necessities for survival—clean air, fresh meat, and the company of fellow creatures—are few and far between. What does it mean to be the last of your kind, and what would you be willing to sacrifice for your values?

Anchor

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“Sometimes a new author will sidle up and whisper in your ear, and sometimes she’ll grab you by the neck. Emma Sloley is in the latter camp.”—Rebecca Makkai, New York Times bestselling author of The Great Believers

“Absorbing, daring, and ultimately hopeful, The Island of Last Things is at once a love letter to the natural world and a warning of what could become of us all if we let it whither.”—Talia Lakshmi Kolluri, author of What We Fed To The Manticore