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On the Edge of the World
A uniquely formatted book about dreams, loneliness, and the universal longing for connection. Vera and her family live on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, a place that feels like the edge of the world itself. Lucas and his family also say they live on the edge of the world, but their home is thousands of miles away on the coast of Chile. Vera spends her days devouring fantasy books, throwing balls to her dog, and longing for a friend who would care about the treasures she’s hidden underneath the alder bush. Lucas spends his days looking for fossils, playing solo games of soccer, and wishing for a friend who would read with him on the best branch of his favorite tree. One evening, both Lucas and Vera head to the beach, blink their flashlights into the dark—and discover that the edge of the world is not such a lonely place after all. In this playful, perceptive book, acclaimed author-illustrator Anna Desnitskaya shares the mirroring lives of two children in two separate but surprisingly similar settings. As readers flip the book between Vera in Russia and Lucas in Chile, they will learn just how big—and how small—a place the world can be.
48 pages, Hardcover
Published September 26, 2023
1 person is currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Anna Desnitskaya
9 books13 followersАнна Десницкая — московская художница, иллюстратор, коллажист. Выпускница Московского государственного университета печати.
Anna Desnitskaya (Moscow, 1987) is an author and illustrator who has been nominated for a number of awards, including the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, which is the world's largest award for children's and young adult literature. She lives in Russia.
Anna Desnitskaya (Moscow, 1987) is an author and illustrator who has been nominated for a number of awards, including the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, which is the world's largest award for children's and young adult literature. She lives in Russia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 19, 2023
An absolutely stunning book. School Library Journal review forthcoming.
January 25, 2026
A very beautiful book about friendship! At the beginning I thought this book might feel like an early chapter book, but I think it still falls squarely in picture book world. I loved all of the specific details about these kids' lives and their geography. Great for kids who like other "around the world" type books.
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December 27, 2023Another book I owe to Betsy Bird's 31 Lists. This is a neat dual point of view story that lends itself well to creative writing prompts. There are lot of fun parallels to discover as well. It's unique and a great story of how friendship can be found anywhere.
October 30, 2024
Bellissimo con bellissime illustrazioni. Lo leggerò con i miei alunni.
April 22, 2023
Vera è una ragazza che vive sulla costa orientale della penisola di Kamciatka, ha tante passioni ma non un vero amico con cui condividerle.
Lukas vive sulla sponda cilena del Pacifico e anche lui è pieno di passioni ma gli manca un vero amico.
Ogni sera entrambi usano la propria torcia per lanciare un messaggio in codice morse, e finalmente un giorno riescono a vedere uno il messaggio dell'altro...
Questo libro si può leggere iniziando dalla storia di Vera o girandolo per partire da quella di Lukas, fino a quando le loro storie non diventano una sola.
Anna Desnitskaya è bravissima a descrivere la voglia dei due protagonisti di avere un vero amico con cui condividere tante avventure, le proprie passioni o segreti. Ed è anche bravissima a trasformare le loro emozioni e speranze in disegni che catturano subito l'attenzione del lettore.
Questa storia mi ha regalato speranza, perchè ci mostra come lì fuori c'è qualcuno che aspetta un nostro segnale, ma soprattutto che non dobbiamo mai arrenderci e continuare a cercare.
L'amicizia arriva inaspettatamente, e c'è sempre qualcuno con cui condividere la vita.
Lukas vive sulla sponda cilena del Pacifico e anche lui è pieno di passioni ma gli manca un vero amico.
Ogni sera entrambi usano la propria torcia per lanciare un messaggio in codice morse, e finalmente un giorno riescono a vedere uno il messaggio dell'altro...
Questo libro si può leggere iniziando dalla storia di Vera o girandolo per partire da quella di Lukas, fino a quando le loro storie non diventano una sola.
Anna Desnitskaya è bravissima a descrivere la voglia dei due protagonisti di avere un vero amico con cui condividere tante avventure, le proprie passioni o segreti. Ed è anche bravissima a trasformare le loro emozioni e speranze in disegni che catturano subito l'attenzione del lettore.
Questa storia mi ha regalato speranza, perchè ci mostra come lì fuori c'è qualcuno che aspetta un nostro segnale, ma soprattutto che non dobbiamo mai arrenderci e continuare a cercare.
L'amicizia arriva inaspettatamente, e c'è sempre qualcuno con cui condividere la vita.
November 1, 2023
No real story - on the melancholic side. Nicely illustrated. Interesting book design. 3.5 stars rounded down.
September 14, 2023
On the Edge of the World is a touching story about loneliness and the longing for friendship. The story starts with Vera, who lives in the Kamchatka Peninsula off the eastern coast of Russia. Her mom calls it the edge of the world and “if you left from our edge of the world and sailed across the Pacific Ocean for a long, long time, you’d eventually reach another country, somewhere like Chile.”
The next set of panels shows us Vera’s most valuable things. The story is told in first person, with all the excitement and info-dumping and non-sequiturs of actual children. There’s a lot for readers to take in here, as you’re subtly introduced to cultural elements, literature, nature, and skills (like knot-tying or making a sekretik) that children will find interesting. But then it moves along to Vera’s loneliness: “I wish I had a real friend, for some reason I don’t have one yet.” We learn about Vera’s life in Russia as an imaginary friend gets drawn into some of the panels. It ends with Vera standing alongside the ocean shore with her flashlight and flashing in Morse Code “Hi, I’m Vera.” Her mom says that no one can see, but today she saw a response “Hi, I’m Lucas.”
And…wait. This is only half the book. Flip the page and everything is upside down. Turn the book around and start over and you’re told the story of Lucas, who lives off the coast of Chile. The story reads much the same. There are cultural explorations, interesting facts, and so on. But also the theme of loneliness. We learn about Lucas’s culture and life as the illustrations mirror what we saw in Vera’s story. And then it ends the same way: with Lucas shining his flashlight over the ocean in search of a friend.
On the Edge of the World is perfect for launching a number of conversations. Studying Russia or Chile? Here’s a book for you. Wanting to explore themes of loneliness and friendship? Here you go. As an aside, for Western readers this has the added benefit of showing the Russian people as people—not as political stereotypes. The book’s author is Anna Desnitskaya, a native of Moscow who now lives with her family in Israel. The book was originally written in Russian and was translated by Lena Traer, who has translated other Eerdmans books.
Even though this is a picture book, it’s best suited for older elementary kids. The illustrations are engaging and educational. There’s any number of avenues for educational conversations—from learning about the culture of other places to discussing how to make friends and the impact of loneliness. It’s really a lovely and touching book.
The next set of panels shows us Vera’s most valuable things. The story is told in first person, with all the excitement and info-dumping and non-sequiturs of actual children. There’s a lot for readers to take in here, as you’re subtly introduced to cultural elements, literature, nature, and skills (like knot-tying or making a sekretik) that children will find interesting. But then it moves along to Vera’s loneliness: “I wish I had a real friend, for some reason I don’t have one yet.” We learn about Vera’s life in Russia as an imaginary friend gets drawn into some of the panels. It ends with Vera standing alongside the ocean shore with her flashlight and flashing in Morse Code “Hi, I’m Vera.” Her mom says that no one can see, but today she saw a response “Hi, I’m Lucas.”
And…wait. This is only half the book. Flip the page and everything is upside down. Turn the book around and start over and you’re told the story of Lucas, who lives off the coast of Chile. The story reads much the same. There are cultural explorations, interesting facts, and so on. But also the theme of loneliness. We learn about Lucas’s culture and life as the illustrations mirror what we saw in Vera’s story. And then it ends the same way: with Lucas shining his flashlight over the ocean in search of a friend.
On the Edge of the World is perfect for launching a number of conversations. Studying Russia or Chile? Here’s a book for you. Wanting to explore themes of loneliness and friendship? Here you go. As an aside, for Western readers this has the added benefit of showing the Russian people as people—not as political stereotypes. The book’s author is Anna Desnitskaya, a native of Moscow who now lives with her family in Israel. The book was originally written in Russian and was translated by Lena Traer, who has translated other Eerdmans books.
Even though this is a picture book, it’s best suited for older elementary kids. The illustrations are engaging and educational. There’s any number of avenues for educational conversations—from learning about the culture of other places to discussing how to make friends and the impact of loneliness. It’s really a lovely and touching book.
October 5, 2023
This actually gave me goosebumps.
Imagine if you could use Morse Code to send a trans-Pacific flashlight message from Kamchatka to Chile? In this reversible book, that's exactly what happens. (It's reversible in that you read to the middle, then flip the whole book over and read to middle again, where the two storylines intersect.) Mirroring each other, a girl from Kamchatka and a boy from Chile each share with the reader their favorite things, their homes, and their wish for friends. The connection between the two children, half a world apart, is palpable as they ponder the possibility of a friend beyond the edge of their respective worlds. The lives of these two children will resonate with introverts, socially awkward and shy persons, outsiders, newcomers - anyone who has longed for companionship but struggled to connect. We feel the kids' trials and hope and joy - this story literally shines light on our connections.
On the Edge of the World reverberates with the universal experience of loneliness and prompts the reader to contemplate what ties us to others. Reading this against the backdrop of Putin's war drives home the need for global connection and the truth that children's dreams are not limited by political borders.
Imagine if you could use Morse Code to send a trans-Pacific flashlight message from Kamchatka to Chile? In this reversible book, that's exactly what happens. (It's reversible in that you read to the middle, then flip the whole book over and read to middle again, where the two storylines intersect.) Mirroring each other, a girl from Kamchatka and a boy from Chile each share with the reader their favorite things, their homes, and their wish for friends. The connection between the two children, half a world apart, is palpable as they ponder the possibility of a friend beyond the edge of their respective worlds. The lives of these two children will resonate with introverts, socially awkward and shy persons, outsiders, newcomers - anyone who has longed for companionship but struggled to connect. We feel the kids' trials and hope and joy - this story literally shines light on our connections.
On the Edge of the World reverberates with the universal experience of loneliness and prompts the reader to contemplate what ties us to others. Reading this against the backdrop of Putin's war drives home the need for global connection and the truth that children's dreams are not limited by political borders.
September 23, 2023
Brief summary: Vera lives on the east coast of Russia. She longs to have a friend and often imagines one enjoying her interests and the places she goes. When it is dark, Vera goes to the beach with her mom and turns her flashlight off and on in Morse code for "hi."
Lucas lives in Chile and longs to have a friend too. He imagines what it would be like to have someone to play soccer or read a book high up in a tree. In the evening, Lucas and his father go to the beach and turn his flashlight off and on, blinking four short flashes, pause, and two short flashes.
Will these two get a response?
Comments: Half of the book is Vera's story, and then one flips the book over and reads about Luca's story. I love upside-down books.
Teachers could share this in social studies. For example: "If we are standing on the eastern section of our school and shine a flashlight at night, what is the closest city, state, or country.
It could also supplement a science class on how far a flashlight's beam can be seen or even have the students practice Morse Code.
Rating: 4/5📗📗📗📗
Lucas lives in Chile and longs to have a friend too. He imagines what it would be like to have someone to play soccer or read a book high up in a tree. In the evening, Lucas and his father go to the beach and turn his flashlight off and on, blinking four short flashes, pause, and two short flashes.
Will these two get a response?
Comments: Half of the book is Vera's story, and then one flips the book over and reads about Luca's story. I love upside-down books.
Teachers could share this in social studies. For example: "If we are standing on the eastern section of our school and shine a flashlight at night, what is the closest city, state, or country.
It could also supplement a science class on how far a flashlight's beam can be seen or even have the students practice Morse Code.
Rating: 4/5📗📗📗📗
October 14, 2023
On the Edge of the World is actually two books about friendship across a huge distance, from southern Chile to Kamchatka; 1) One story is about Vera, who lives in the Kamchatka Peninsula off the eastern coast of Russia. Vera’s mom says. “if you left from our edge of the world and sailed across the Pacific Ocean for a long, long time, you’d eventually reach another country, somewhere like Chile.”
Of course you learn what Vera’s life is like, what she cares about, cultural information, and we learn Vera wants a friend. We see her imaginary friend in places. She turns on her flashlight and signals in Morse Code across the ocean and sure enough. . .
2) Lucas lives in Chile. We learn about his life there, and his need for a friend. He flashes his flashlight toward the ocean, signaling in Morse Code, and sure enough. . .
A great book by Anna Desnitskaya, who originally wrote this in Russian and now lives in Israel. If you pick up the book you read Vera’s story one way, and if you turn over the book you read Lucas’s going the other way. It made me want to travel to both places right now. A book about friendship across two “edges of the world.”
Of course you learn what Vera’s life is like, what she cares about, cultural information, and we learn Vera wants a friend. We see her imaginary friend in places. She turns on her flashlight and signals in Morse Code across the ocean and sure enough. . .
2) Lucas lives in Chile. We learn about his life there, and his need for a friend. He flashes his flashlight toward the ocean, signaling in Morse Code, and sure enough. . .
A great book by Anna Desnitskaya, who originally wrote this in Russian and now lives in Israel. If you pick up the book you read Vera’s story one way, and if you turn over the book you read Lucas’s going the other way. It made me want to travel to both places right now. A book about friendship across two “edges of the world.”
September 4, 2023
I love, love, love this book! Here are two lonely children in far flung parts of the globe. This is a book that starts at the front to the middle to tell one story, and flips from the back to the middle to tell another story. Each story collides in the middle and the rest of the story is magically left up to the imagination of the reader. What a wonderful gift! I haven't seen many books done in this format recently and I certainly haven't seen books that leave plot up to the reader's imagination. I got goosebumps finding the wonderful connections between the two characters and I LOVE the illustrations. Kamchatka reminded me SO much of Alaska (which shouldn't be a surprise since they're not that far apart). What a wonderful book!
January 3, 2024
What a fun book! Reading it one way, you meet a girl who lives on a remote peninsula in Russia. She is lonely and wishes she had a friend. Most nights she goes down to the beach with her mother and uses her flashlight to send morse code signals across the water. Even though her mother tells her it's way too far away for the small flashlight to be visible, she does it anyway; "Hi, I'm Vera." And then one night she gets a message back; "Hi, I'm Lucas."
On the other side of the world in Chile, a boy named Lucas lives on a remote peninsula. They're new to the area, and he hasn't made any friends yet. Every night he goes down to the beach and uses his flashlight to send a signal across the waters. And one night he gets a response. Hooray!
On the other side of the world in Chile, a boy named Lucas lives on a remote peninsula. They're new to the area, and he hasn't made any friends yet. Every night he goes down to the beach and uses his flashlight to send a signal across the waters. And one night he gets a response. Hooray!
November 10, 2023
A surprise for me as a reader, and it's a delight, in story and in art! Both Anna, author/illustrator and Lena (the translator) are originally from Russia but now Anna is in Israel and Lena in San Francisco, CA. Two children living at what they call "the edge of the world" but not the same place, are so lonely. Their days are described the same with only a few differences but the yearning for a friend is the same for both. Learning morse code, and evening visits to the ocean bring surprises to them and a bit of hope. I imagine reading this aloud will be a huge treat for young readers, touching their feelings along with their imaginations!
November 21, 2023
Interesting format - two stories of two young people who are loners and long for a friend, each living on the edge of the world, each sending a morse code signal out to sea by flashlight. Their stories meet in the middle where the reader must turn the book upside down and, starting from the opposite cover, read about the other. I like how there is no right way to read the story, how we see that their interests align and trust that these two will become the friends they each long for.
Somewhere between a picture book and a graphic novel, this lovely read has illustrations by the author, who depicts the undiscovered friend in outline, accompanying the other as they go through their day.
Somewhere between a picture book and a graphic novel, this lovely read has illustrations by the author, who depicts the undiscovered friend in outline, accompanying the other as they go through their day.
April 27, 2025
As far as children's books go, this is sad and has heavier topics- hence the recommendation for 3rd through 6th grade. It has a really unique format with a spread showing kids what international morse code looks like for each letter, a map with some context for where the story is taking place (great for readers who are looking at the book in another country like the US who may not have that background), and a lot of images that show the foods and cultural markers of the region. That said, the idea of loneliness is relatable to people all over the world, and that makes this a wonderful story for young readers to connect to regardless of where they live!
December 19, 2023
Vera lives in Russia. Lucas lives in Chile. Between them swims an ocean of blue.
This story speaks to longing and tree climbing, morse code and solo soccer playing and anyone who once-upon-a-time or even now finds themselves alone, without friends. I've been there, too. Doing daily activities wishing for a friend to join you. And standing at the edge of an ocean, looking across, wondering who is looking for you. (I've done this many times.)
Oh, my heart, this story is just perfect.
Themes: culture (Russia & Chile)
Ages: 2-5th+ grade
Pub year: 2023
This story speaks to longing and tree climbing, morse code and solo soccer playing and anyone who once-upon-a-time or even now finds themselves alone, without friends. I've been there, too. Doing daily activities wishing for a friend to join you. And standing at the edge of an ocean, looking across, wondering who is looking for you. (I've done this many times.)
Oh, my heart, this story is just perfect.
Themes: culture (Russia & Chile)
Ages: 2-5th+ grade
Pub year: 2023
January 17, 2024
This is a special book about people searching for friends, searching for connection and meaning. Two children, Vera and Lucas, live as far from each other as planetarily possible: Chile and Russia. They are both loners; they have hobbies and interests, but they long for companionship. They both know Morse code. They both live along the shore line. They both flash Morse code messages into the endless dark... and they both receive a response. From each other... Truly, a light in the darkness..
September 12, 2024
Two lonely kids, living at different corners of the world--one on the coast of Chile and the other on the eastern coast of Russia--reveal what their days are like, what their families and houses are like, how they spend their time in the rural outposts of their countries. They send a light out to the other side of the world, hoping for connection and, magically, a connection appears.
This picture book felt wistful to me. A book for curious children yearning to learn how other children really live and feel. Lovely, evocative illustrations.
This picture book felt wistful to me. A book for curious children yearning to learn how other children really live and feel. Lovely, evocative illustrations.
April 22, 2025
This book was creatively done as a "flip book" as I call it. You start out by reading the story of a lonely girl who lives on the coast of Russia. She dreams of one day finding a friend. Her story ends with flashing messages in morse code via flashlight. FLIP OVER THE BOOK. We then get to read the story of a boy who lives in Chile who longs for the day he finds a friend. It's the same story, just on two different continents. If only they could travel by ocean to meet...one day, maybe!
October 14, 2023
This story filled me with hope and encouragement for humanity. If we can adopt this sense of imagination and optimism, there's no limit to the meaningful connections we can create, children and adults alike.
January 18, 2024
I loved this, Although the edition I have doesn't have all the subtitle or SLA. Just gave me chills at the middle, the illustrations are magnificent and I so love the concept. Could pair with Round Trip and other books using the same unique formating.
February 25, 2024
This is a neat story about two kids growing up on opposite sides of the globe. In some ways, they are very different, and yet they share some common interests. They each need a friend. In the end, the reader decides if a friendship between them is possible.
October 5, 2023
Clever, two-stories in one picture book about two children on opposite sides of the world who just might have found a way to connect.
October 18, 2023
What a beautiful translated book! So creative. The text feels very genuine.
December 26, 2023
beautiful
February 5, 2024
A moving, creative take at middle school awkwardness, dreams, connection, and friendship. Really wonderful and was a great picture book for my fourth grader.
April 28, 2024
A clever book that has a quiet quality to it. Simple and elegant much like morse code which makes an appearance in the book.
May 23, 2024
An elementary level picture book told from the perspective of child in Chile and one in Russia about feeling lonely in their corner of the worlds.
August 2, 2024
WAIT. AAaaa? Where's the ending that I DESERVE?????
November 16, 2024
Un libro bellissimo,il mio figlio è rimasto piacevolmente impressionato e da tutti i nove libri che ha letto durante l'estate l'ha votato quello che gli è piaciuto di più.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews