Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: Edward Tulane, a proud china rabbit who once loved only himself, is lost at sea and passed through many hands, learning to love and grieve. Repaired by a doll mender after being broken, he waits years on a shelf, until a little girl named Maggie buys him and her mother turns out to be Abilene, the girl who first owned him.
Quick facts
– Book: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
– First published: 2006
– Type: A children's novel
– Tone of the ending: Moving and hopeful
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Edward belongs to Abilene, who loves him, but he cares only for himself. On a sea voyage, boys throw him overboard. He lies on the ocean floor, is pulled up by a fisherman and passes from owner to owner.
What Happens at the End of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
A fisherman, Lawrence, and his wife Nellie name him Susanna and love him, but their daughter throws him in a dump. A dog named Lucy finds him, and he travels with the hobo Bull, learning to listen to sad stories. Thrown from a train, he becomes a scarecrow, then is rescued by a boy named Bryce, who brings him to his dying little sister, Sarah Ruth. Edward loves her deeply, and when she dies, he grieves for the first time. In Memphis, a café owner smashes his head, and Lucius Clarke, a doll mender, repairs him. Edward sits on a shelf for years, his heart open but afraid. An old doll tells him to expect to be loved. One day, a little girl named Maggie chooses him, and her mother is Abilene, who recognizes him by his gold pocket watch.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Edward learns to love.
- Sarah Ruth dies.
- Edward is repaired.
- He returns to Abilene's family.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Edward Tulane | Returns to Abilene |
| Abilene | Grown up |
| Sarah Ruth | Dies |
| Lucius Clarke | Repairs Edward |
| Maggie | Abilene's daughter |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows that love transforms us.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers find the story deeply moving, and many teachers use it to talk about empathy and grief. The old doll's advice, that you must open your heart to be loved, is often quoted.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Love. Edward learns to love.
Loss. Edward loses many friends.
Hope. Edward finds home again.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane as moving and hopeful. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Kate DiCamillo to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are moving and hopeful will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Kate DiCamillo closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about love, and do you agree with Kate DiCamillo's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as moving and hopeful, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces love and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Kate DiCamillo leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane on Amazon
Books to Read After The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
- The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
- The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane?
Edward Tulane, a proud china rabbit who once loved only himself, is lost at sea and passed through many hands, learning to love and grieve. Repaired by a doll mender after being broken, he waits years on a shelf, until a little girl named Maggie buys him and her mother turns out to be Abilene, the girl who first owned him.
Is the ending of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane happy or sad?
Most readers call it moving and hopeful.
What does the ending of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane mean?
The ending shows that love transforms us.
Who wrote The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and when was it published?
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane was written by Kate DiCamillo and first published in 2006.
Is The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy children's novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Kate DiCamillo prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.