Editors Note: What’s This? Are we a book review website now?
Well no. We’re still doing all the great things you’ve come to love about FresYes. However, this is another book review from Emma. She’s in 8th grade and a voracious reader. We loved it and thought it just needed to be shared and hope you do too! Have a young reader in your home? We’d love to share their book review too.
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This Is Where It Ends
By: Marieke Nijkampe
I’m not exactly sure how to start this review. Unlike other books I’ve written about, This Is Where It Ends is a LOT more serious. It’s a work of fiction, but the storyline of this book is based on something that happens too often… school shootings. I was hesitant to read this book, as I was scared that it would be a mockery of a real, important, and tragic issue. But I was wrong. The author handles the topic of school shootings so maturely that you can’t help but wonder if they had been in that situation at some point.
This Is Where It Ends follows the stories of four high school students over the course of fifty-four harrowing minutes. Tyler Brown is an dropout student transformed by abuse from his father and merciless bullying from his classmates. The book shows how four students deal with this life or death situation.
Something I liked about this book is how each of the narrators truly does have their own individual reason to fear the boy with the gun. Autumn, Tyler’s sister, is afraid he’ll destroy her chance at her dreams. Sylv, Autumn’s best friend, is constantly haunted by Tyler’s accusation of her taking Autumn away from him. Tomas, Sylv’s brother, fears that the karma of the past three years will bite him in the butt. Claire, the ex-girlfriend of Tyler, feels guilty for his corruption and worries that if someone dies, she’ll have to take the blame.
The maturity with which this book is dealt with is such an important thing. You can tell from reading it that the author has a lot of respect for the subject of school shootings, and that she wants to do it justice. Looking back, I’m glad I read This Is Where It Ends, because it was definitely an eye-opener to the world outside of the bubble of safety I live in.
There’s also a maturity with the characters. Well written characters with back stories and flaws, grow into the best characters. Even though this book doesn’t give a whole lot of time for character development, there are noticeable changes in their views on life, which affects how they act. There’s something that needs to be said about that.
One thing I wish would’ve been more emphasized was the back story. At certain intervals in the book, there would be small flash-back chapters. But they don’t really give a whole lot of reason to the plot. I would’ve liked to know a bit more about each narrator’s relationship with Tyler, like what happened between them to cause fear. What really would’ve been the frosting on the cake is if we could’ve gotten into Tyler’s head a bit and see the world through his eyes. Why is he like he is now? What happened to him in the past? How did his friends fail to reach out to him? These are questions that I felt could’ve completed the book if they were answered.
If you’re looking for a good, honest story, This Is Where It Ends is my recommendation for you. It’s a great book that can open so many eyes and change so many perspectives. The story is something we all would benefit from.
-Emma
Buy the Book:
Get your copy of This Is Where It Ends at any of the following places (and wherever books are sold):
| Sourcebooks | Amazon US | The Book Depository |
| IndieBound | Amazon UK | iTunes |
| Books of Wonder | Barnes & Noble | Target |
- Book Review: Harry Potter and The Cursed Child - October 11, 2016
- Book Review: This Is Where It Ends - September 11, 2016
- Book Review: Daughter ofSmoke & Bone By Laini Taylor - August 8, 2016
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