The #1 New York Times Bestseller!
Everyone has a reason to fear the boy with the gun.
10:00 a.m.The principal of Opportunity, Alabama’s high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.
10:02 a.m.The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.
10:03The auditorium doors won’t open.
10:05Someone … next class.
10:03
The auditorium doors won’t open.
10:05
Someone starts shooting.
Told from four perspectives over the span of 54 harrowing minutes, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.
A Buzzfeed Best YA of 2016
#1 Young Adult Debut of 2016
A Publishers Weekly Bestseller
Winter ‘15 Kids Indie Next List
Goodreads YA Best Books of the Month
Buzzfeed 5 YA Books You Should Be Reading This January
Bustle.com 18 of 2016’s Most-Anticipated YA Novels
BookRiot 15 Books out in 2016 You Should Mark Down Now
A Goodreads Choice Award Finalist for Young Adult Fiction
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I was actually shaking while I read this. It was a very powerful book. Good layout, the characters were believable and you felt like you knew them well enough. It was a book I pretty much read straight through. It Only took a couple of hours to read since it was a young adult book. I do recommend it.
The characters and plot catch you on the first page. You get to know the characters well. The way the chapters cover each hour of the attack and switches from students trapped in the auditorium to those who are not quickly pulls you along through the story. It is a gripping, gut-wrenching, emotional roller coaster ride that will leave you shocked and sobbing. One of the few novels I’ve read from beginning to end in one sitting.
Unfortunately “THAT could never happen here” has just happened! Students locked in a school auditorium by another student with a loaded gun looking for revenge. As the bullets fly we learn how and why it’s all come to this. How many will survive? How will they escape? Can they escape? This is not for the feint of heart and I would suggest you keep tissues close by. A gut wrenching read that will stick with you long after you put this book down!
I enjoy Marieke Nijkamp’s writing, because she doesn’t shy away from her characters’ pain. You can’t go into one of her books hoping for a happily ever after, because there’s a good chance you’re not going to get it. One thing you do get, however, are well-developed characters, even you learn everything about them from the viewpoint of other characters. I’ve read reviews where the readers complained about no development in the shooter character; that he was just “born evil”, but I didn’t feel that way at all. There were very definite conflicts and traumas that lead the shooter to his actions, and from the viewpoints of his sister and ex-girlfriend, he was a very sympathetic character before he devolved into the shooter.
I look forward to reading more by Ms. Nijkamp.
An auditorium filled with students and teachers. One former student with a gun. 54 minutes of terror.
Wow. I’m not sure where to begin. This story was truly intense and heartbreaking. It’s told from the perspective of 4 different students who each have a connection to the shooter. I admit I initially had trouble keeping the characters and their relationships sorted in my head. It was all a bit confusing at first and I found myself having to go back to make sure I knew who was who. Once I was able to get passed that though, and the story started to flow, I could not put it down. The overall emotions were, at times, overwhelming. Fearful, confused, stunned, scared, angry, and just a general feeling of helplessness as Tyler focuses his cold fury at everyone who he feels wronged him was very powerful. I could not, and would not, want to imagine what that would be like.
When it came to the connections, I felt that Autumn stood out to me the most.
You can read my full review on my blog at https://charleeraeblog.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/this-is-where-it-ends-by-marieke-nijkamp/
What a terrifying story. This short glimpse into a school shooter and the kids being held hostage had me holding my breath and fighting back tears.
When my kids were in school this was a nightmare I often had as it could easily become a reality. Every day they made it home safe I could breath easier.
There was one day where I got a text from my kids, begging me to come get them. Someone had apparently threatened to show up during an assembly and shoot up the school. Was the threat real? Was the “shooter” already inside? Could I get there fast enough if it was real? I didn’t even hesitate, I left work and grabbed my kids.
Reading this, reading what these teens felt and what they were going through?? Absolutely terrifying.
Just not my kinda novel—in another time, when I was 13-15 years old, perhaps I would have enjoyed this; which is fair to the book considering that’s the target audience age group. But I have read novels meant for younger teens that have blown my mind, so it’s still no excuse to how poorly this book fares.
I know it’s about a school shooting, but somehow the characters and the way the scenes and interactions play out, it feels like a Disney Channel Special. The adults are all numb-skull bimbos while the students heroically go to save the day—like the Coach and Claire scenes made me roll my eyes. Even the name of the school, Opportunity and the students being called “Opportunist”, felt like a Disney Channel cliche.
The 5 POVs ALLLLLLLLLL blended together. So many times I could not keep track of who was talking. Their inner monologues & thoughts were all the same, and their stories and goals seemed all similar to me. The author wasn’t able to get me to care about any of them.
Overall, it was just unremarkable. I won’t remember any of these characters’ names yet alone any of their likeness.
This book literally puts you in the shoes of the survivor of a school shooting, the victim of a school shooting, and the school shooter themselves. I have never read such a brilliantly written book that became so real as you read the pages and where the author could articulate the many characters’ points of view so precisely. This book is so sad, so real, haunting, and breathtaking.
This book did an amazing job on capturing the true emotion and fear within a school shooting. The characters had great backstories and was an absolute page turner. Wonderful quick read and recommend to anyone!
A tragic story I feel should be on every HS reading list. It explores the emotional turmoil of youth dealing with loss and rejection while emphasizing the strength of survival.
The book had an emotional pull to it that made it enticing to read
Emotional and disturbing… It’s difficult to “love” a story about a mass shooting, but the story was so real to me that I both wanted to stop reading and continue at the same time. The story was horrific–not to be confused with the writing–and I frequently found myself thinking, “No, no, no.” I think the author did too good of a job bringing the story to life. Were there parts that may have seemed “unreal”? Sure…but, those elements were absolutely needed for those characters, and I applaud those scenes for being there.
Would I recommend this book? I don’t know how to answer that. It’s disturbing and heartbreaking with little break in that pattern. But, it’s a well-written novel, so…I guess I would have to say only the reader can decide. I feel like I won’t be the same after reading this one.
Chilling. That is probably the best word to describe this book. Luckily, I have never been a victim of a mass shooting, so I don’t know how accurately the author describes the situation, but you really feel like you are in the auditorium with the students as the tragedy is taking place. It’s haunting, but I highly recommend this book.
This book was good, a little tragic it also made me shed a few tears but it was good. it was one of those books that made me realize how my actions and the things I do could impact a person. although it was tragic I recommend this book to anybody who loves hard topics for example like bullying, suicide this book is for you. (sorry if I didn’t make any since but you should read this)
This book is a brutal look at the reality of consequences of actions and reactions. The hardships of life weigh more heavily on some people than others. Sometimes it seems as if everything you know and love is slipping away, and you can’t do anything about it. High school is one of those times.
The writing is phenomenal and the characters are so real. The tragedy and fear are palpable, and the stories told within are heartbreaking in their realism. The author certainly knows how to tug at the heartstrings, and this book was so worth reading.
This book is not for the faint of heart. I would not recommend it for younger people. But if you think you’re ready for the horrors within, definitely pick up this masterpiece.
Wow, just, wow! A well-written book on a very difficult subject. I laughed, cried, was sad, was happy, so many emotions. I felt for the characters as they faced the challenge of trying to deal with the situation. “No, I’m not” is what Chris said toward the end of the book when Chris and Claire have a conversation about being okay although neither could say the word okay. It is okay to not with the situation they were just dealt. Many of the students were not but they came together. Ms. Nijkamp tackled a tough subject and did it well. One part that left me reeling was when the kids were slowly trickling out of the school. Claire’s thought – “A current passes through the crowd with the news of each survivor. Relief and sorrow follow each other rapidly, because with the names of those who live comes the void of those who have not Death brings life; life brings death. There are no words in that fleeting moment between hope and the knowledge. There is no way to express how a heart can burst and break at the same time, how the sun can cut through the darkness but will case shadows everywhere.” So many feels right now.
** spoiler alert ** “If he’d gone on a murdering spree, it would’ve been less scary. It would’ve been a random act of violence. The simple fact that he carefully picks out his targets, among the hundreds of students in the auditorium, makes him far more of a threat. And it terrifies me.”
The first time around I read this book for some odd reason, I COULD NOT finish the book because it got too boring for me and it was too raw.
This time, the second time, I decided to pick up the audiobook for it and the next thing you know I finished this book the next damn day!
This book was filled with amazingly good quotes such as: “For the first few weeks after we came here, my father would tell me the same thing every night: You can’t always keep your loved ones with you. You can’t always settle your life in one place. The world was made to change. But as long as you cherish the memories and make new ones along the way, no matter where you are, you’ll always be at home.”
The fact that this book had hit close to home really shocked the hell out of me because a never cried while reading a book. That proves all the raw emotions that’s throughout this book. More people should most definitely talk about this book more since this deals with real-life events that do occur in this world today.
A school shooting that puts you inside while it’s actually going on.
A very scary situation with some romance and a lot of heroes trying to save others.
I just can’t comprehend being in this situation. How things are so bad people resort to going into a school and shooting their friends and I’m sure enemies. When I was in school it never crossed my mind to get a gun and shoot a bully or fellow students or even teachers. These kids today are out of control. Instead of dealing with a problem they resort to killing. The author puts you front and center while the killing is going on. The book tells of a boy Tyler padlocking the doors while the whole school is in an assembly with the principle talking to the students and teacher. While Tyler pulls out a gun and starts shooting people. I really hope no student uses this plot as a good idea in the future. That’s going to be a lot of casualties. It’s so scary that these shootings happen almost every other day. Kids have to go to school or there are consequences, it’s so scary that going to school could be someone’s last day. I think about my grandchildren, they are too young for school right now but I do worry that this could happen. After all this is what is going on right now. The kids that survive this or see it happening end up being scarred for life. That is really sad.
Three chapters in, I knew this was un-put-down-able. Multiple points of view are handled seamlessly and provide different lenses to view the shooting. They also give insight to each character and create a deep connection for the reader to the human heartbreak and confusion, as well as the general chaos of such an event. The author successfully manages to keep tension consistently amped and pulls no punches. This keeps it devastatingly grounded in reality. Well done!
I want to start off by saying if you never listen to my advice on a book again, make this be the last one. (Although I hope you take all of my recommendations into consideration.) You will NOT find another story that will move you like this one! This book is the exemplification of phenomenal. It’s riveting and emotional. You will not be disappointed.
I am fully aware that there are going to be people who are not going to like this book. The subject matter in this story is such a sensitive subject and may not be received well by everyone.
From the blurb, you can surmise that this book takes you on a journey you may not want to go on. Oh. My, Gawd. I will not lie to you. I had to put this book down and walk away a few times. Not because I didn’t like it, but because I was on emotional overload. It is a such a heavy story. Months later, I still get goosebumps thinking about this book.
This story takes you on a journey following four students during the worst 54 minutes of their lives. It goes minute by minute. Each segment gives you the same time frame from each of the four perspectives. They are each on a different part of the chaos and slaughter. So to say that this story is not for the weak hearted would be an understatement.
This book will make your stomach turn. You will have many tears. Your heart might beat so fast, you make get winded. This story is gripping, heartbreaking and fast-paced. I cannot sing enough praise for this remarkable story.