Review of This is Where it Ends

This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp (2016)

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

This review does contain slight spoilers. Nothing dramatic, only character contextualisation (unless otherwise indicated as *spoiler*, spoiler sensitive version available on Goodreads)

We're more than our mistakes. We're more than what people expect of us. – Chris West

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 on the way, no matter where you are, you'll always be at home. – Fareed Al-Sahar

 This is Where it Ends tells the fictional story of a high school shooting in Opportunity, Alabama by senior Tyler Browne. Told through 4 perspectives over the period of less than an hour it doesn't pull punches it is an emotional and triggering book. The perspectives belong to Autumn, Tyler’s sister, Sylv, her girlfriend, Tomás, Sylv's twin brother and Claire Tyler’s ex-girlfriend. The writing reflects their ages, positions, cultures, and it is a diverse book with multiple ethnicities and sexualities mentioned. There are cut sections with blog posts, texts and twitter content that tell other perspectives of the story. Their inclusion feels key in the reality, especially the addition of trolls in the comments.

The plot is well developed, well researched. While the events are discussed from multiple angles each character has their own insight as to why Tyler is doing what he is doing they are mentioned. As are their plans for the future. The use of perspective allows for different parts of the environment to be explored at the same time. The chapters are well marked with time codes, each chapter is approximately 2 minutes in world. The epilogue is as beautiful as it is heart-wrenching something that was needed but painful to read.

I really like the characters. I found myself attached to them and by the end, I was involuntarily crying. Fareed is a wonderful character I have all the love for, the wordless communication between him and Tomás, his strength and his ending broke me. The twins Tomás and Sylv are amazing their story is a mesmerising subplot. Autumn is the character my heart goes out to, her brother is the shooter, she is condemned by association. *spoiler* Matt killed me. His death tipped me over the edge. And for Autumn and Claire to have to experience it like that I just couldn’t cope, from then on I was a mess. Even more so when I started realising the meaning of that moment for Claire. *spoiler*

As I did with The Sun is Also a Star (McPherson, 2018b) with its accelerated timeline I read this as fast as I could. It took me about 5 hours. That accelerated reading is damaging to my emotions and possibly means I missed details but when a book is set over 54 minutes and I have the time I am going to read it in less than a day.

It is worth noting the sort of shooting that is featured. It is a locked room, everyone is trapped, and the shooter has targets in mind. This isn’t a spray and hope to kill as many as possible. He is acting intelligently and rationally (as much as possible), it is thought out and planned. But This is Where it Ends isn’t about the act, it is about the human side. The immediate effect on people. The shooting has more in common with Virginia Tech than the more recent Parkland shooting, I make the comparison in relation to the personal nature and the locked doors, it is a stretch and I mean no disrespect.

This is Where it Ends is a way to develop empathy for survivors. No one wants to experience this event but we can't deny their existence. In a time of global citizenship and when so many young people talk to others online this is an important book. Allowing those in safe situations to see even a fraction, a glimpse of what survivors do, but nothing will ever compare to the event. I’m rating it 4.5 stars up to 5 because of a perspective issue *spoiler* I wish we’d had an added perspective after Tomás was killed, Fareed maybe. That loss of perspective was both fitting and off-putting. But I might of still taken issue with the addition of that new voice. That loss maybe suited the occasion. I don’t know. I don’t feel a straight 5 is right given that indecision *spoiler*. This is Where it Ends is a book that libraries should definitely have available for everyone but young people in particular.

My reading experience in a gif:

Crossposted from Goodreads

I want to add a TEDx Talk from Sue Klebold the mother of Columbine shooter Dylan Klebold because it’s just another perspective on school shootings. Mrs Klebold has become a voice in the discussion of school shootings as a mental health issue.

References

Cover for 9781492622468. (n.d.). Sourcebooks. [Image File]. Retrieved from https://shop.sourcebooks.com/images/thumbnails/0/500/9781492622468.jpg

McPherson, C. (2018a, May 8). Catherine McP's review of This is Where it Ends. Goodreads. [Goodreads Review]. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2384410811

McPherson, C. (2018b, April 9). The Sun Is Also a Star Review. We're all in this together. [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://diverseya.blogspot.com.au/2018/04/the-sun-is-also-star-review.html

Nijkamp, M. (2016). This is where it ends. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Fire.

Sad brad. (2014, October 31). Reaction Gifs. [Image File]. Retrieved from http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/2sbp.gif

Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoneman_Douglas_High_School_shooting

TEDMED. (2017, February 2). My son was a Columbine shooter: This is my story. [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xfyN-yBZ7c

Virginia Tech shooting. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved May 7, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Tech_shooting