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Abstract

ekend, she handed me a copy of <i>This is Where it Ends</i> by Marieke Nijkamp. It was written in 2016, but still remains equally relevant today.</p><h2 id="76ad">The Story</h2><p id="bd51">The story takes place in small-town Alabama. It’s the start of the new semester, and most of the student body is in the auditorium listening to the principal finishing her speech to encourage everyone to do their best. The students get up to leave, but the doors won’t open. Then someone starts shooting.</p><p id="04b1">Everything in the book happens in under an hour. The story is told in the perspectives of four students during that time. Each character is connected to the shooter. At the end of each chapter, you’ll see social media statuses and text messages of other students during the shooting.</p><h2 id="3cd4">Afterward</h2><p id="a24d">At least once, my fiancée walked in on me in tears while I was reading this story. It covered all of the steps necessary to make someone like me cry. I’m not the most emotional person on the planet. But this book got me.</p><p id="9875">Nijkamp knew what she was doing when she set the book in small-town Alabama. A town with farms and hunters. All four protagonists said that <i>nothing happens in their small town</i>. Text messages at the end of the chapters would say the same thing.</p><p id="d8da">The only time guns are mentioned in the book is to talk about the shooter shooting someone or reloading his weapon. Other than that, you’re not hearing the character’s opinion on guns. It’s a brilliant move. Trying to get preac

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hy about guns would’ve killed the message of the story, regardless of what the reader’s opinion on gun control is.</p><p id="d979">That being said, the whole story takes place in less than an hour. There isn’t enough time to consider what the characters’ opinions are on guns.</p><h2 id="4cd5">Would I Recommend It?</h2><p id="c8bd">If you’re a parent of a teenager, this is a book for both of you to read. No matter how doubtful you are about a shooting happening in your area, read this book. Even if you don’t buy into the message of the book, it’ll be helpful to be emotional support for your teenager if you find them crying at the end of the book.</p><p id="08e7">To purchase this book, click <a href="https://www.amazon.com/This-Where-Ends-Marieke-Nijkamp/dp/1492671118/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=this+is+where+it+ends&qid=1577194857&sr=8-1">here</a>.</p><p id="381e">Check out these other reviews by <a href="undefined">Keara Lou</a>:</p><div id="f216" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/reflecting-on-the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-3ddb3cd1839f"> <div> <div> <h2>“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky</h2> <div><h3>I wish I read this book as a teenager</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*mwqcu_CibdgepgEt)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

A Book Review

“This is Where it Ends” by Marieke Nijkamp

Prepare to get your heart ripped out

In 2019, it’s disturbing how normal it is to turn on the news and hear about a mass shooting. I could give you a play-by-play of what happens before, during, and after the shooting. Each time one happens, the aftermath is eerily similar to the last one.

It has become so typical that even South Park pointed it out in its twenty-second season.

How Many More Kids Have to Die Before We Start Valuing Them Over Guns?

I’m sick of reading about mass shootings

medium.com

When I saw my niece this weekend, she handed me a copy of This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp. It was written in 2016, but still remains equally relevant today.

The Story

The story takes place in small-town Alabama. It’s the start of the new semester, and most of the student body is in the auditorium listening to the principal finishing her speech to encourage everyone to do their best. The students get up to leave, but the doors won’t open. Then someone starts shooting.

Everything in the book happens in under an hour. The story is told in the perspectives of four students during that time. Each character is connected to the shooter. At the end of each chapter, you’ll see social media statuses and text messages of other students during the shooting.

Afterward

At least once, my fiancée walked in on me in tears while I was reading this story. It covered all of the steps necessary to make someone like me cry. I’m not the most emotional person on the planet. But this book got me.

Nijkamp knew what she was doing when she set the book in small-town Alabama. A town with farms and hunters. All four protagonists said that nothing happens in their small town. Text messages at the end of the chapters would say the same thing.

The only time guns are mentioned in the book is to talk about the shooter shooting someone or reloading his weapon. Other than that, you’re not hearing the character’s opinion on guns. It’s a brilliant move. Trying to get preachy about guns would’ve killed the message of the story, regardless of what the reader’s opinion on gun control is.

That being said, the whole story takes place in less than an hour. There isn’t enough time to consider what the characters’ opinions are on guns.

Would I Recommend It?

If you’re a parent of a teenager, this is a book for both of you to read. No matter how doubtful you are about a shooting happening in your area, read this book. Even if you don’t buy into the message of the book, it’ll be helpful to be emotional support for your teenager if you find them crying at the end of the book.

To purchase this book, click here.

Check out these other reviews by Keara Lou:

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky

I wish I read this book as a teenager

medium.com