This Is Where It Ends is set in the small town of Opportunity. A new semester is starting at the local high school and what should be an exciting new beginning becomes a tragic end. This book follows the events of a horrific school shooting. As we follow the story, we begin to understand the pain of the shooter and the anger that fuels his actions. We also see the misunderstanding as family and friends were there but not there. How many young people are searching for someone to stand by them and love them? How many feel so utterly alone that there is no way out anymore? I wanted this book to end, but I wanted it to end differently. There was no way for this story to have a happily-ever-after ending, because it was too real.
We live in such an amazing world. There are so many good things around us. Yet, the good things are not what makes the news. Throughout history the news has been filled with stories of war and disaster. When I think about the historical fiction, part of what makes it exciting to read is the conflict in the story. When we project ourselves into the future, the speculation of rebellion makes a great story. But what do we do with the story that becomes a little too real? How should we feel when we read a story that too closely reflects real events? Those are the questions that I'm thinking about having just finished, This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp.
This Is Where It Ends is set in the small town of Opportunity. A new semester is starting at the local high school and what should be an exciting new beginning becomes a tragic end. This book follows the events of a horrific school shooting. As we follow the story, we begin to understand the pain of the shooter and the anger that fuels his actions. We also see the misunderstanding as family and friends were there but not there. How many young people are searching for someone to stand by them and love them? How many feel so utterly alone that there is no way out anymore? I wanted this book to end, but I wanted it to end differently. There was no way for this story to have a happily-ever-after ending, because it was too real.
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AuthorHi! I'm Sonya, the Young Adult Librarian at Algona Public Library. I'll be sharing about YA books - old and new. Archives
June 2022
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