During the principal’s welcoming speech to the student body to a new semester, someone locks the doors, and starts firing a gun.

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Why this book?: I was looking for books to read, mainly short books that I could read while another book came in the library. I’ve heard a lot about this book, so I figured I would try it out.

Yay! Diversity! But that’s about it.

I was so happy when I read that there was a lesbian character, as well as multiple POC main characters! Those little nods within the book were so refreshing, especially after reading so many books (for so long) that have little to no diversity. This is one of the books that helped me find more diverse books, and I am so thankful for that.

Except, that was really all I enjoyed about this book.

I never really connected with any of the characters, probably because the way the book was formatted, with the chapters titled as what time it was. The book was supposed to take place in about 52 minutes, and with all of the character POVs that the author wrote, it was really hard to keep track of everything. So many things were happening at once-and while I’m aware that that does happen during these types of situations, it would have been better to keep to one or two POVs for this book, rather then four different people. I was so confused with what was supposed to be happening, that I never really understood the book and what it was supposed to mean.

Using tragedies to attract more readers

Nothing about the book felt genuine. It felt more as if everything was added to get more of a WOW from reviews, to get more people to read it, instead of writing what you what, how you want.

Sure, there was diversity, but they felt more like it was added to attract people-because a lot of people are looking for that very thing. Using a school shooting as the plot also felt fake. It’s a sensitive topic, and I doubt there’s many fictional books about them. But using the tragedy to attract more readers, which it what the entire book felt like, is not okay.

The antagonist’s motivation, as well, was completely brushed over. Basically, it just boiled down to extreme hate and homophobia-of his damn sister. I don’t see how that could have prompted someone to shoot up their former school (he was expelled because he was harassing his sister’s girlfriend). The motivation was brushed over and obscured, made so vague that it left you knowing that a reason was given, but not sure what it was.

Final Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Overall?

It was a decent book, and while I loved the diversity, it just felt like the author did that to attract readers. Same with the idea, it felt like it was being used for shock value, rather then for a desire to delve into the tragedy and deep psychology that this situation has.

Would I Recommend?

This is Where it Ends was an interesting book, and I won’t stop anyone from reading it. Personal opinion, it just felt fake.

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Additional Information:

Published: January 5th, 2016

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Page Count: 285

Genre: YA/Contemporary/Thriller

Synopsis:

10:00 a.m. The principal of Opportunity 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.

10:03 a.m. The auditorium doors won’t open.

10:05 a.m. Someone starts shooting.

Told from four different perspectives over the span of fifty-four harrowing minutes, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.