This is Where it Ends - YA Review by Veronica K

Reader: Veronica K.
Age: 15
Title: This is Where it Ends
Author: Marieke Nijkamp
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pub Date: 01/05/16
Galley: Yes
Top 25: No
Convince us to read the book: I actually sort of liked the book. The dialogue felt real to the story, the plot was believable, and the characters were actually there, not just cardboard cutouts. I liked how each section was a different character telling the story because it helped explain who the people were. I'm not sure some of the characters would have acted as they acted in the book in real life, though. For example, there is a kid who escapes from a war zone as a child. I highly doubt he would be as calm and collected as he was the entire story if this actually happened. Also, for as small as they claimed the town to be, the police took a reeeeeaally long time to get to the school... Other than those things, this was a fairly good book stylistically.
Memorable or Forgettable: The plot is the most memorable. A lot of books these days would turn this into a secret plot to take over the world, but this one tells a story that could happen, and probably has happened. Not a lot of books these days tell a truthful story like that, with the depth this has anymore.
Cover: Honestly? The cover sucks. It might just be that I have no experience with the real world, but I have no idea where the things on the cover came from, or what they are. The cover was very confusing, and if I hadn't been told it was worth reading, I probably would have skipped it.
Age Range: 14 through 18 and up
Quality: 4Q - Better than most
Popularity: 3P - Some teen appeal


tags:  thriller / school shooting / drama / ya lit