This is Where it Ends is a young adult novel that describes, moment by moment, a mass shooting at a high school. It covers only that day, and it’s told from various perspectives. The short chapters are organized by student accounts. Characters include the shooter’s sister, an ex-girlfriend, the sister’s girlfriend and her twin, and a few others.
The book is riveting and moves at a fast pace. While there are some attempts to humanize the shooter through his sister’s narrative, there are no punches pulled regarding the monster he ends up being. The gunman’s character is truly chilling and his dialogue feels authentic. Of the different student narratives, there is somewhat a sameness to the voices, but it doesn’t detract from the story.
The books ends at the vigil held the same night as the shooting, which feels a little abrupt. But it’s obvious the author’s intention was to document just that single day. You can’t help but wonder about what the characters will go through as they grieve and process their trauma, but I appreciate why it ended the way it did.
I raced through this book in one day and did tear up in places. I think it’s an affecting read and one worth tackling, if you can endure the scenario.