This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp is gripping with a timely and intense storyline that captivates readers. The multiple perspectives offer deep emotional insights, though some find character development lacking. The pacing is swift, fitting its high-stakes scenario, but can feel rushed. Overall, it’s a compelling read with powerful moments, ideal for fans of contemporary drama.

A reader who would enjoy This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp is likely someone who appreciates gripping, emotionally intense narratives that explore serious social issues. Fans of Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas will find this book's exploration of trauma and resilience compelling.

In This Is Where It Ends, by Marieke Nijkamp, Tyler Browne locks students in the auditorium of Alabama's Opportunity High School and commits a school shooting after Principal Trenton's first-day-of-spring-semester speech, narrated via four different first-person accounts by seniors Autumn, Sylv, Tomas, and Claire, exploring the fifty-five minutes before, during, and after the event. The novel includes depictions of gun violence and trauma.

Dark / Unnerving / Suspenseful / Emotional

- This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp was published on January 5, 2016, and became an instant New York Times bestseller.
- The novel unfolds over a span of 54 minutes and is told from the perspectives of four students at Opportunity High School.
- Marieke Nijkamp, the author of the book, is a founding member of DiversifYA and was the founding executive of We Need Diverse Books.

**Sylv**  
A high school senior who lives on a farm and cares for her sick mother while being an over-achiever who has been accepted to Brown University. She is one of the narrators and has a strong bond with her girlfriend Autumn.

**Autumn**  
One of the narrators who hopes to attend Juilliard and is deeply connected to her family and her memories with her brother. She is Sylv’s girlfriend and contributes empathy and emotion to the narrative.

**Tomas**  
A school bad boy and Sylv's brother who seeks to mend his broken relationship with her. He plays a crucial role in helping students during a critical event at the school.

**Fareed**  
The only Islamic student at the school and Tomas's partner, he is involved in efforts to protect and save his fellow students.

**Claire**  
A track runner and ROTC member, she serves as another narrator and reflects on the impact of community and events on individual lives, evolving through the novel.

**Tyler**  
A troubled and intelligent former student with a complicated past who is involved in major events impacting the school and its community.

Marieke Nijkamp

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Chapters 1-3

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Chapters 7-9

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Chapters 19-21

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