Author: Marieke Nijkamp
Publisher & Date: Sourcebooks Fire, 7 May 2019
Page Count: 336 pages
ISBN: 978-1492671114
Age/Reading Level: 9-18/Grade 4-12
Representation: Female main characters, LGBTQIA+ representation, Hispanic/Latino representation
Other Information: Although the Lexile and ATOS scores for the book place it as appropriate for younger grade school students (ages 9-13), most teachers and parents agree that the subject matter is more appropriate for older grade school students (ages 14-18).
Book Information
Go inside a heartbreaking fictional school shooting, minute-by-terrifying-minute. Everyone has a reason to fear the boy with the gun…
10:00 a.m.: The principal of Opportunity, Alabama’s 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.
Over the course of 54 minutes, four students must confront their greatest hopes, and darkest fears, as they come face-to-face with the boy with the gun. In a world where violence in schools is at an all-time high and school shootings are a horrifyingly common reality for teenagers, This Is Where It Ends is a rallying cry to end the gun violence epidemic for good.
Challenges & Bans
No current challenges or bans have been noted.
Awards & Accolades
2016: Cybils Award (finalist)
2017: YALSA Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (nominee), YALSA Teens’ Top Ten Choice (selection), ILA Young Adults’ Choices Reading List, Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award (nominee), CBC Teen Choice Book Award (finalist), Hebben Award for Best YA (Netherlands)
2018: Buckeye Teen Book Award (nominee), YALSA Teen’s Top Ten (selection), Flicker Tale Award (North Dakota), Cultural Talents YA Laureat (France)
2019: Buckeye Teen Book Award (nominee)
Lists Named to: Buzzfeed Best Young Adult Book of the Decade, Paste Magazine Best Teen Book of the Decade, Book Riot Biggest YA Book of the Decade, Professional Book Nerds Best Book of the Decade, Bustle.com Most-Anticipated YA Novel, Goodreads YA Best Books Pick, Goodreads Choice Award Finalist for Young Adult Fiction, Kids Indie Next List Pick
