Tomás, Autumn, Sylvia, and Claire. Remember those names. A former student named Tyler upends their lives in a matter of minutes. In fact, Tyler tears through the lives of everyone present on the first day of school at Opportunity High School in Marieke Nijkamp’s book, This Is Where It Ends.
Everyone Fears The Kid With The Gun
Tyler Browne is the star of the hour in his mind. He has a gun and came prepared to use it on a few people. He locks everyone in the auditorium, which isn’t difficult given the school’s principal giving the annual “Welcome Back” speech in the room, and takes charge of the situation.
Tyler’s character is typical in the beginning. The kid who is abused at home and bullied at school finally takes revenge. Having a gun is his way of proving to everyone that he will indeed have the last laugh and be in control. Naturally, everyone fears the kid with the weapon capable of ending their existence. But is there more to the story?
Yes, There Is More To The Story
Autumn is Tyler’s sister. She serves as a way for readers to see the humanity in the school shooter. Autumn is the brave soul who faces her brother, granted after he murders an innocent while calling for his sister to show herself. She is also the one who reminds Tyler that he was never alone.
A bracelet Tyler gifted his sister to encourage her to keep dancing after their mom’s death is the element that links brother and sister together while showing the reader that Tyler indeed has a kind side. He, in many ways, is a product of his environment at home and the result of being misunderstood one too many times at school.
Sibling Love
Tyler and Autumn are not the only sibling duo we see in This Is Where It Ends. Tomás and Sylvia are also brother and sister as are Claire and Matt. Although Slyvia and Tomás haven’t talked much in the past few months, because of Tyler, Tomás makes the ultimate sacrifice in the end to give his sister more time to escape danger. Meanwhile, Claire fights everyone to get to her brother who never makes it out of the auditorium. Still, her refusal to give up exhibits the depth of sibling love.
Warning!
This book is not for those who have endured traumatic events. Tyler’s story as well as the entire scene at the school can serve as major triggers to those trying to move past similar tragedies. This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp may be a good choice for adults and teens interested in understanding some of the complexities associated with school shootings.