Booklist Reviews
Nijkamp's debut adds to the growing list of novels about school shootings. As Opportunity, Alabama, high-schoolers are welcomed in for a new school year, an armed male student locks the student body inside the auditorium, and then the carnage begins. The subsequent 54 minutes unfold with breathless pacing in the alternating voices of characters who know the shooter: Claire, the track star and former girlfriend of the shooter, who's outside when the shooting begins; Tomás, a troublemaker who rises to the occasion; Autumn, a promising dancer and the shooter's sister; and Sylv, a straight-A student, who is Autumn's closeted girlfriend and Tomás' twin sister. Although the shooter's motivation could have been more developed and the slow response times of authorities require a suspension of disbelief, Nijkamp's story sadly reflects a very real concern in contemporary America. Strong characterizations capture diversity in gender, race, ability, and sexuality. Even reluctant readers will anxiously pursue the ending, unable to turn away from the tragedy and in desperate hope for a resolution, knowing there cannot be a happy ending. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.
Publishers Weekly Reviews
Sometimes the most terrifying horrors are not those involving monsters out of fantasy but those taken straight from today's headlines. Nijkamp's debut follows four high school students on their first day of the spring semester in Opportunity, Ala. Over the course of 54 minutes—the amount of time a gunman holds their school hostage—their lives collide. Each of the four has an intimate connection to the shooter, and all must find a way to face the unfolding tragedy. While Claire views the event from outside the school, Autumn, Sylv, and Tomás are on the front lines. Love, loyalty, bravery, and loss meld into a chaotic, heart-wrenching mélange of issues that unite some and divide others. A highly diverse cast of characters, paired with vivid imagery and close attention to detail, set the stage for an engrossing, unrelenting tale. The starkly chilling realism and themes of abuse, death, and assault, among others, may prove too much for younger or sensitive readers, but the story unquestionably leaves an indelible mark. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jennifer Udden, Donald Maass Literary Agency. (Jan.)
[Page ]. Copyright 2015 PWxyz LLCSchool Library Journal Reviews
Gr 8 Up—It's the start of the spring semester at Opportunity High School in Opportunity, AL, and the school day is progressing as normal—until one revenge-minded student brings violence to this sleepy, close-knit community. This novel takes place over the course of 54 tense minutes, as four main characters (all of whom also conveniently have siblings affected by the shooting) narrate their harrowing experiences and consider their relationships with the shooter. Nijkamp populates Opportunity High School with a diverse representation of students, enriching the book with their varied experiences and reactions to the horrifying turn of events. The four main narratives are joined by text messages, tweets, and blog entries interspersed throughout, allowing for more viewpoints and commentary without narrative clutter. Although the work is devastating, it offers a small moment of optimism and closure at the end without resorting to an incongruous tidy ending. VERDICT With a thrilling narrative, topical subject matter, and diverse characters, this is a first purchase for libraries serving teens.—Susannah Goldstein, Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City
[Page 120]. (c) Copyright 2015 Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Voice of Youth Advocates Reviews
Opportunity, Alabama, could be described as a small town, a place where most graduating teens want to leave in order to try their luck elsewhere. Returning from break, the students of Opportunity High have gathered in the auditorium, ready to listen to Principal Trenton's standard start-of-the-semester speech, but nothing about this school day will turn out as expected. Knowing his peers would be together, one angry student locks the auditorium doors from the outside and begins to enact his plan for revenge against those who wronged him in the past. When the shooting begins, no one is safe Told through multiple characters who have a direct relationship to the shooter, the book gives readers the chance to come to their own conclusions about who, what, and why. Alternating between the viewpoints in short time bursts builds tension as the list of victims continues to grow and it becomes clear anyone could be next. The narrators are given complex backstories, including a same-sex couple, and a number of the casualties are placed in context. It is a challenge to establish an understanding of some characters and their relationships due to the swift changes in voice, but the core message and potential to open thoughtful discussion make this a solid choice for teen readers.—Stacey Hayman 3Q 4P J S Copyright 2011 Voya Reviews.