This book does exactly what it sets out to do: make you feel the horror of a school shooting in real-time. It's brutal, it's important, and it's absolutely not for everyone.

Nijkamp's minute-by-minute structure is effective—you're trapped in that auditorium with those kids, and the timestamps make every second count. The four POVs give you different angles on the tragedy, and the book doesn't shy away from showing how violence intersects with abuse, discrimination, and broken systems.

But here's the thing: this is trauma on the page. It's marketed with quotes like 'literally tore my heart out' and 'the saddest book I have ever read,' and that's accurate. Some readers will find it meaningful and cathartic. Others will find it exploitative or just too much. Parent reviews confirm it drags despite being short, and the relentless intensity can feel numbing rather than enlightening.

If your teen is ready for this level of content and wants to engage with the gun violence conversation through fiction, this is a well-executed option. But if they're sensitive, have experienced violence, or just aren't in the headspace for devastation, there are other ways to talk about these issues. This isn't required reading—it's a choice that requires informed consent.