This Is How It Ends

Gr 7 Up—When five Vermont teens meet in the woods one cold night, they plan to drink a few beers and hang out. When one of the teens finds a pair of binoculars in a nearby cave, the lighthearted get-together takes a decidedly sinister turn. As the they take turns peering through the lens, each sees a haunting vision of his or her future. At first, the friends dismiss the visions as hallucinations, but as the weeks pass, the protagonists discover that the visions are becoming reality. Told from the point of view of Riley, the story keeps readers guessing as vision after vision turns into reality. When Riley looks through the binoculars, he sees himself in bed with his best friend's girlfriend, Sarah. Riley has a crush on Sarah, but he would never betray his best friend, or would he? When Natalie looks through the binoculars, she sees her father's murder. A few days later, when her father is found dead, fingers point to Natalie, but did she do it? Nadol weaves a tales of taut suspense and tender new romance as the teens struggle to resist the fulfilment of the visions, perhaps encouraging readers to think about the implications of personal responsibility and destiny. Each of the teens are plausible characters, likable and flawed at the same time. The lone sci-fi element—the binoculars—is a credible inclusion to the realistic, modern-day setting.—Jennifer Prince, Buncombe County Public Libraries, NC