Close your Eyes

By: Nicci Cloke
Location: FIXC CLO
Genre: Contemporary- sad stuff

"Close Your Eyes by Nicci Cloke was a thought-provoking, and emotional rollercoaster of a YA read". Paula

Close Your Eyes is the story of a school shooting which, through interviews, messages and questionable actions, asks: Who is truly responsible?
 

This brutal & quite original story  deals with the repercussions of any sort of bullying. The story focuses on the events that lead to the horrific incident using transcripts, interviews, online conversations etc which adds to the drama & thriller aspect. Starting with the emergency call captures your attention from the very beginning.

At the center of the story is a group of 6 teens with one of them being the quiet "weird" one, Elijah, who you don't know at the beginning if he is shooter or victim. Their POVs tell us the story until that devastating curve ball that just "whoosh" hits you in the chest and you are numb till you realize what that even bigger curve ball is!

The book deals with the questions of when behavior becomes a type of bullying, violent, when should or if we should get involved? Where does privacy end and genuine concern begin/ Are their signs of the oncoming tragedy, or is it all 20/20 hindsight?

As the web of the group's interaction untangles, you get the feel for each one's role & start having your own theories of what is to come and opinions of fault. I believe the POVs of everyone involved were done very well, with each having the appropriate voice.

The accounts during the shooting, especially of the shooter, crank the intensity really high, and your heart is in the throat until the end- Rebecca