First Time (Orca Soundings) - Softcover

Tilly, Meg

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1551439441 ISBN 13: 9781551439440

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers, 2008

Synopsis

Haley and Lynn are best friends.

When Lynn meets Chad, a player several years older, Haley feels left out. She tries to be happy for her friend, but when her mother's new boyfriend starts making unwanted advances, Haley finds she has no one to tell. Not wanting to upset her mother's happiness and finding that Lynn is drifting away, Haley has to face her tormentor alone and face up to some very hard truths.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

About this title

About the Author

Meg Tilly is the author of two adult novels, Singing Songs (A Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, 1994) and Gemma, both published with Syren Book Company. Her first YA novel, Porcupine, was released by Tundra in Sept 2007 and was shortlisted for a BC Book Prize, The Canadian Libraries Association Best Children’s Book 2008, and Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Award 2008. It also was an Ontario Library Top Ten Best Bets 2008. First Time is her first book published with Orca. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia with her family.

From the Back Cover

"Get off!" I push at him hard, with both hands. The next thing I know, he's pinned my hands over my head. Haley and Lynn are best friends. When Lynn meets Chad, Haley feels left out. She tries to be happy for her friend, but when her mother's new boyfriend starts making unwanted advances, Haley finds she has no one to tell. Not wanting to upset her mother's happiness and finding that Lynn is drifting away, Haley has to face her tormentor alone and face up to some very hard truths.

From the Inside Flap

Coercion, friendship

Reviews

Grade 8 Up—All Haley would like to do is enjoy her junior year of high school with her friend Lynn, who has just bought her first car. However, Lynn's new boyfriend, Chad, ends up taking Haley's place in Lynn's life and passenger seat. With Haley trapped at home, she finds it difficult to avoid her mom's lecherous boyfriend, Larry. One evening, he attacks Haley, and she barely escapes being raped. Her solution is to lock her doors, prompting her mom to think that she is smoking marijuana. To add to Haley's confusion, Lynn is planning to have sex for the first time and needs Haley's help to buy condoms. With her life turned upside down, the teen finds an unexpected ally in Chad's friend Mike. When Haley's mom confronts her about buying condoms, Haley also tells her about Larry's attack. Realistic dialogue and situations characterize this novel. Struggling readers will appreciate the quick pacing and the low reading/high interest level. However, multiple plotlines and an abrupt, unresolved ending are confusing and unsatisfying.—H. H. Henderson, Heritage Middle School, Deltona, FL
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Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

"Get off!" I push at him hard, with both hands. The next thing I know, he's pinned my hands over my head. I'm stunned how fast this guy can move. "It seems that we've fallen," he says, like he's talking about the color of his necktie.

Edition details

• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1551439441
• ISBN 13: 9781551439440
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 128