Juvenile Fiction
Macmillan
January 5, 2016
336
Seventeen-year-old Mercedes has been secretly sleeping with virgins, letting the boys get their awkward first times over with and only asking they give their girlfriends the perfect first time--the kind Mercedes never had--but when her system falls apart she has to find a way to salvage her reputation and figure out where her heart belongs.
Review:
When I began reading “Firsts” I was expecting a good, but fluffy, read. What I got was complex characters and social commentary. It was a pleasant surprise.
Mercedes, the main character, is someone whose character traits would seem to make her irritating. The reality is that at no point did I find her that way at all. She seems like a real person with real issues that go far beyond the surface. This is a character who has had a hard life, and that manifests itself in the choices she makes. I could see the results of her actions coming like a train wreck, and I wanted to warn her and help her as though she were a real friend. Unfortunately, as with real people, sometimes the only way to learn the real problems are to hit rock bottom and examine yourself there.
There were quite a few social issues brought up in “Firsts”. The dangers of technology being used to cyberbully is one of them, and it places no blame on the one who is being bullied. It also explores the ways parents can shape their kids by not being attentive and aware of their needs. Sometimes parents are neglectful without even realizing it, and that is the case here. Finally, the issue of rape and why victims are afraid to report it is examined. It’s brought up in a way that flows with the book and does not exploit the subject. I found this the heaviest hitting part of the entire book.
“Firsts” is a quick, entertaining read that packs a heavy punch. I highly recommend it for older young adult readers and adults. However, please be aware that “Firsts” is very open (refreshingly so, in my opinion) about sex and all that comes with it. It isn’t meant for the young or those who do not like those sorts of things.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Discussions of Rape
