First Love: What Would You Give Up To Keep Yours? [Paperback]

Yolanda Callegari Brooks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2002

Amani Shephard is saved, seventeen, and the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter. However, this special position in the family comes with built-in pressures, especially since her sisters each strayed from their Christian upbringing. Her mother Olivia sees Amani as her last hope. Finally, she will have a daughter who "saves" herself for marriage. Then Amani meets Marley "Miracle Man" Jamison, a star college basketball player, who is also a Christian. As Amani falls deeper into the arena of young love, she spins a new world with Marley that threatens to overtake her until nothing else matters. When a family secret is revealed, her convictions are shaken and Amani is forced to uncover what she really believes. Unfortunately, her search for truth begins at a time when Marley is experiencing a shift in his views on abstinence. Amani must make the toughest decision of her life: Save it for marriage or just do it?

Editorial Reviews

Review

An entertaining coming-of-age novel that challenges each of us. This wonderfully written debut speaks directly to the heart. -- Victoria Christopher Murray, Author of Joy and Temptation

First Love...is also a testament to the power and passion of both young love and love for God. -- Maxine Thompson, Author of The Ebony Tree and No Pockets in a Shroud

Tremendous first effort! Yolanda Callegari Brooks brings to life a story that speaks to the pertinent issues of today... -- Gina Johnson Smith, Author of 100 Important Life Lessons for Everyone

With evocative prose and anointed purpose, Brooks weaves a tale...that challenges us...to put first things first. -- Jamellah Ellis, Author of That Faith, That Trust, That Love

About the Author

Yolanda Callegari Brooks has wanted to be a writer since the age of six. A native of California, she lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband and their three children. First Love is the debut in a series of novels designed to entertain, encourage, and inspire readers everywhere.

Product Details

• Paperback: 373 pages
• Publisher: Bow Press (February 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971627479
• ISBN-13: 978-0971627475
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,811,915 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Originally posted on Gospelcity.., December 7, 2002

By 

Robin Caldwell (Cleveland, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Love: What Would You Give Up To Keep Yours? (Paperback)

Book Review - First Love
There was a void in the Christian fiction book market for African American teens and young adults and Yolanda Callegari Brooks has filled it with First Love. This is Callegari's first novel and it contains gems of encouragement and wisdom.

The central theme of First Love is abstinence-sexual purity. Yes, First Love is preachy, in part, but that is not necessarily a bad thing in this case. It is not what you say but how say it that matters. "Flee fornication" is about the extent of the teaching church youth hear.

Amani, the seventh daughter of the seventh daughter ( Olivia) falls in love with Marley, a college basketball star with the reputation of being a Christian virgin. The struggle of the young couple is to hold off sexual activity until their wedding night. Temptation comes in a variety of forms, such as groupies, doubting adults who succumbed to sexual sin and peers who have caved to the pressure.

Callegari does a fine job of presenting Amani and Marley's relationship in a realistic way. Carefully constructed plot twists lend authenticity to the storyline. She offers both practical and spiritual answers to the question: Why should I remain sexually pure when everyone and everything around me says, "do it?"

Sub-plots focus on Amani's widowed mother, Olivia, and her inability to move forward after the death of her husband. Olivia cannot effectively relinquish her mourning clothes for gladness until she faces the guilt of the past, which includes a post-rape abortion.

If you are looking for perfect characters and the perfect ending, it is not present in First Love. The flaws of characters and scenarios mimic every day life quite well. This book depicts the realities of teenagers and their parents.
In fact, minor characters such as Taylor, Marley's friend, provide powerful testimony to godly character without appearing "too good to be true." The transformation of Clifton, a trash-talking womanizer is most notable and worthy of further exploration by the author.

First Love is rich in subtext, as well. Rooted in biblical truth, First Love delves into the power of friendships between women; submission to authority and husbands; and envy.

A favorite line in the book, "We can choose our actions, but we can't choose their consequences," catapults the novel from mere backstory to compelling. The tone is set as those consequences are spelled out one-by-one.

The use of contemporary iconography, such as slang to musical references, makes for an engaging read for teens without boredom. It looks like someone has finally figured out a way to present this topic without losing the audience. Bravo.

Beginning passages of First Love were difficult to digest. The book was cramped with too many details, which is normal for a first novel. However, Callegari rebounds successfully beyond this minor glitch and First Love became hard to put down. Callegari has proven that she has the aptitude to join the ranks of other Christian writers such as, Victoria Christopher Murray and Jacquelin Thomas.

First Love demonstrates what most adults have already learned: Even Christian kids, who do well in school and are spiritually sophisticated, struggle with their sexuality. The rise of STDs and teen pregnancy proves we cannot continue to turn a blind eye towards this issue.

First Love is highly recommended reading for book chats and Bible study groups-young and old. If you are seeking a way to step up your teen ministry, then this book offers excellent material to beef up discussions on sexuality and Christian conduct.

First Love serves up a happy ending though it might not be the expected outcome. Yet, the ending is based on the same reality, which threads the story from the start. It is definitely God glorifying.

Note to Callegari: Your characters leave us wanting more. Please bring us up to speed in a sequel.

...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First Love, April 5, 2002

By 

Dawnyale (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Love: What Would You Give Up To Keep Yours? (Paperback)

I loved the novel. It was very motivating. While reading the book it felt like I was there with the characters. I caught myself several times, speaking out loud, "No don't do it...it's not worth it!" As I got to the last few pages of the book I thought that I wouldn't be satisfied with the ending. However...After reading the ending pages I realized that the ending couldn't have been better. The book is so well written that I couldn't put it down. I'm sure you won't be able to either.

Yolanda Callegari Brooks is sure to be an author that will be spoken of throughout the communities of America.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Surrender All, January 24, 2003

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Love: What Would You Give Up To Keep Yours? (Paperback)

Yolanda Callegari Brooks enters the literary scene with a well written Christian novel. First Love is a coming of age novel that delves into staying "pure" until marriage and the pressures placed on a young woman.

Amani Sheppard is the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter. Seven is a perfect number in the Bible and her mother is praying that her daughter saves herself for marriage unlike her other daughters. Being in this special position in this family places intense pressure on Amani and Marley enters the picture.

Marley, the suave, debonair star college basketball player is also a young Christian young man striving to abstain from sex until marriage. Will Amani and Marley make it to marriage? Will knowledge of a family secret cause Amani to falter in her Christian journey?

First Love is the beautifully written love story of these young adults along with the story of the Sheppard women. It captures the reader in the beginning and keeps you engrossed until the surprise ending. Yolanda Brooks has done a superb job of blending Christian principles and the Bible into the storyline. I would recommend this book to any teen group to facilitate discussions on dating, teen sex and the consequences.

Reviewed by Robilyn
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers