First Light (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The father of 12-year-old Peter is a glaciologist, his mother, a genetic scientist. Peter is thrilled when his father decides to take the family on his latest excursion to Greenland to study the effects of global warming. Fourteen-year-old Thea lives in a secret society called Gracehope under the Greenland ice. After finding a map that leads her to the surface, she becomes obsessed with seeing the sun and bringing her people back above ground. Peter and Thea accidentally meet on the surface and discover, through a secret kept by Peter's mother, that their destinies are unexpectedly joined. This debut novel is slow to start, and Stead's world building isn't quite convincing. There are some gaps in Gracehope's invented mythology, and the motivations behind the creation of the underground utopia are vague and simplistic. But the icy setting and global-warming theme are well realized, and middle-school fans of Neil Shusterman's Downsiders (2000) and Jeanne DuPrau's Books of Ember will also enjoy this solid, well-meaning fantasy. Jennifer Hubert
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Review

"A mix of science, suspense, and adventure." -- New York Post

"Stead is able to get to a fantastic place because of her understanding of and sheer delight in the magic of the natural world." -- The Philadelphia Inquirer

"This novel for young teens is getting a certain amount of buzz in bookstores because of its fashionable theme." -- The Wall Street Journal

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books (June 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375840176
• ISBN-13: 978-0375840173
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #355,322 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Mix of Adventure & Science, March 9, 2008

By	L. K. Messner "Kate Messner" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First Light was hard for me to put down. Peter Solemn's world is rocked in the very first chapter when his father, a glaciologist, announces the family is going on a research trip to Greenland. Two chapters later, we meet a second main character, Thea, who lives under the arctic ice in a society created generations ago by a group of people fleeing persecution in Europe.

What I loved most about this book was that it plunged me into not just one, but two fascinating new worlds. Greenland itself really qualifies as an alien landscape of sorts, and Stead's rich details bring it to life. (Is there really a Volkswagon Road there where the company tests new models? So cool!) Thea's world beneath the ice is painted vividly as well with terrific techno-details about the innovations of that new society called Gracehope. I've added Gracehope to the list of imaginary places (along with Hogwarts and Narnia) that I long to visit some day.

I'm not giving too much away if I share that Peter and Thea cross paths along the way. Their stories intertwine in ways that are surprising but perfect and believable at the same time. First Light is a great read -- a fantastic mix of science fiction and adventure with plenty of real science mixed in, too. Teachers looking for titles to integrate with earth science and environmental units will especially love this one.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you liked City of Ember..., August 17, 2007

By	Michael Sullivan (Portsmouth, NH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you liked City of Ember, here is the next book to pick up. A great first book, and a wonderful story. And for those who like fantasy without a lot of fantasy creatures and magic, even just for a change, this is one of your few choices. It is a great piece of writing when you can get that otherworldly feel within the confines and rules of this world. Hope they look at this for a Prince Award.

Michael Sullivan ([...])

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Could it happen?, October 10, 2007

By	Amanda Snow (A Patchwork of Books) "Lover of ... (Holloman AFB, NM USA) - See all my reviews

First Light by Rebecca Stead is told by two narrators. The first, Peter, is the son of a glaciologist and a genetic scientist. He is thrilled when his parents decide to take him on an expedition to Greenland, where they will be studying different aspects of glacier ice caps and the effects of global warming. Thea, the other narrator, lives in a city underneath the ice in Greenland, called Gracehope. Thea and Peter meet accidentally and without warning, the two worlds collide in what could be disaster.

The novel was a bit slow in the beginning, but picked up in pace and excitement towards the middle. The was very reminiscent of Jeanne DuPrau's City of Ember books, though I almost liked the setting in First Light better. It has been said that people can really survive surrounded by ice...so who knows if there really is a Gracehope out there! :-)

I was a little disappointed in this title, though I very much enjoyed it...it just wasn't quite as fabulous as everyone has said. I think that's why I would much rather read a book before so many other people get their hands on it, that way my view isn't skewed and I don't get my expectations too high! At any rate, I still enjoyed the book, it was well written and I look forward to seeing other works from this author.