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The First by Sara Zaske
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The First (original 1952; edition 2012)

by Sara Zaske

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1161,711,848 (4.67)None
Cassie Craig is not the chosen one. Not even close.She's just an ordinary, 15-year-old California girl with a few problems. She talks too much. She has a crush on a guy in her school. She worries about her dad who is a Marine in Afghanistan.Then, there's her new friend, Violet Starkey. The weirdest girl in school, Violet comes from a group of magical people who claim to be the first on earth.When Cassie discovers that Violet has powers over nature, she will do anything to be her friend--all for the chance Violet might help bring her dad home.But Cassie isn't the only one who wants Violet's powers, and she soon finds out just how dangerous it is to be the true friend of one of the most powerful magical beings in the world.… (more)
Member:The-Avid-Reader
Title:The First
Authors:Sara Zaske
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Rating:*****
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The First by Sara Zaske (1952)

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Find this review and more on Between the Bind

The First is a unique story, explained well in the above blurb. The plot is well developed and the characterization is thoughtful. I appreciated that the First People were elitest's - which made complete sense to me as they are so much more advanced, intelligent, and powerful than humans. And then there is little halfling Violet, who is most definitely an odd ball - but an endearing one. Ms. Zaske definitely pulled me into her world of First's.

The First begins in high school...with mean girls. I'm not a big fan of the typical mean girl but SZ is a sneaky beast - able to frustrate me while constructing my connection with Violet and my innate desire to punch faces protect her from the above vom-bags.

SZ also surprised me when Cassie was included in the "mean girl" group. I actually enjoyed my initial dislike for Cassie, forcing her to not only win Violet's respect and trust but also my own. The change facilitated was realistic, which to me means that it took a some time for Cassie to be a trustworthy character after her initial lemming behavior.

But once the friendship between Violet and Cassie is real, you can really see the kind, protective, and honest young woman underneath the initial vapid teenage exterior. Cassie really had a depth to her that I enjoyed uncovering.

There were a few plot points that I didn't really think fit, or were too quickly paced to feel like the natural evolution of the story - for example, when Cassie began to research ways to use Violet's powers to bring her dad home from the Afghanistan. I felt like there wasn't enough attention paid to this - and because of it, the concept was almost unnecessary.

Overall, The First was an engaging read with a unique concept. Even with the minor editing flaws and some plot disconnect, The First is a book to add to your to-read shelf. ( )
  BetweentheBind | Jul 21, 2012 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Member Giveaways.
Cassie is a typical teenage California girl. Her best friend Angie is a very egotistical person. I couldn't understand Cassie and Angie being best friends. I mean they were like night and day. Cassie thought about other people and their feelings. Where as Angie only thought about herself.

Well they were best friends until Cassie became interested in the new girl at school. Violet is a very strange person until you get to know her. She doesn't talk much where as Cassie talks a lot. Violet ask Cassie to go over to her house for a play date. Cassie wants to go but is kind of ashamed to go to someone's house for a play date that is something that little kids do. Besides her best friend, Angie doesn't think she ought to go to that strange girls house.

But Cassie wants very much to go so she does. When they get there Violet tells Cassie about her magical powers. She also tells her about how her family are The First people. That her people were here on earth before humans were.

Violet's estranged grandfather wants her to come for a visit. But Violet's mother doesn't want her to go by herself. She ask Cassie to go with her. Her grandfather wants to use Violet for her what she can do, her being the most powerful person ever. Her grandfather wants to take the world back from the humans. When Violet finds out what it is that he has wanted all along with her she refusses to help him. Her grandfather then blackmails her into doing what he wants by threating her mother his own daughter's life. Violet thinking that she has no other choice but to help him after he threatens her does want her wants.

She send Cassie home to warn her family and everyone that she can. To try to get as many as she can to leave before it is to late. Cassie tries but no one believes her. The First is one of those books that will stay with you long after you have put it down. I really enjoyed reading it. I would like to know more about Cassie and Violet and The First people.

I recieced a copy of The First by Sara Zaske from LibraryThing for review. ( )
  The-Avid-Reader | Jun 26, 2012 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Member Giveaways.
I enjoyed this book and it had me hooked from the first page. The author was very kind and made a epub version for me , even though she didnt have to, Thanks Sara! I love supernatural books and it was nice to get a new type of supernatural being . I enjoyed it as an adult, it was an easy read and I recommend it hightly. ( )
  hollav | May 29, 2012 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Member Giveaways.
It may say it's for young adults, but I think most adults would love this book too! This book is one of those that you don't want to put down until you finish reading it. This is about the first people - the ones with nature. I love the author's take on this idea. Her writing style makes you "see" clearly in your mind. ( )
  iggabod | May 26, 2012 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Member Giveaways.
I won this book from member librarything giveaways in exchange for an honest review.

The First by Sara Zaske is about Cassie, a teenager who used to be part of a mean girls crowd until she meets Violet, a strange girl who has powers that Cassie cannot even fathom. But as she meets Violet's grandfather, who is charismatic but sinister, Cassie realizes that she is going to play a large role in determining what is going to happen to humanity.

I'll say it out right. Most of the books I receive through librarything are not quality. But this book is different. I was impressed, and I'm hard to impress. The story starts with an observation of Cassie's and from then on, I was hooked. I loved how Zaske gradually revealed the plot and magical powers. This world and people that she has imagined has her own unique, creative twist in a deluged young adult genre. I thought all the female characters were very compelling: Cassie mostly, but also, Violet and her mother.

Also, in a world full of trilogies, I admired and applauded the fact that this was a stand alone novel, and an excellent one at that. I will definitely be looking out for Sara Zaske's future work. ( )
  chickey1981 | May 22, 2012 |
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"Fu un coraggioso" scrisse Den Swift, "colui che per primo assaggiò un'ostrica." E, devo aggiungere, fu un uomo a cui la società deve molto, - se non che un tale debito è da ritenersi cancellato dall'attimo di rapimento che lui fu il primo a provare.
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Cassie Craig is not the chosen one. Not even close.She's just an ordinary, 15-year-old California girl with a few problems. She talks too much. She has a crush on a guy in her school. She worries about her dad who is a Marine in Afghanistan.Then, there's her new friend, Violet Starkey. The weirdest girl in school, Violet comes from a group of magical people who claim to be the first on earth.When Cassie discovers that Violet has powers over nature, she will do anything to be her friend--all for the chance Violet might help bring her dad home.But Cassie isn't the only one who wants Violet's powers, and she soon finds out just how dangerous it is to be the true friend of one of the most powerful magical beings in the world.

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