The First Stone

The First Stone-
A young offender’s judicious plot driven odyssey to become a productive member of society
Don Aker makes the novel The First Stone very interesting and intriguing without question because of his effective writing style. He uses simple, understandable, yet powerful vocabulary to draw the reader into each moment of the plot. The sentence structure was not very complex, but I think it was quite appropriate for a teenager to read. The use of the third- person omniscient point of view in the novel really helps the reader experience the story on a more personal level. The author’s narrative voice takes the front seat, and one is able to get inside the mind of the protagonist – Reef, a teenager who is piecing together the puzzle that is his life, gradually delving into deeper emotions and relationships with important characters and figures in the novel. The characters in the text Reef and Leeza are teenagers who have gone through some difficult events in their young lives. The reader is able to relive their memories and experiences, with flashbacks that Don Aker incorporates in the novel. The climax of the story develops quite naturally, with a sense of cohesiveness that is clearly present. As each chapter passes the reader has been give some insight about Leeza as the author throughout the novel, has moved back and forth between the perspectives of the two principal characters. Little by little, as time progresses, a turn of events causes the two main characters to be in the same place, in which Reef would change both their lives forever. By making two teenagers as the main focal points of the novel, the author really wants the target audience to feel a connection, and relate the novel to their lives or someone they...

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...nd was innocent people, but events beyond their control seemed to put them in difficult situations.
In final regard, after reading this text, I understood why the author would imply the use of stones a lot in Reef’s life. He made it in one way tied to a biblical reference, and an emotional connection that Reef had with stones ever since him and his grandmother used to collect them when he was a kid. The author leaves the reader in satisfaction and brings the story to a full, meaningful stop by ending of the book with Reef holding a stone he found, although his relationship with Leeza was still unsolved. Overall, I feel that this book was a gripping page-turner that was definitely satisfying to read. I would recommend this young adult novel to all readers who are looking for a slightly emotional, exciting and eventful thriller packed into a short, lively journey.