Firsts--Reviewed by Sarah Roberts

"People aren’t a chemistry experiment you can tinker with until the proportions are just right.

People are terrifying that way.”

Your first time is something that is not only a big step, but also utterly terrifying. Some people desperately wish that there was some way to get ready or even practice, without their girlfriend or boyfriend finding out. I mean they just want to give that one special person the perfect special time.

Enter Mercedes Ayres.

Seventeen year old Mercedes Ayres gives boyfriends that chance to get the awkward first time over with, and open the door to giving their girlfriends perfect first time. Only catch is the guy has to be a virgin and he can't ever speak of his adventure with Mercedes to anyone. Of course the boys are fine with the secrecy, except for Zach who seems to want more from Mercedes than she is willing to give.

Everything seems to be going quite well that is until Charlie, Mercedes's best friend Angela's boyfriend, wants a turn. Suddenly, Mercedes little "tutoring" becomes public. All Mercedes secretes come to light and she isn't ready for it.

Join Mercedes as she tries to find out who she really is, battles the hatred from her fellow girl classmates, and even love.

I gave this book five stars because I absolutely loved it! This book captured topics that seem to be felt through out high schoolers all over the world. There's self-esteem issues, sexuality issues, bullying, love, and becoming comfortable with our bodies. This book made me really think about things in my life that I have done, and the real thoughts behind them. It gives you an inside view of what people really feel about themselves and how they think their actions affect other people's lives.

Ms. Crawford, I think we should purchase this book because not only does it show you the affects of sexual activity on a teen, but also the affects on the partner of the sexually active teen. This book does not just cover sex, but it also covers the thought process of a teen and how they feel the need to be loved in order to love themselves. It shows us that sex is not supposed to be used for feeling pleasure or a false sense of happiness, but rather for the purpose of expressing your love for the one person you believe will be your first and only love. This book also lets us see the bad affects that sex has on a person, and what multiple sexually partners can really do to a person. I think this book will have a great affect on my fellow peers and believe that this book should be incorporated into our library. This needs to be experienced by our young adults in order to help them find their way through high school and the pressure of sex at our age. 

The Golden World reviewed by: Portia Rockers

Morgan Monetti is an average teenager, she's super smart and people have high expectations for her. Morgan's mother Dinah has her hands full with twin new born babies, so trusting that Morgan is mature enough she ignores Morgan and lets her do what she wants. Morgan is feeling down because she is rejected by her ex-boyfriend and her crush turned out to be gay. She seeks comfort in her young calculus teacher, T.J. Hill, but he quickly turns it into an affair. Morgan who believes that she is an adult doesn't see it as T.J. taking advantage of her and even in the court room she stands by him. Rain who is T.J.s wife is depressed because she wants to be pregnant, and has no idea that her husband is cheating on her.

I gave this book four stars because the plot was really interesting, but some of the characters were really annoying. Morgan was really cocky and needed to be told that she is not an adult nor is she old enough to make the chioces she made, and thoughts about T.J. Dinah was a bit neglectful and maybe if she paid more attention to Morgan then it might not have happened. Rain was a bit niave and I think she refused to see the flaws in her husband. I think the way the book was written well and it was really interesting. We get to see T.J through the eyes of Rain and what she thinks. I recommend this book to anyone who likes scandals.