Isn’t it always a wondrous thing to behold a shooting star
as it crosses the sky? It’s something special and new each time and sort of a
thrill to get to see. Those are my thoughts in meeting this new author Krista
McGee. Her first novel entitled First
Date is a charming novel. I love the creativity behind it. I mean who would
have thought to cross the ages old Esther story with a little contemporary reality
TV show ala “The Bachelor” style and oh yeah, let’s make it a YA book making it
G rated and appropriate for a great teen read. (Although I am not a teen and
enjoyed it very much.)
Meet teenaged Addy
Davidson singularly focused on her studies and getting into an Ivy League
University, hand selected to represent her small Christian school as their
representative on a reality TV show called “The Book of Love”. On this show the
“Bachelor” or rather Prom date seeker is none other than Jonathon Jackson, the
movie –star looking ,son of the leader-of-the-free-world, which makes him sought
after by teenage girls all across America…but not by Addy. Being on this show
is not on her list of things to do and she makes her feelings known…in front of
millions of viewers. But somehow this
very fact endears her to Jonothan and to America and as Addy goes on this
little adventure filled with all kinds of challenges ranging from athletic
prowess on the golf course to academics to good manners and etiquette, she
finds herself making friends and a few enemies and also becoming more than a little
enthralled with this Jonothan Jackson guy.
Krista McGee does a great job with her first novel. She makes Addy a very likeable heroine and
does it by giving her that perfect balance of spunk and vulnerability. Her back
story is heartbreaking as she lost her missionary parents when she was a young
child and this very fact drives her to succeed in her studies and life. Addy is
not perfect and makes mistakes along the way, but the reader sees that she
truly allows God to guide her path and trusts Him with the outcome.
To sum up, I think the premise is fun, characters
interesting and pacing just right. I really enjoyed this story and am always on
the lookout for great YA Christian fiction for my own daughters and am very
pleased to be able to recommend this one without reservation. I look forward to
seeing more novels by this author !
Great book!- 4 stars.
