First Times: Stories Selected by Marthe Jocelyn

by Marthe Jocelyn (Editor)

“First times” can be life-changing experiences. Marthe Jocelyn has selected fourteen unforgettable stories, written by several of the best authors in North America, which explore human nature and take the reader on a transforming journey. From innocent firsts, such as first blue jeans, first boyfriend, first job, first step into adulthood, to the more complex first disillusionment, first inappropriate love, first family breakup, first breach of trust, to the shocking first dead body and first night alone, the stories in First Times — in all their diversity — embrace and captivate with their power.

Contributors include Martha Slaughter, Curtis Parkinson, Susan Juby, Alan Cumyn, Susan Adach, Ted Staunton, Richard Scrimger, Gillian Chan, Bill Habeeb, Nancy Hartry, Bill Richardson, Tim Wynne-Jones, Marthe Jocelyn, and Sarah Ellis.

Genres: Canada

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Canadian born
22 books published for young readers"

Reviews

[Karen Henspeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

o Your full name: Karen Henspeter

o APA citation: Jocelyn, M. (2007). First timesToronto, Ontario: Tundra Books.

o Genre: Short Stories

o Format: Print

o Selection process:
Rashid, L. (2008). When Less Is More: New short story collections to get teens reading. School Library Journal, 54(4), 16-19.

o Review:
First Times, compiled by by Marthe Jocelyn, is an eclectic mix of coming-of-age stories, each one written by a different Canadian author. The stories are mostly humorous, but every now and then, they are also a little shocking.

“Fore!” (by Nancy Hartry) tells the story of a young boy who begins working for a golf club, only to find out later that he is actually helping to transport drugs. When he is arrested, he comes to realize that money and status are not what life is all about.
“Wings” (by Curtis Parkinson) is about Robbie, a teenager who longs to be a military pilot but first must encounter the reality of death.
“Career Woman” (by Susan Juby) recounts the hilarious tale of a first job gone wrong. The main character is hired by a rental car company, even though she is a horrendous employee. She comes to her senses after she is fired and arrested.
“Blue Jeans” (by Alan Cumyn) tells the touching story of a young boy who falls for a sales clerk while trying to pick out a pair of new jeans.
“Solitary Night” (by Susan Adach) eavesdrops on the mental processes of a teenager who is staying home alone for the first time. After convincing her parents that a friend will join her, she finds her house eerie and quiet—until a stalker comes to her door and asks her to help him find a perverted “Peeping Tom.” She does not realize his true identity until the morning.
“Issues” (by Ted Staunton) has no plot but plenty of humor. It is mostly banter between the main character and his friend, two teenage boys who eat constantly, write guitar songs, dream about girls, and only think about growing up.
“First Time Never – Holding Hands” (by Richard Scrimer) is written from the perspective of a teenage boy who is known for being a witty writer. He writes a silly tale about holding hands with a zombie for his English class, insisting that he is intending to be “scary” and not “funny.”
“This Boy” (by Martha Slaughter) is about the pains of a first boyfriend. The main character, who has two protective brothers, falls for a senior who is considerably older. She must convince her mom, her brothers, and herself that the relationship is legitimate and worthwhile.
“First Meat” (by Bill Richardson) introduces its readers to an only child, his quirky parents, and their beloved vegetarian dog. The story processes the dogs eventual death.
“The New World” (by Marthe Joceyln) tells the story of a young girl who moves to a boarding school—much to her joy. Her parents accompany her, and as she starts to learn the ropes and say goodbye to them, she realizes that they will be divorced the next time she sees either one.
“Early Girl” (by Sarah Ellis) is a strange tale about a posse’s adventures is a make-believe world.

o Recommendation Level: Recommended*
*First Times is quirky, humorous, and fun!

[Canadian Children's Book Centre]

There’s a first time for everything, and many of those experiences are unforgettable. More often than not, what we choose to remember — and return to over and over in our minds — are those milestone first times, those rites of passage that give us a slice of independence and a piece of adulthood. We all remember our first job, first night alone, first pair of jeans, first boyfriend. But it’s also impossible to ignore some other firsts — equally indelible, despite perhaps being painful, unpleasant, or disturbing: the first run-in with crime, first glimpse of a dead body, first betrayal of trust, first split-up of family, first unattainable love, first failed test of maturity. And let’s not leave out those creative firsts that writers and writing can inspire: the first experience of writing a story, stepping inside a poem for the first time, or drinking in that first experience of belonging in an imaginative world... All of these firsts are explored in this collection compiled by the award-winning Marthe Jocelyn. It contains stories by many of “the greats” in Canadian literature for young people. Put simply, this short story collection is brilliant — which is no surprise, with contributing authors such as Susan Juby, Gillian Chan, Alan Cumyn and Tim Wynne-Jones, to name just a few. Each of these stories is unique and surprising in its own way, and each character jumps off the page fully developed and diverse. Each story looks at life’s curves in a fresh way, and stands out for its ingenuity. Consider, for example, a story of a boy determined to help his dog, raised as a vegetarian, to get his first taste of meat on the last day of his life. Talk about originality... With its insight into the teenage mind and the turning points of the adolescent life, this collection is sure to be loved by readers.

Reviewed by Christina Minaki in Canadian Children's Book News
Spring 2008 VOL.31 NO.2

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Times is a book that ranges from first love to the first time being left alone at home. To me it seemed like a very touching book bringing out memories of my own time being left alone at home. It was like a walk down memory lane; except it was from other people's perspective and not my own.
The book lead me to think a lot about what I've been doing with my life and where it has taken me so far. There are so many things to think about when it comes to the way to world was shaped to fit everyone's personality. Like in one of the short stories, where it was about buying their first pair of jeans, it showed the personality and bravery of the ignorance of the parent's commands for the sake of their own style and unique-ness amoungst the community.

[Sophia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short stories of first times - first love, first crime, first job, first time home alone, first day of boarding school, first jeans, first loss, first time seeing the real side of someone.