In A First Time for The whole lot, Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat appears to be like again on a life-changing tour of Europe as a 13-year-old.

A First Time for The whole lot: A True Story by Dan Santat. First Second, 2023, 308 pages.

Studying Stage: Center Grades, ages 10-12

Advisable for: Teenagers, ages 12-15

A tour of Europe? Now?

Dan’s dad and mom immigrated from Thailand and settled in southern California, so their son grew up as an all-American boy. And a loser, particularly when he hit center college. He’s not wanting ahead to highschool and is ready to fade into the woodwork. The information that his dad and mom have signed him up for a three-week research journey in chosen European cities isn’t particularly welcome. Why can’t he wait to broaden his horizons? The truth that his touring companions embrace a former crush and different women who laughed at him doesn’t assist. However two guys from one other college appear to just accept him as he’s, and their first day in Paris affords a spectacular view from the Eiffel Tower—plus the acquaintance of a woman from the Midwest who’s a part of the identical research group.

Amy appears good and appears to love him, and after a number of embarrassing moments and false steps, Dan discovers he likes her too. Lots. As their tour winds by Switzerland and Austria and Germany, together with a week-long keep in a German family, he overcomes many inhibitions and fears, even working his means as much as a primary kiss and opening the door to a lifelong friendship.

True Story

Caldecott medalist Santat data occasions as they occurred, to the very best of his reminiscence. Having retained nearly all his friendships from that memorable journey at 13 (he’s now 48), he was capable of name on his touring companions to fill within the gaps—even, or particularly, Amy. Their itinerary included some stops that might increase eyebrows amongst many dad and mom, equivalent to a night on the world’s most well-known beer backyard in Munich. German teenagers are allowed to drink beer at age 14 below grownup supervision. Although he’s a number of months shy of 14, Dan’s instructor/chaperone permits him to stretch just a little and check out it. Maybe as a result of she is aware of he’ll hate it, and he does. The youngsters are allowed to roam cities at will and work out their very own methods of getting round, so long as they make their curfew. Dan misses curfew after a scary evening of being chased by thugs and stealing a bicycle to get away.

In his Creator Word, Santat makes clear that he doesn’t approve of underage consuming, smoking, or stealing bicycles, however strove to present an sincere account of the occasion that modified his life. It’s when he discovered that he couldn’t be dominated by worry, that “life is filled with ache and pleasure and all these moments form you into who you might be.” What issues is what one does with these experiences. The times through which 13-year-olds may be set free on the streets of Paris and keep per week with German strangers could also be over. But when younger teen readers are impressed to take cautious steps into new experiences, and perhaps even tour Europe sometime, that’s all to the nice, I’m pondering.

Consideration

  • Existence: Apart from the beer sampling and European teenagers smoking, the boys get an eyeful of French tv their one evening in Paris. Nothing is proven however their shocked response.
  • Moreover, Dan and his good friend witness some drunks throwing up (Dan will get splattered!). That is clearly portrayed as a detrimental consequence of consuming and reinforces Dan’s distaste of alcohol.
  • Puberty/Sexuality: Of potential curiosity: at one level, Dan has a flashback to center college when he loaned an outsized sweatshirt to a woman who had an accident; when he asks her if she moist her pants, she clarifies that it’s from “lady stuff.” No particulars are given, and it’s really a candy image of Dan’s sensitivity to different folks as he tries to assist maintain her privateness intact and assist her keep away from different folks till she will change garments. Would that each one center schoolers had been that delicate! However concerns like this and the aforementioned consuming/smoking are the reason why we stipulated above that this guide is best suited to a younger teen viewers than a center college viewers.
  • Language: I seen 3 cases of “oh my g–” (all decrease case) and one “Lord.”
  • concerns up to date November, 2023

General Score: 4

  • Worldview/ethical worth: 3.5
  • Literary/creative worth: 4.5

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