First Light
Stead, R. (2007). First Light. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books.
Peter's father, Dr. Solemn, is a glaciologist and has just announced to Peter and his mother that they are going to Greenland for field work to study global warming. Peter is excited to be going on this adventure. Peter, his father, mother, and Jonas, Dr. Solemn's grad student, pack and prepare for this adventure. When they arrive, Peter must learn about living in the icy, cold conditions. He also learns how to dog-sled, build igloos, and survive living in the Arctic. He also becomes attached to one of the sled dogs, Sasha. He and Sasha have explored the area around their camp and have discovered a strange wall of ice with a red circle inside the wall.
Thea lives in an underground settlement called Gracehope in Greenland with her aunt Lana and has never seen the sun. This group of people escaped England centuries ago and has lived underground with their dogs all these years. It is a secret community and nobody knows of it. Thea wants to explore the world above to expand their community to meet the growing needs of the population. But, their leader, Rowan, and also Thea's grandmother, opposes it. One evening, she is given a map of the Gracehope settlement, and Thea begins to research the history of their community. She discovers the tunnel to the outside world. One night, her and her cousin, Mattias, climb up the tunnel and into the world above with a group of dogs. It was the first time she has ever seen real stars. But then Mattias disappears and gets caught in an ice crack. As Thea tries to pull him out, she knows it's no use. At the same time, the sun is beginning to rise, and she sees the sun for the first time. Through this, Peter is going for an early morning walk with Sasha. Thea and her dogs spot him, and Gru, one of the dogs with Thea, call for them. Peter comes to help and meets Thea. Thea and Peter are able to get Mattias out of the ice. Peters accompanies them to their village and is astonished at this settlement under the ice. Peter is sent back to the top, and has promised never to tell or reveal this secret place.
Then Thea is told the truth about her mother, who died above, and tried to get others to go above as well. Soon, Thea also learns of another aunt, Aurora, that left Gracehope and never returned. In a strange twist, Peter and his mother are now in Gracehope. It turns out Peter's mother is Aurora, and Peter and Thea are cousins. Peter learns of his mother's past, how she went to the outside world, and the future of the settlement. At the end, Thea is able to convince the settlement that exploring the outside world is important to their community and survival. A new leader of Gracehope is named, with plans to explore the surface in the spring. Thea will be part of that expedition, with help from her cousin Peter and her aunt Aurora.
This book has mystery and secrets, adventure, a great plot, and a message about global warming. The two characters are believable and easy to relate to. Thea is a strong-willed female character, determined to find the answers to her settlement's past and future. Furthermore, it explores the strange possibilities of living in a secret underground settlement. Readers that enjoy adventure will like the description of the adventures these two characters experience and can live vicariously through their adventures. YA readers will enjoy the story of these two cousins and how they discovered one another.
This book was Rebecca Stead's debut book. She has gone on to write a Newbery winner, When You Reach Me. Students who are interested in more about the book First Light, as well as global warming can visit:
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