9.23.2015

CSFF September Blog Tour ~ The First Principle Day 3

~ Welcome to the 3rd and Final Day 
of the September CSFF Blog Tour ~
This month's featured book is The First Principle

The First Principle: A Novel
By Marissa Shrock

Rebels are trying to undermine the government and turn back the clock.  The rebels are destabilizing the economy and promoting underage pregnancies.  And they are using an antiquated book as an excuse for their actions.  A book that promotes hate and intolerance.  A book that has been responsible for almost destroying the world many times before.

But the government is wrong - their methods have failed.  The poor and middle class have as little chance of bettering themselves as they have ever had.

Revolution is coming and the rebellion is hoping that the situation Vivica now finds herself will make her willing to aid their cause. Vivica finds herself at a crossroads in her life.  One path leads to rebellion and life for her baby.  The other path leads to greater notability as the daughter of the President.  Which path will she choose?  Both come with a cost.

Throughout this book I wondered what was Vivica's relationship with her father like?  There are mentions of family pictures and his career before Vivica's birth, but nothing really dealing with him. What happened to her dad?  I really would like to know what happened to him.

I'd also be interested in knowing if there will be a second book dealing with this story.  The way this book concludes it is certainly a possibility.  I would also like to see Vivica grow up a little bit - in some ways she is so bratty which adds to her problems making certain situations more difficult and dangerous.  She definitely has trouble following rules - which is both a good thing and a bad thing.

I would recommend this book for those 14 and up, though I can honestly say I would have never read a book that dealt with the issue of teen pregnancy at this age.  In fact, Vivica's behavior would have made me put this book aside in favor of something else (probably a book with horses - like the Black Stallion series or Misty of Chincoteague).  Just being honest here - as a teen I'd have gone Ewwww gross! My sister would have blacked out the kissing scenes or glued the pages together (she still does this to some of her books, which makes for interesting reading when borrowing a book from her). But the teens I deal with at work would probably gravitate towards this book and it would be an improvement over their normally reading diet.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Kregel Publications in conjunction with my participation in this CSFF Blog Tour and my honest review of this book.

About the book:  

In the not-too-distant future, the United Regions of America has formed. Governors hold territories instead of states, and while Washington, DC, is gone, the government has more control than ever before. For fifteen-year-old Vivica Wilkins, the daughter of a governor, this is life as usual. High school seems pretty much the same--until one day, that controlling power steps right through the door during study hall.

When Vivica speaks out to defend her pregnant friend against the harsh treatment of Population Management Officer Marina Ward, she has no idea she's sowing the seeds of a revolution in her own life. But it isn't long before she discovers her own illegal pregnancy. Now she has to decide whether to get the mandatory abortion--or follow her heart, try to keep the baby, and possibly ruin her mother's chances at becoming president.

A rebel group called the Emancipation Warriors, who are fighting to restore freedoms once held unalienable, offer her asylum. Can Vivica trust these rebels to help her or will they bring everything crashing down around her? Accepting their help may come with consequences she isn't ready to face.

Marissa Shrock's debut novel crafts a chilling story of what may be to come if we allow the economic and moral crises currently facing our country to change the foundations on which we built our independence--and of the difference one person can make when they choose to trust God's lead.

About the author:

Marissa Shrock is a middle school language arts teacher, and works with her audience every day. She's a graduate of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild courses, and is a member of the ACFW. Her articles for teens have been published in Evangel and Encounter. Visit her at www.marissashrock.com.

Book available from the following online retailers:


Stop back tomorrow for the third and final Day of The First Principle...
and be sure to check out all the CSFF tour stops during this 3 day blog tour (September 21 - 23, 2015)

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~ Blooming with Books