Enjoyed this book,can't wait until the next one comes out

First is a dystopian young adult novel taking place in America approximately 500 years in the future. Mira is a 17 year old growing up in Texas which is home to the descendants of former rebels who had attacked the White House and Pentagon 200 years earlier. The Texans work farms to raise food for the free citizens but also offer up their children to become what is known as a second to the group of firsts who are immortal by taking over the bodies of their seconds.

When Socrates the first of the firsts shows up at Mira's farm and chooses her she has no idea what to expect. The ones living on the farms have been told they are being excused for their ancestors crimes and going to be free if chosen. Mira doesn't care about being free and would rather stay on the farm and marry her best friend Tanner.

The book changes points of view between Socrates and Mira so you get to know the both very well. It does get a bit of a slow start though to figuring out what this world is all about. Switching back and forth though let's us know what it means to be a first or second eventually so you must have a bit of patience with the story to really learn what is going on.

Other than the slow start I found the whole story fascinating. The future of course has new technology and things like cancer have been cured. They can do things such as transfer the mind of a first into a second. There's rebels opposed to the whole process and fighting for freedom for everyone.

A lot of things going on to piece together but thought it was worth the effort in the end. Will look forward to picking up book 2 at some point.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest opinion. Socrates is the first if the Firsts. People throughout history chosen to live life after life by taking new bodies because they have knowledge the world feels needs to live on. He comes to Chesaning farm in Texas to pick a new Second from amongst the kids. Since Texans have been enslaved due to actions their ancestors made these farms are where the Firsts choose their new bodies from.
Mira doesnt want to be chosen but is. She wants to stay on the farm & help raise her brother Max and marry Tanner her bestfriend. But when she's chosen she meets Will. Will is a servant but he shows her kindness and shows her the big secret about how Seconds are used by the Firsts. They die so their Firsts can live on. The ending left me with my mouth open wanting more.

Pretty crazy interesting!

Mira, a 17-year-old Texan farmhand lives in an age after the Texans rebelled against the government and are treated as an inferior class. A class that has children chosen to be Seconds to centuries old Firsts that need a continuous supply of young bodies. When Mira is chosen, by Socrates, she leaves her world behind, not knowing what kind of "Privilege" she's been given - only that something doesn't feel right.

Told by both Mira, a strong-willed and intelligent young woman and Socrates, a 500 year old man who's at war with himself and the choices he has to make, this story was both humane/inhumane at points which made it such a great read and asks questions that are not easily answered.

I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

I received this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 
First is a distopyan that really shocked me. 
At the start it was a bit slow but then this alternative reality sucked me in with their choice to use child and teenagers body, killing their possessor, to prolong the lives of "important" people, "re incarnating" them, downloading their minds in the younger host. It was... disgusting and shocking. But the end was surprising. I'll be sure to follow this series. 
My vote: 3.5 stars

Such an interesting concept. Totally something I'd recommend to my students.