FAMOUS FIRST IMPRESSIONS

It’s never too late to (re)consider a first impression.

Part trivia, part history, and part fun, Volponi’s conversational look at first lines takes a fresh form. While the firsts vary from Taylor Swift’s songs to a poem by Amiri Baraka, the entries are thoughtfully arranged so that each one flows smoothly into the next. This helps combat the disjointed flow of many trivia-style books, encouraging readers to keep going as they absorb fact after fact. Teens may be surprised that they’ve moved from reading about Dr. Seuss to Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” but (more importantly) they’ll be drawn in to both. The robust bibliography (arranged alphabetically, not by chapter) provides the curious with more places to explore and learn. The sections cover a wide variety of topics, from “Time and Space” (George Lucas, Douglas Adams, H.G. Wells) to “Society and Its Influences” (Frederick Douglass, Eminem, Ray Bradbury), but the majority of the creators mentioned are white and/or male. In the section “Harry Is Still Harry,” Volponi briefly touches on the irony that the Harry Potter series emphasizes acceptance of differences while J.K. Rowling has expressed transphobic sentiments. However, the segment on Sherman Alexie talks about experiencing consequences for one’s actions without mentioning the fallout from the sexual harassment allegations he faced. The frequent open-ended questions appearing throughout are useful, and educators may find this book useful for stimulating reflection and discussion.

An original and creative approach to appreciating opening lines.