First lines

by Susan Berger

I haven’t done a first line post in a while. This time I’m taking lines from books I read within the last two months. Some of them are prize winners. A couple I bought at the SCBWI Summer Conference. Two were urged on me by friends. See if these first paragraphs, or, in the case of picture books, first pages, make you want to read on.  Answers in two weeks.

1.      Frannie James often dreamed about her missing mother. Nothing warm or fuzzy, of course, more like reruns of a half forgotten TV series. It was happening again. Her hands clenched as she slept. Would Mom smile?  Just one loving smile….Please

2.      “Hurry Zachary, bring me a diaper,” cried Mom.
“In a minute Mom. I’m feeding the bird,” said Zachary.

“I need it right now,” Mom yelled.

3.      You need something?

I can get it for you.

You have a problem?

I can solve it.

That’s why they come to me. By “they” I mean every kid in the school. First Graders up to eighth graders. Everyone comes to me for help and most of the time I’m happy to provide it. For a small fee of course.

4.      I am lucky my sister is my best friend.

We do everything together.

         Tengo suerte de que me Hermana sea mi major amiga.

         Hacemos todas las cosas juntas.

                J’ai de la chance parce que ma sœur est ma meilleure amie.

                On fait tout ensemble.

5.      The movement of the train rocked me like a lullaby I closed my eyes to the dusty countryside and imagined the sign I knew only from stories. The one just outside of town with the big blue letters: MANIFEST: A TOWN WITH A RICH PAST AND A BRIGHT FUTURE.

6.      Logan

       Logan didn’t have to open his eyes to know that morning had arrived. The sweet smell of cotton candy wafting into his room worked better than any alarm clock. He rolled over so his nose nearly touched the air vent.

7.      Natalie Isabelle Cailean Edwards bounded up the steps of Carver Middle School with a spring in her step and a welcoming smile on her face. She walked down the hall greeting her fellow eighth grade students. “Good morning, Cecil. How’s your dog recovering from his surgery?”

8.      Jessica sat at the breakfast table of the grandparents’ beach house. She missed Mommy and Daddy. A tear dribbled down her cheek and fell into her cereal. “How long is a week, Grandma?”

9.      “Isn’t it cool living by the beach?” Bella asked her best friend, Britt.

“Yeah,” agreed Britt. “There’s always a surprise.”

“Britt, look!” exclaimed Bella. “Here is a surprise. A sea turtle. They’re not usually on the beach in daylight.”

But there she was. A beautiful Loggerhead.

10.   In the bright buzzing room

There was an iPad

And a kid playing Doom

And a screensaver of-

A bird launching over the moon