A Face First

by Priscilla Cummings

Twelve-year-old Kelley decides to cut off contact with her friends and classmates after suffering third-degree burns to her face and body in a car accident near her home on Maryland's Kent Island.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Juvenile

197 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Raven 📖🫥 · Rating 5 out of 5]

every time I read this book, it's a different experience. it's a very influential read and I learn so much from it. this book will always be a favorite 💙.

[Mallory G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Face First was a book written by an author right here in Maryland. The book explains about a girl Kelley, who was in a car accident and her face got terribly burned. Throughout the journey of her recovery she faces a lot of trouble, such as getting surgery and having a face mask put on. She believes that everyone will look at the mask, not at her. Because of this, she does not want to go into public or back to school. Then she realized that people will see her for who she is inside, not about the mask or how her face looks now after the surgery.One of the nurses came to her school to talk about what had happened to Kelley, at how they could help. She avoided almost every card or phone call she had gotten.
In my opinion, this book was very descriptive about her emotions and how she fought through her fear of going out in public. It did not focus on the fact that she got in an accident, it focused on her inability of her surrounding life. This book felt so real that I could sometimes literally see what was happening. A Face First was a fantastic book, and I would most certainly recommend it to all of you.

[Sarah Tilatitsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sometimes feel what Kelley feels. The humiliation of people gawping at me, and just staring, feeling sorry for me. Just because I look different doesn't mean that I am an exhibit for people to look at. Seriously. I's not that I got burned or anything...I just have a scar or two. The emotional pain just rips you up into little tiny pieces, and flung into the harsh wind. Yet, I'm proud of it. It tells people how much pain I went though, and it makes me proud that I am who I want to be. People should read this book to feel the emotions, the stop of interest, and to say, I have to stop thinking about this or that. READ THIS BOOK. RERAD THIS BOOK. READ THIS BOOK. I'm serious.

[Paige Johnson]

When I started reading this book I was a little confused on what was happening. After about a few chapters I really started to like the book. I think that my favorite part of the book happened in the beginning when she is in the hospital for a few days and her friends come and visit here. When her friends come to visit her they decorate her room and it makes her so happy. My least favorite part is when they have do many surgeries on her face to help her get better. The part the makes me cringe the most is when they explain how gross and nasty her face look after the crash and when she gets out of surgeries. I think that when Kelly goes home for the first time after the crash is the best part. I like that part because it explained it so well and so realistically. I also think that when Kelly's sister comes to visit her that is the best because she was really missing her. I think that Kelly was very brave though the whole time that she was in the hospital and I know that I would be very scared. In the end this book was really good but it definitely made my emotions go up and down.

[Skyler Magner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a while ago and have read it several time since and still love it to death, the book itself always makes me cry and has to so much emotion to it,it especially has significant meaning for me because i can relate to what in the book itself,thank you Prisilla cummings for creating this book,i wish you a great career and life.

[Stephanie Pieck · Rating 2 out of 5]

This YA novel charts one girl's recovery after a car accident leaves her with severe burns on her face, hand, and leg. An honest look at the anger, confusion, and maturity the 12-year-old protagonist experiences during the healing process.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was very good and I highly recommend it.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

this book has a target audience, and I was not it, and that's okay

[Mellanie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me cry.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is beautiful and it is painful, and it gives me hope.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a bit slow going, but the overall story beautiful

[Cole E · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Face First is about a girl named Kelley and how her life suddenly changes. She gets into a car accident and severely burns her arm, leg, and her face. Kelley almost died in the accident! When she was in the hospital, she had many different things happening. She didn't look the same. Kelley didn't want to look at herself because she knew she was different from her normal self. Kelley thought that no one will like her anymore because she looks weird. She said that people would call her names and make fun of her. Her friends still cared about her even when they saw that she looked different than she use to. Kelley is depressed and said that she doesn't want to live anymore living like this. The book goes on about how she learns that people see her different and how she has to accept her new self. People would either see a face first, or a mask first because she got a mask to keep her face heeling the right way.

This book takes place on the Eastern Shore. I would recommend this book for both boys and girls varying from the ages 10 and up. This book was very inspiring to me because it showed that you shouldn't give up however bad anything is and that even though you want to give up, you should push yourself.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to belive that just one car accident could cause so much damage that it would last a lifetime. When Kelly found a pimle on her face on picture day, she cried. Looking back at that now, she was so ashamed. Kelly's face had been permanently damaged. I feel so sorry for this girl because, she could have died and yet, she didn't, but she...wanted to, rather than having a mask on for the rest of her life. I bet that whenever she sees someone looking at themselves in a mirror, she is hurt. I love this plot line for this book because you usually don't read about this that much. I think that this book teaches readers a lot of lessons. It's also very bitter-sweet because there are sad parts and there are also some really happy parts.

[Elaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Review from 2005

I only read half way through chapter five in A Face First. I found it to be rather dull and nothing much seemed to happen. I think it is partially because of the way Priscilla Cummings srote the book that made it seem to go so slow. I thought it was interesting to see what the doctors all did to help her, such as the pressure garment. I liked Kelley's sister, Leah. I think it would have been interesting if the spotlight would have been on Leah and her friend, Mirielle, in Paris. Kelley would have to have been very talented to be able to paint to world on her thumb nail. Something tells me that the author didn't try it. She had it in there so that when it melted off it shows that, to Kelley, the world had seemed to melt, but still, it's kind of impossible. I also didn't really like the way Priscilla Cummings would have people talking about things then later explain them to you. The telephone ringing at the beginning was kind of weird. Over all, I didn't really like A Face First, it moved to slow for me.

[Alena Krauss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: A Face First
Author: Priscilla Cummings
Lexile: Unknown
Star Rating: 4 Stars

I liked this book because I think it shows how a girl gets over something that will be with her almost for the rest of her life. I think it is a heart warming story because at the beginning she hates her face and wishes she were dead but at the end she has the courage to see her crush and her friends. The beginning when she can't talk but you can only hear her thoughts is the best part though.
My favorite part of the book is when she just got in the accident and she is telling what she is feeling and what she is seeing. My least favorite part is the very beginning because it only tells about the morning before the accident and I like it more learning about her experience afterwards. I would recommend this story to people who like heart warming books and people who like watching recovery happen before their own eyes.

[AuTeonna Hamilton · Rating 2 out of 5]

"A face First" By: Priscilla Cummings Kelley wakes up in the hospital one day and she wonders what is going on, how? why? what happened is all that is going through her head. Kelley feels the burns over her body and then she has flashed backs of the accident, Kelley knows that her mother is okay but why isn't she okay?

I like that the author describes the crash in detail the other lets us know what happened before the crash and what is the after math of the accident. The other twist the plot by having her mother be perfectly okay and then Kelley wakes up one day in a white room where she don't know what is going on. Kelley hears other people screaming and wonder if those screams are coming from her and no one can hear them. "A face first" is a book to read when you want to hear about people coming over a obstacle and I recommend the book to any one who loves to read.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok, so far, i have read to chapter 5 and she is still in the hospital after the car accident.

kelley was a normal girl who had a normal life.all the way up untill wensday, she had just gotten ready for school and had finaly compleated the bright green earth she had painted on her thumbnail.while she put her green froggy earings in the car she suddenly felt a giant impact on the car and was never the same again. soon she could hardly breath because the car's flame had stolen all the oxygen from her surroundings.the pain was so intense and the fire was so hot that it melted her froggie earing after 5 seconds. kelley is staying in the hospital and after 2 skin graphs and 7 in the upcoming years, she dreads going back to school.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was iffy about this book but decided to give it a chance. I'm glad I did. It was a quick read, but dealt with some heavy issues in a way that would be appropriate for upper el. A young girl is in a car accident, severely burned, and this book deals with the recovery process- physically, mentally, emotionally. There's good character development and nice resolution to one of the plot lines in the story. I was pleased with how the book dealt with the issues it raised. A main element of the plot is about how we see others- is it skin deep or do we see them as a person deeper than their looks? For a girl who's a burn victim and receiving skin grafts on her face, this is a very real question.

[Abby Scharber · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there was ever a book to read, this is it! "A Face First" really emphasizes the importance of physical beauty (ex. a pretty face, beautiful eyes...) in today's society. Kelley was in an accident and got many severe burns, including one on her face. She is scared to re-enter society (after the many weeks she spent in the Burn Center) because she wonders what people will think of her face. After all, people see a face first. Kelley (and readers) learn the importance of inner beauty and second impressions. Truly is a great book to teach teens that who they are inside matters most. I loved this book! (I have read it twice now

[- ̗̀ bibliophile ̖́- · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thrill ride of a book!The main character Kelly had been in a unfortunate accident in which her world completely changes. She had to wear a *mask* after the accident and was determine to not attend school after what had happened, fearing that everyone would despise her. The writing of this book was truly riveting and at times very compelling. I personally enjoyed this book and was at first not at all sure of where it would end off. A Face First by Priscilla Cummings is a intruiging book which one would want to grasp onto to read on a nice day!

[Namira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the message of this book, and I think it's something that everyone can benefit from by reading it. Throughout the story, the reader gets to see what life is like for someone who is struggling with being blind. If I could change one thing, I wish the author was more clear about how/when certain events happened. I sometimes found myself confused about what the characters were discussing since it was unclear what/when the event they were talking about happened. Other than that, this book was really enjoyable and had an inspiring theme.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

6th-grader Kelley's world changes when she is badly burned in a horrific car accident. Suddenly, not only is she in a burn unit undergoing painful procedures, but she can't imagine returning to school and her previous life. This could be an eye-opening book for appearance-conscious girls. What really matters? If one's face might scare people (as Kelley fears hers will), how does one "make a good second appearance."

[Jordyn B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It was a quick read. [197 pages] I couldn't put it down. I started it this morning and finished it by late afternoon. I loved that it took place in my hometown. P. Cummings did an amazing job researching this book. I loved that I could picture where certain things happened because I've been there. Such as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, route 8 and even the same grocery store. I would recommend this book.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another excellent book I could not put down. It had so much emotional tension that kept me turning the pages, and I could relate to both the daughter and the parent at different times. It helps us understand some feelings of those who go through tragedy and perhaps we will look at them in a better perspective rather than as judgmental outsiders.

[Rene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Girl faces rehabilitation after car crash that leaves her severely burned. Many psychological pains as she tries to cope. I remember this book as being very sad, but not overly so. This little girl has a lot of obstacles but I think it ended with some hope there. Gets in to some detail about pain, cost, and how relationships change. I give it a B-.

[jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this one in fifth grade, but I decided to put it on my list of books when "comparing" books with Kayla. THis book pretty much makes you depressed, but there was definitely a message there. Don't judge people by how they look. Like in this book, the girl got in a horrible car accident, and her face got destroyed. The line was that people notice a "face first". Just be nice to people, ok

[Jennifer (Teen Librarian) Beiermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if you had been in a terrible car accident and suffered third-degree burns on your face and body? Would you want your friends around? Would you be able to live a "normal" life again? Read Kelley's story and find out how she deals with it.

Even though I read this book years ago, I still remember it. Kelley is hard to forget.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in three days. Yes; three days. The book had me so sucked in I just couldn't put it down. I felt so bad fo Kelley and tried to put myself in a situation like that... I think I would have had a total break down.

'A Face First' is a worth while book. If you haven't read it, go read it right now :)

[Salsabrarian]

Kelley suffers severe burns in a car accident and which disfigure her face. She has to cope with the anger and depression of her situation, the enduring surgeries, her worries about the reactions of the outside world, and having to wear a plastic mask to aid in the healing of her face. She is also dealing with the realization that her mother was at fault in the accident.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

predictable book with a predictable outcome, but still a decent read. this is probably a realistic fiction issue that hasn't been written about in young adult literature too often, so that made it different.