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Seventeen
The ultimatum: Show me a reason to live or I kill myself in seven days. When seventeen-year-old Sophia dares life to prove to her she should stay alive, her suffering is at its climax, her predicament at its worst, and her adolescence at its crescendo. Sophia is taking summer courses at a New York City college between her junior and senior years of high school, lured to the program by Shauna, her best friend from California. Constantly reminded of her own perceived lack of beauty and brains, haunted by pangs of worthlessness, and noticed only by her lanky friend J.P., Sophia begs life for a single decent reason to stick around. Days slip by and she continues her silent countdown until the greatest hope she can find becomes the deepest threat imaginable. As she makes her final attempt to confront life among adults, this bold adolescent and feisty storyteller shreds the hypocrisy and inequities of the adult world she yearns to inhabit.
268 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
2 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Shan Serafin
9 books50 followersShan Serafin is an American film director, screenwriter, and novelist. In both film and literature he is known for his work in the thriller and action genres. For stage productions, the majority of his work falls under drama.
As a writer, he continually collaborates with best-selling novelist James Patterson, with whom he's co-authored The Women's War, an action thriller about three female special ops; Come And Get Us, a thriller about a young mother stranded in the desert; and Revenge, a thriller about a hitman avenging his wife. Serafin is known for fiction narratives featuring strong female characters often entangled in violent predicaments. His first novel Seventeen is the story of a seventeen-year old adolescent who gives herself seven days to live. His second solo-effort is Conquest, a fiction narrative of the toils of modern dating.
His film-directing career began with The Forest (2011), which was the first of three feature films he would write and direct. The Forest is a supernatural thriller shot on-location in the infamous Aokigahara Jukai suicide forest, which stars Aidan Bristow and Michael Madsen. His second film, Misfire (2013), starring Jaina Lee Ortiz, is a stylized action-thriller depicting rival female assassins converging on the same target. His most-recent film, The Believer (2017), is a psychological thriller involving demonology within the context of marital strife. Serafin's directorial work in theater began with a stage play he also co-wrote entitled The Essential Bond, a biographical narrative about the true story of two-time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling. The Essential Bond starred John Astin and Matt Ashford and ran for three months.
Serafin is a Buddhist practicing with the Soka Gakkai International organization of Nichiren Buddhism. He currently resides in Los Angeles and Paris.
As a writer, he continually collaborates with best-selling novelist James Patterson, with whom he's co-authored The Women's War, an action thriller about three female special ops; Come And Get Us, a thriller about a young mother stranded in the desert; and Revenge, a thriller about a hitman avenging his wife. Serafin is known for fiction narratives featuring strong female characters often entangled in violent predicaments. His first novel Seventeen is the story of a seventeen-year old adolescent who gives herself seven days to live. His second solo-effort is Conquest, a fiction narrative of the toils of modern dating.
His film-directing career began with The Forest (2011), which was the first of three feature films he would write and direct. The Forest is a supernatural thriller shot on-location in the infamous Aokigahara Jukai suicide forest, which stars Aidan Bristow and Michael Madsen. His second film, Misfire (2013), starring Jaina Lee Ortiz, is a stylized action-thriller depicting rival female assassins converging on the same target. His most-recent film, The Believer (2017), is a psychological thriller involving demonology within the context of marital strife. Serafin's directorial work in theater began with a stage play he also co-wrote entitled The Essential Bond, a biographical narrative about the true story of two-time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling. The Essential Bond starred John Astin and Matt Ashford and ran for three months.
Serafin is a Buddhist practicing with the Soka Gakkai International organization of Nichiren Buddhism. He currently resides in Los Angeles and Paris.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 10, 2021
Guaranteed to increase SAT scores via increased vocabulary in context. Makes me interested to read other works by this author. The teenaged emotional ups and downs are immense and depressing.
The author is a man. He did an amazing job getting into the head of a teenaged girl spinning out of control.
The author is a man. He did an amazing job getting into the head of a teenaged girl spinning out of control.
April 19, 2020
I just turned 17. And I read this book when I was 16 and finished it when I was 17. 17 is the title of the book. I unintentionally found it in my school library, lying on the shelf, ever so calling on my name. “Seventeen, seventeen” it whispered, cornering the nape of my neck. As if reckoning this is exactly what I needed to read right now. As I’m about to turn 17. 17, a book that comes in all of its brutal real ness of what it’s like to be a 17 year old girl in this day and age; take it or leave it, for its not the least bit glamouring. She’s not the typical rich white pretty confident books that most media broadcasts to be the typical 17 year old girl; confident in her lane as she struts to burn down any obstruction in her way and kiss the boy of her dreams. Oh how dreamy. But no. This girl, Sophia, she’s like the rest of us. She’s scared, forever doubtful, forever questioning her worth. The average girl that doesn’t wants to be average. All she covers is for someone to see her. See her. Hear her. Understand her for strawberry candy sake.
“The ultimatum: Show me a reason to live or I’ll kill myself in seven days.”
For some of us, it’s this. For others of us, it’s that. But we all unspokenly wish for the same thing. To find a reason. Some type of reason that gives meanings to our lives. And for those of us who found it, cudos to you, hopefully u continue to chase your dreams. But for those of us that have not found it, we are stuck. Wallowing. In this endless pit. Is this life worth it?
I’m here to say that, you, yes you, are worthy. You are worthy. Yes, say it again. I am worthy. Your existence alone is prove of it my dear. You are fearless, and even if you don’t see it, the fact that you’re reading this review right now says a lot. It means a lot. To me. You mean a lot to the universe. The rainfalls are temporary. You will find your sunshine. And that’s on stamped kiss at ur doorstep. Signed, you are worthy 💋
🧚🏾♀️04-18-2020
L💓VE
Pssspp. I’m only here to add that like Sophia you would find your reason to live. Sophias story could have been yours, yours could have been hers. We all have our unique stories. That’s what makes us unique. What makes us beautifully and sophisticatedly made. And we, you, they, us, I shall OVERCOME. 😘
In the words of Sofia to her obstacles in this universe:
“You predicted I’d drown, sink, and hit bottom, but you were. I’m a survivor. I win. That’s what I do. Vanquish the enemy. I am the enemy. Let there be light. Let them know who I am.”
We are all capable. We are strong. We have inner strength in us that is so powerful. Very powerful that it can be so intimidating. And the enemy (I frankly don’t like using this word) - whatever it might be, any obstacles you are facing in life. The thing that is holding you back, you name it. - is underneath their scary bully or smug expression, terrified of you. Terrified of your power. So let ur light out darling. Let it shine ✨
“The ultimatum: Show me a reason to live or I’ll kill myself in seven days.”
For some of us, it’s this. For others of us, it’s that. But we all unspokenly wish for the same thing. To find a reason. Some type of reason that gives meanings to our lives. And for those of us who found it, cudos to you, hopefully u continue to chase your dreams. But for those of us that have not found it, we are stuck. Wallowing. In this endless pit. Is this life worth it?
I’m here to say that, you, yes you, are worthy. You are worthy. Yes, say it again. I am worthy. Your existence alone is prove of it my dear. You are fearless, and even if you don’t see it, the fact that you’re reading this review right now says a lot. It means a lot. To me. You mean a lot to the universe. The rainfalls are temporary. You will find your sunshine. And that’s on stamped kiss at ur doorstep. Signed, you are worthy 💋
🧚🏾♀️04-18-2020
L💓VE
Pssspp. I’m only here to add that like Sophia you would find your reason to live. Sophias story could have been yours, yours could have been hers. We all have our unique stories. That’s what makes us unique. What makes us beautifully and sophisticatedly made. And we, you, they, us, I shall OVERCOME. 😘
In the words of Sofia to her obstacles in this universe:
“You predicted I’d drown, sink, and hit bottom, but you were. I’m a survivor. I win. That’s what I do. Vanquish the enemy. I am the enemy. Let there be light. Let them know who I am.”
We are all capable. We are strong. We have inner strength in us that is so powerful. Very powerful that it can be so intimidating. And the enemy (I frankly don’t like using this word) - whatever it might be, any obstacles you are facing in life. The thing that is holding you back, you name it. - is underneath their scary bully or smug expression, terrified of you. Terrified of your power. So let ur light out darling. Let it shine ✨
Want to read
December 12, 2008The author is a friend I went to jr. high and High school with. I'll be interested to read this to see what kind of author he is.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews