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= The First Stone = The First Stone is a young adult fiction and coming of age novel written by Don Aker. The novel is about a troubled boy and a grieving girl who have broken pasts and are on their separate courses to healing, until their lives collide in an unexpected way.

Synopsis
Reef Kennedy is angry at his municipal government for destroying the place where he hangs out with his friends. In his anger at the world, he decides to throw stones off an overpass. Eventually, he hits a moving car and much to the driver's surprise of the rock hitting their windshield, the driver crashes.

Reef is arrested and taken into court for his actions. When the court case is presented, the judge convicts Reef to perform community service because he is too young to be sent to jail. The community service he has to serve is at a local rehabilitation center for the injured and the sick.

At North Hills Group Home, the rehabilitation center, Reef encounters a female patient. Immediately, he feels like they have some sort of connection. Not only does he find her interesting, but he also finds her very attractive. Upon further exchange through their conversation, Leeza reveals she was driving on the freeway when a stone fell out of the sky from the overpass and hit her windshield. In her shock, she loses control and gets into a car crash. Reef immediately recognizes her story and begins to regret his actions. He understands that his belligerent actions have severe consequences.

Reef Kennedy
Reef Kennedy is the main protagonist of the novel. In the beginning of the novel, Reef envisions the world as betraying and cold. Throughout the story, he realizes that his actions can affect others very greatly in negative ways. His character transitions from lacking many morals and virtues to one who cares about others. When he throws the "first stone", he is vengeful and hateful. At the end of the novel, he readjusts his path and develops his character for the better.

Leeza Hemming
Leeza Hemming is the patient Reef meets in North Hills Group Home. She is seen as very sociable and has a great impact on Reef throughout the novel. Upon meeting her, Reef realizes that his actions caused Leeza great pain and suffering, not including her physical injuries from the car accident. Leeza influences Reef greatly. He learns how to control his emotions better, so he does not let them overtake him making him aggressive and violent. He learns how to redirect his judgmental anger and how to be able to connect better with people to form better intimacy and friendships.

Jink and Bigger
Jink and Bigger are mentioned frequently in the beginning of the novel before the car accident. They are Reef's friends who have a negative impact on him. They constantly spend their days together at their hangout spot complaining about how life is so unfair. Jink and Bigger enable Reef's negative emotions and mentality. They are considered minor antagonists in the novel.

About The Author
Don Aker is an award-winning author of more than 20 books. His bestsellers are novels for young adults. Including The First Stone, Don has also written notable works such as The Fifth Rule, Running on Empty, and Delusion Road. Don has also worked as a high school teacher, a literacy mentor, and a university instructor.

Awards

 * Ontario Library Association’s 2004 White Pine Award for The First Stone.
 * Atlantic Canada’s 2004 Ann Connor Brimer Award for The First Stone.