Life First (Crayton)

Life First 
R.J. Crayton, 2013
CreateSpace
290 pp.
ISBN-13: 9781490468082


Summary
Strong-willed Kelsey Reed must escape tonight or tomorrow her government will take her kidney and give it to someone else.

In this future forged by survivors of pandemics that wiped out 80 percent of the world's population, life is valued above all else. The mentally ill are sterilized, abortions are illegal and those who refuse to donate an organ when told are sentenced to death.

Determined not to give up her kidney or die, Kelsey enlists the help of her boyfriend Luke and a dodgy doctor to escape. The trio must disable the tracking chip in her arm for her to flee undetected. If they fail, Kelsey will be stripped of everything. (From the author.)

Author Bio
• Birth—1976
• Where—Peoria, Illinois, USA
• Education—B.A., Howard University (Washington, DC)
• Currently—Hyattsville, Maryland


R.J. Crayton grew up in Illinois and now lives in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC. She is the author of the Life First series of novels, which includes Life First and Second Life. Prior to writing fiction, Crayton was a journalist, writing for newspapers, including the Wichita Eagle and Kansas City Star. Crayton also worked for several trade publications, including Solid Waste Report, Education Technology News, and Campus Crime.

Her first novels were published in 2013. The third novel in the Life First series, and a short story collection (Four Mothers), were released in 2014. Crayton is a monthly contributor to the Indies Unlimited blog and a regular contributor to the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies blog.

When she's not writing, Crayton spends her time being a ninja mom (stealthy and ultra cool, like moms should be) to her son and daughter. (From the author.)

Book Reviews
RJ Crayton just took me on a wild ride in her sci-fi thriller, Life First. This novel was a poignant, riveting, thought provoking read that had me entranced from page one until the very end of the book. In simple speak, I literally could not put it down.
Griffin’s Honey Blog


I was completely intrigued by this book from the very first page. There were fairly few characters in-keeping with the story, but they were all extremely well thought out. I really think RJ Crayton should be expecting calls for film rights because this played out in my mind as I read it like a really great film…. It gripped you like King Kong and would not let go until you had finished the book.
BestChickLit.com


If you like dystopian thrillers, then you’ll enjoy this well-written novel and will be waiting, impatiently, for the next in the series.
Booksquawk


Crayton has envisioned a horrifying future that comes in a pretty package. A future where the individual is less important than the society as a whole. In some strange way this society's reaction to the plague that decimated 80% of the global population makes sense.
Cover Contessa


Nominated for the 2014 Reader’s Choice Award for Speculative Fiction
BigAl's Books and Pals

Discussion Questions
1. The book’s title is "Life First," the mantra of this futuristic society. Having completed the book, what meaning do you take from the title?

2. In the book, there is much discussion about body rights, and whether a person should have their healthy body operated on for the sole purpose of saving the life of someone else. What is your opinion on body rights? Would you donate an organ to a friend, a family member or a stranger?

3. In the book, lingo used in the current abortion debate (such as pro-choice) is used by this anti-mandatory donation faction. Do you find there are comparisons between this debate and FoSS’s organ donation policy?

4. Kelsey is reluctant to give up her kidney, and in the beginning of the book we aren’t exactly sure why. What was your opinion of Kelsey in the first few chapters of the book?  What was your opinion after you learned more about her personal history?

5. Given what you know about the society where Kelsey lives, would you choose to live in FoSS or would you defect to Peoria?

6. Dr. Grant’s character straddles the line between a good guy and a nefarious guy. When all is said and done, where would you put Dr. Grant: ultimately good or ultimately nefarious?

7.  Lewis Reed sacrifices his career to assist his daughter. One of the reasons he gives for this is his guilt over his handling of Kelsey’s mother, Maya. What role do you think he played in what happened to Maya? Is it something he should feel guilty over?

8. Luke is a stand-up guy. Afraid the two weren’t on the same page after Kelsey said no to his marriage proposal, he withheld important information from her, information that could have drastically changed her predicament had she known about it. Do you think Luke made the right decision, given what he knew? If you had been in Luke’s situation, what would you have done?

9. Susan was a true friend, making a huge sacrifice to help Kelsey escape. What do you think of her agreeing to participate in Luke’s plan? Do you have any friends you’d make such a sacrifice for?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)

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