had recommended this book to me. I was a bit skeptical first because I thought the title was more of a how to book. But it is far from that. Marlo Clemente is told at a young age that all women are evil. His parents fight all the time, and this causes Marlo to distance himself away to the beach, where he builds alluring sandcastles he wishes will never fall. You can't help but feel sorry for Marlo as he mentally battles everything his father has programmed in his head. And you can't help but feel a bit passionate about his dreams of becoming an artist too. Though the book does turn into a bit of a romance between he and Desiree, the story never leads you astray, nor does it ever abondon Marlo's struggles as he faces big fears and big dreams."
 A captivating story from start to finish!
Reviewer: R Preciado (June 14, 2005)
"M. E. Delgado captivates the reader from beginning to end. The story's main character, Marlo Clemente, takes you on a journey, as he learns through his own life experiences, and the author's vivid descriptions help the reader feel that they are experiencing Marlo's life-changing events along with him. The story can truly touch your heart, as you can recall similar events in your own life and relive the emotions that went along with them. The First Sandcastleis a must read!"
A must read!
Reviewer: Cecilia E Barberena (Daly City, CA USA)
"This is a delightfully refreshing novel that was enjoyable from cover to cover. The powerful story of Marlo is one of an adolescent who struggles with forming his own identity and beliefs about women. The reader witnesses the daunting task Marlo has ahead of him in sorting out the fearful, relentless, negative images of women that were engrained in him by his father. Marlo must make up his own mind about women and whether he should take the ultimate risk of falling in love for the first time and whether or not to follow his heart. The portrayal of Marlo by the author is a very human one that is illustrated throughout this book. The First Sandcastle is a book is about growing up, the meaningful relationships that are formed along the way and hard lessons. The ending is dramatic, intense and simply impossible to put down! Like most good books, one feels sad when it's over."
 Characters to care about
Reviewer: A reader (California)
"Mr. Delgado has written an interesting first novel that should especially appeal to older teenagers and those who vividly remember the excitement and heart aches of those years. I found myself caring about the lead character Marlo and his friends, hoping that his first love would not end badly, that his dreams would be fullfilled. The book has a momentum of its own, with a believable ending that most of us can wistfully relate to in our own experiences. Congratulations to Mr.Delgado for starting his writing career."
 A must read for people from all walks of life!
Reviewer: Glenda Ortez (Belmont, CA)
"Mr. Delgado's book is an excellent coming of age story. One cannot help but be drawn to Marlo as he embarks on a very emotional journey that anyone can relate to. The ending was completely unexpected which makes Mr. Delgado's writing even more compelling. The experiences Marlo goes through can be understood from one generation to the next, which makes this book recommendable for both adolescents and adults.
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