A selection of first sentences from new books, June 12

Perhaps the single most startling fact about America is that, alone among the modern nations that have become world powers, it did so while butted up against three thousand miles of howling wilderness populated by Stone-Age tribes.

“Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging,” by Sebastian Junger

You’re not allowed to read this — I’m not even really allowed to write it.

“Enchanted Islands,” a novel by Allison Amend

I looked up because of the laughter, and kept looking because of the girls.

“The Girls,” a novel by Emma Cline