The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
Published in 2003 by Simon&Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York).
2004 Coretta Scott King Award Winner and 2004 Michael L. Printz Award Winner.
Summary
Bobby learns the harsh reality of being a teenage father as he tries to balance his responsibilities to his daughter, school, family, and friends. Bobby's story is told switching between the past, when his girlfriend, Nia, was pregnant, to the present as he stays up with his daughter, Feather, in the night, and tries to go to school.
Impressions
Johnson's book is a quick read, but very powerful. Her writing brings to life the harsh realities of being a new parent--especially a teenage one. Throughout the book I felt like Johnson accurately described some of the challenges (raising a nine month old hopefully gives me the credibility to say this). Johnson also captures the great love Bobby has for his daughter, which is quite touching. The writing style is simply beautiful yet feels true to Bobby's voice. In other words, while the writing can sound poetic at times, as a reader, I didn't feel like Bobby was a poet: he came across as a fairly typical teen who enjoys his friends and video games. I do warn that there is some language throughout the book and even one dropping of the "f bomb". There is also a quick love scene. Due to this content, I am wary to recommend it to everyone.
Johnson's book is a quick read, but very powerful. Her writing brings to life the harsh realities of being a new parent--especially a teenage one. Throughout the book I felt like Johnson accurately described some of the challenges (raising a nine month old hopefully gives me the credibility to say this). Johnson also captures the great love Bobby has for his daughter, which is quite touching. The writing style is simply beautiful yet feels true to Bobby's voice. In other words, while the writing can sound poetic at times, as a reader, I didn't feel like Bobby was a poet: he came across as a fairly typical teen who enjoys his friends and video games. I do warn that there is some language throughout the book and even one dropping of the "f bomb". There is also a quick love scene. Due to this content, I am wary to recommend it to everyone.
Reviews
"If you read the book aloud, it sounds less like prose than pure poetry. Bobby is in love with his baby girl, and you feel it on every page. While he considers giving her up for adoption, he ultimately decides to parent her himself. 'I'm supposed to suck it up and doll all the right things if I can, even if I screw it up and have to do it over.' True words for any father, 16 or 36." -- Library Journal. (2009). Reed Business Information. Retrieved from Bowker's Books in Print Professional database.
"Brief, poetic, and absolutely riveting, this gem of a novel tells the story of a young father struggling to raise an infant...any flaws in the plots are overshadowed by the beautiful writing. Scenes in which Bobby expresses his love for his daughter are breathtaking." --Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Public Library Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information. School Library Journal. Retrieved from Bowker's Books in Print Professional database.
Uses
The First Part Last could be used in an adult book group, a young adult book group, or for a teen activity at the library. For the activity it could be a theme of "teen issues" and include other books about gangs, drugs, peer pressure, and finding oneself. Since this is a lot to cover in one activity, the group could split up the books and have them as brief book talks. In the home, this book could be used to teach about teen pregnancy.
Uses
The First Part Last could be used in an adult book group, a young adult book group, or for a teen activity at the library. For the activity it could be a theme of "teen issues" and include other books about gangs, drugs, peer pressure, and finding oneself. Since this is a lot to cover in one activity, the group could split up the books and have them as brief book talks. In the home, this book could be used to teach about teen pregnancy.
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