Bibliographic
Information
The First Part Last
by Angela Johnson. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. (2010)
Price: $7.99 for paperback
Pages: 144 for paperback
Note: This was first published in 2003.
Plot Summary
The last thing Bobby expected to be told on his sixteenth
birthday was that he was going to be a father but when his girlfriend Nia
delivers the news he knows that it’s time to grow up. As Nia progresses in her
pregnancy Bobby struggles with the transition from a relatively carefree life
to one that will be filled with sleepless nights and heavy responsibilities.
However, even though Bobby is scared about becoming a father he knows that he
wants to keep his baby something that Nia is not sure about. But when things
take a turn for the worse Bobby must make a series of difficult decisions that
will change his life forever.
Critical
Evaluation
Powerful and true, The
First Part Last finally gives a voice to teenage fathers something that is
often missing in young adult fiction. Readers will root for Bobby as he
struggles to care for his baby while wondering why Nia is absent. In fact, for
most of the story readers will feel her absence and fly through the pages
looking for an explanation all with a sense of dread, knowing that eventually
Johnson will explain why and how Nia disappeared and it is likely not to be
pleasant. This is not the only plot point that will leave readers thinking long
after they finish the book; readers will also wonder which of Bobby’s parents is
the most supportive in his attempt to be a good father. His mother seems to
favor the “tough love” approach while his father nurtures him through multiple
kind gestures. All in all this novella will be appreciated by most readers as
it features realistic characters, complex themes, and tough decisions that many
teens have had to make in their own lives. It is easy to see how it won both
the Printz and Coretta Scott King awards.
Reader’s
Annotation
Sixteen-year-old Bobby must learn how to become a good
father when his girlfriend informs him that she is pregnant.
About the
Author
Angela Johnson is an accomplished author who has written
more than forty books for children and teens. Diverse in her craft she has
penned picture books, novellas, novels, short stories, and poetry while winning
multiple prestigious awards including the 2013 Virginia Hamilton Literary
Award, the 2004 Printz Award, and multiple Coretta Scott King awards. She
currently lives in Kent, Ohio.
Learn more about Angela Johnson at her website here.
Genre
Mystery, Realistic fiction
Readalikes
Heaven and Sweet, Hereafter by Angela Johson
·
The first and third books in the trilogy which The First Part Last is a part of. All
the stories can be read as stand-alone novels however each book features a
person who moves/lives in Heaven, Ohio.
Boys Don’t Cry by
Malorie Blackman
·
Also about a teen guy whose former girlfriend
reveals that she is preganant.
Hanging On to Max by
Margaret Bechard
·
Also about a teen guy who decides he wants to
keep his baby.
Tags
Babies, brothers, fatherhood, graffiti art, New York, Ohio,
parenting, responsibility, teen pregnancy
Awards
Won/Lists On
2004—ALA Best Books for Young Adults
2004—ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult
Readers—Top Ten
2004—Coretta Scott King Award Winner
2004—Printz Award Winner
2005-2006—South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominee
2006—Abraham Lincoln Illinois high School Book Award
Nominee
2006-2007—Iowa Teen Award Nominee
2008—ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
Professional
Reviews
Booklist
(starred review)
Note: Kirkus lists this as a book appropriate for 19-20
year olds which is puzzling as it is about a 16 year old.
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)
School Library Journal (starred review)
Booktalk Ideas
What It Means to Be a Father
·
Feather is like a Kitten speech (8)
·
The Rules (14)
·
List of things in diaper bag (16)
·
I Feel Old (81-82)
·
Keeping Feather (116-118) although this has
spoilers….
Bibliotherapeutic
Usefulness
This book could be used to help reassure teen fathers. It
could also be used for those who are struggling with their decision to keep
their babies.
Reading
Level/Interest Level
Reading Level: 4th grade
Interest Level: 9th-12th grade
These levels are according to AR Bookfinder
Challenge
Issues
This book includes the following potentially
controversial elements:
·
16 year old father
·
Condom use
·
Decision to keep baby instead of letting her be
adopted
·
Divorced parents
·
Graffiti artist
·
Singer dad
·
Talk about sex
·
Teen pregnancy
·
Tough love mother
Librarians can point out that while this book can be
controversial its main message is that it is important to be a good father to
your child something that is not easy. It also points out that fathers love
their babies just as much as mothers do.
Why Was This
Included?
I included this because it won the Printz and because I
had never read a story about teen pregnancy from a male perspective.
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