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The First Part Last (Heaven #2)

3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 · rating details · 6,414 ratings · 964 reviews

Bobby's a classic urban teenager. He's restless. He's impulsive. But the thing that makes him different is this: He's going to be a father. His girlfriend, Nia, is pregnant, and their lives are about to change forever. Instead of spending time with friends, they'll be spending time with doctors, and next, diapers. They have options: keeping the baby, adoption. They want to...more

Paperback, 144 pages

Published December 28th 2004 by Simon Pulse (first published June 1st 2003)

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Feb 17, 2009 -;'MrSz.MyRiAh';- rated it 5 of 5 stars

The First Part Last

This book is about a boy name Bobby and his girlfriend Nia. Bobby is about to be a father and dosen't know what to do. I would recommend this book to any teen mothers or teen fathers that are struggling through this world. My favorite character is Bobby because he stood up to take care of his daughter but even though he wasn't prepared to be a father, he stayed strong through it all. My leasrt favorite character was nobody because I could basically relate to everybody in the b...more

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Nov 19, 2008 Mahrya rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Ages 12-15

Shelves: juvenilia

Johnson, Angela. The First Part Last, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 131 pages, urban fiction chapter book, Printz Award and Coretta Scott King Award winner.

Description: A teenaged boy named Bobby comes to terms with the fact that he is now a father. His girlfriend and the mother of his child is in a vegetative state, leaving him to raise their daughter alone.

Review: The First Part Last offers a glimpse inside the world of a young father, who is hurled into manhood with the birt...more

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Feb 16, 2010 Kapila rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen, realistic-fiction

There's a bit of Benjamin Button at the very start of this book: "I figure if the world were really right, humans would live life backward and do the first part last. They'd be all knowing in the beginning and all innocent in the end."

I think that's when I had decided that I would like this story. I listened to the book, and I'm sure that this made a big difference as well. There was something very sincere and very true about Khalipa Oldjohn's rendition of the story. He embodied the narrator and...more

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Oct 29, 2008 Shaunda rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone; teens, adolescents; adults

Recommended to Shaunda by: Lawton

The First Part Last is a very inspiring and thoughtful story. It's about a teenage boy named Bobby who gets a girl named Nia pregnant. He struggles between giving his baby up for adoption or keeping it. When Nia goes into a coma during her labor, he decides to keep it to have a part of her with him. But he still remains stressed.
I think that this story teaches kids that it isn't as easy as some may think to raise a child when you're young. Bobby still had to go to school and try to make money. T...more

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Dec 21, 2007 Jasmine rated it 5 of 5 stars

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson, is a great book about a boy named Bobby. He and his girlfriend Nia are having a baby and they’re only 16 years old. They are confused about what to do with the baby. They don’t know whether to keep the baby or put it up for adoption. In the story bobby is the one keeping Feather, their baby girl. This fiction tale goes back and forth between Bobby’s present and his past. So there sort of telling the story in a different way. The mood or theme of this book i...more

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Nov 04, 2008 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is about a boy named Bobby who is a teenager that is going to be a father.He has to make a very tough decision whether he wants to keep his baby or give her up for adoption.He really cares for the mother of his baby and in the book he says "shouldn't I go with you the first time",hes talking about going to a doctors appointment with his girlfriend and it surprises her.He also says "my bones ache tired,but I'm still wide awake",hes talking about being so tired but he still gets up and t...more

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Sep 15, 2008 Taquisa rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone ages 13+

Shelves: book-club

I ABSOLUTLEY LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! This book is great it took me all of 24 hours to read it, and it kept me hanging of the edge of my seat every time i picked it up to read. Angela johnson did a great job mixing a love story with a problem that two teenagers had to face in their lives,(A BABY)!!!!!! This book has such a great story line because it's something that really happens in everyday life. It teaches you that when you make a mistake most of the time there is going to be consequences. READ...more

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Jun 03, 2008 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I liked how it went from the past to the present. It really gave you insight on how it would be to raise a baby when you're a kid yourself. It showed what it would be like to have all your life pretty much taken away because of a baby. It made you happy at parts and it made you sad at parts. The only downfall about this book was it never really gave you information about something very important about the mother. It was nicely written and made you feel connected to th...more

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Feb 18, 2009 Melissa added it

4Q 3P JS

Bobby is a teenager growing up in urban New York. On his 16th birthday, his girlfriend Nia informs him of her pregnancy. Chapters alternate from the “now” and “then”. The “then” when he was a typical teenager going to school, hanging out with friends, without worries. To the “now” dealing with the care of an infant, lack of sleep, babysitters, and being responsible for another life. It also hits on points such as obstetric visits and prenatal care, and social workers and adoption issues....more

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Feb 19, 2009 Karrie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: coretta-scott-king-award, abraham-lincoln-book-award, young-adult-high-school

Teen pregnancy is a fairly common theme in young adult literature, dating back in my memory to Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones. Traditionally the stories are from the point of view of the mother; The First Part Last provides a different perspective in the voice of the expectant father. So often society is focused on how an unwanted pregnancy impacts the mother's life and forgets that an unwanted pregnancy affects the father's life more than placing blame on him. There are young men out there who are o...more

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Feb 17, 2009 Latisha added it

The First Part Last was an amazing book. This book would be great for teens my age who believe that raising a child at at a young age is not as easy as they think. The characters in this book were extravgant and very real. I felt as though I was in the story experiencing everything that the characters were. The author Angela Johnson gave sucha great perspective by having the boy's, Bobby's side of the story instead of the girl's, Nia perspective to the story. I believe that the author's words ke...more The First Part Last was an amazing book. This book would be great for teens my age who believe that raising a child at at a young age is not as easy as they think. The characters in this book were extravgant and very real. I felt as though I was in the story experiencing everything that the characters were. The author Angela Johnson gave sucha great perspective by having the boy's, Bobby's side of the story instead of the girl's, Nia perspective to the story. I believe that the author's words kept me reading this book. Her words were so animated and it felt as though you were living in Bobby's shoes. As I am reading this book I believe that the ending will be just as grand and a shock as the rest of the book. I can't predict it but I am pretty sure it has something to do with the girl coming out of a coma.The character that I favored the most was Bobby because he was such a strong, brave and smart guy to make the decision to keep his daughter and raise as a teenage single father. On top of all that he still went to school and kept on his grades. Even though his mom told him it would be all his responsibility and though he was scared he still wanted to keep his child. Even though I believe that his mother wanted to help him, she felt as though he needed to learn from his decisions. At this moment I don't have any least favorite books due to the fact that everyone in the story plays a special part in the young man's life and I feel as though they are slightly responsible for his responsibility that he gained. The portion of the book that captivated my attention was the part in which the mother of the child let him know that she was pregnant and his braveness in that he didn't just let the girl go through the pregnancy herself. I believe that this book is so good that it should be made into a movie and it should star Angela Bassett as the boy's mother, T.I. as Bobby, and a unknown girl to play Nia. If this book was made into a movie I would definitely go and see it. My all time favorite line this book is "No doubt in my mind that I'm keeping her."(less)

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Jan 19, 2009 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 15, 2009 82banana95 added it

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson is a twisted, poetic novel. It’s mostly fasted paced and has quick twist and turns. This novel definitely lives up to its name, the first part last. Bobby has gotten his girlfriend pregnant doesn’t know what to decide, whether he should keep Feather or give her away to the happy smiling families like the ones on the posters in the waiting room.Nia bobby’s girlfriend begins having problems with the baby and is sent to the hospital, the families await any news...more

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May 14, 2013 Kayla Greenwell rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. It is not often that you get to hear the story of teenage pregnancy from the male point of view. This story definitely delivers, but the writing style and characterization only sterilize the situation. In any writing class you will hear something along the lines of "show, don't tell." The First Part last makes this mistake, and I think the story really suffers from it.
The protagonist TELLS you how tired he is and TELLS you how stressed he is and he never SHOWS you the feelings or struggles that...more

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May 10, 2013 Jordan Ethridge rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: english-356

There are a lot of books about teen pregnancy, but I like how this book took on the perspective of Bobby, the 16 year old father. Bobby is forced to make the decision of if he is going to keep the baby or put it up for adoption. His love for the baby, whose name is Feather, is very obvious. I like how the book shows that it takes a lot more than love to raise a baby, especially if you are a teenager. The author does a good job in portraying Bobby's contradicting feelings as he raises Feather. Li...more

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Apr 12, 2013 John Lennon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: multicultural

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson follows the story of Bobby, a teenager and single father. The story begins en medias res, and alternates between the present and the past as we learn how Bobby ended up in his present situation. Bobby learns to balance his school work, social life, and new role as a parent through his experiences with his new daughter, feather. We see how Bobby's friends, family, and teachers react to his situation differently. Some support him and show concern while others...more The First Part Last by Angela Johnson follows the story of Bobby, a teenager and single father. The story begins en medias res, and alternates between the present and the past as we learn how Bobby ended up in his present situation. Bobby learns to balance his school work, social life, and new role as a parent through his experiences with his new daughter, feather. We see how Bobby's friends, family, and teachers react to his situation differently. Some support him and show concern while others seemingly abandon him. This story offers a unique perspective on teenage parenthood by presenting the story of a single father rather than a single mother. Furthermore, we also see that how Bobby ended up in this situation when we learn why his girlfriend, Nia, is no longer in his life. As a multicultural novel, the story takes on an interesting voice, but race never truly becomes a major issue within the novel. Overall, Johnson weaves a story that is easy to relate to for all readers.

Personally, I did not particularly care for the book. It was well written and had a good story line; however, there was no true plot in my mind. It was more about uncovering how Bobby got where he was. I think that it was a fast read since it was written as a stream of consciousness, but the lack of rising action or climax made it fall flat. Overall I think that the book was good, but I could not merit a second reading.

As an educator, I feel that it has some merit within a health classroom or perhaps an English class. I certainly would think that it provides a unique perspective on the issue of teenage pregnancy. Also it does a good job of foreshadowing and going between the present and the past seamlessly. For this reason, I think that it could be used in an English class paired with other books or stories that use these conventions. Perhaps the most practical use for The First Part Last is to be lent to students that are struggling with similar issues. For this reason, I can justify having it in a classroom and lending it to students; however, I do not believe that I would ever teach it to the whole class.(less)

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Apr 11, 2013 Amen added it

The first part last written by Angela Johnson is an amazing book written with characters that most of us can relate to. The Story begins with Bobby's girlfriend Nia telling him "I'm pregnant" (Johnson 13). Bobby is only a 16 year old boy who is still a kid himself, but now he has to think about his baby that's on the way. Johnson really touches her audiences heart with this book. Audiences could easily think back to their high school days or their current high school life and can easily relate...more The first part last written by Angela Johnson is an amazing book written with characters that most of us can relate to. The Story begins with Bobby's girlfriend Nia telling him "I'm pregnant" (Johnson 13). Bobby is only a 16 year old boy who is still a kid himself, but now he has to think about his baby that's on the way. Johnson really touches her audiences heart with this book. Audiences could easily think back to their high school days or their current high school life and can easily relate to it or know someone who can. The book defiantly has a lasting value on its readers because it is an inevitable situation that everyone should learn about.

The book is very well written with its then and now format, the reader can get a full view of Bobby's life prior and after his daughters birth. Prior to his babies birth, Bobby said he used to "hang out with my friends in NY city, eating pizza, and shooting hoops" (Johnson 41). The now perspective of the story thoroughly explains his new life with most of his time allotted to his daughter, Feather. As the story continues, the readers can notice how Bobby him self is becoming a better person. he says "And then I know I'm being a man, not just some kid who's upset and wants it his way" (Johnson 35). Overall, the book is very well written with a format that exposes both parts of the story, the past and the present.

The first part last is amazingly captivating because teenagers like myself can relate and if not they are still interested in reading because they could experience the same thing one day. Other than the fact that Bobby had a child, I can relate to him because he pretty much does what i do when i hang out with friends. I could not stop reading the book, i wanted to finish it as soon as possible because it was so interesting. It was definitely thought-provoking, because it makes people think about certain circumstances in which this situation could take place.

The greatest strength of the book is that it talks about a single father struggling to raise a child, unlike the commonly written books about single mothers. It is touching to know that Bobby has lost his girlfriend and has a baby to take care of while he is a kid himself. The other strength is that like i said before, it is written in then and now format. That really helps audiences know more about the main characters past. That is important because it helps you imagine what he is life is like and put your feet in their shoes. I cant really think of any weaknesses, this book is simply amazing.

I would definitely recommend this book to any friend especially a teenager. I think teenagers would be more interested because they can simply relate. I'm really glad i read it because it made me think about what could happen in an instance. I have already told couple of friends who are eager to read it. I think kids should be open minded and want to learn about things that don't necessarily have to relate to them.
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Apr 02, 2013 Molly rated it 2 of 5 stars

Angela Johnson's book, The First Part Last, is a story of Bobby, an urban teen who lives in New York. Bobby's story is different from most characters, however, as he is a teenage father, and essentially single at that, for his baby's mother is in a vegetative state, due to massive stress she had faced during her pregnancy. Bobby's daughter, Feather, therefore, is left completely up to Bobby and is in his sole custody. Even though the book never explicitly said how old Bobby was, readers understa...more Angela Johnson's book, The First Part Last, is a story of Bobby, an urban teen who lives in New York. Bobby's story is different from most characters, however, as he is a teenage father, and essentially single at that, for his baby's mother is in a vegetative state, due to massive stress she had faced during her pregnancy. Bobby's daughter, Feather, therefore, is left completely up to Bobby and is in his sole custody. Even though the book never explicitly said how old Bobby was, readers understand him to be around sixteen, as he is still in high school. Reader's watch as Bobby's rather sad story unfolds: he must grow up incredibly quickly, for he has a child, and we see him struggle to give up his adolescence. Ultimately in the end, Bobby decides he wants a better life for his daughter, and sacrifices for her, as he decides to move out of the urban city into a place called "Heaven," which is supposedly better for raising children.

I'm not sure I liked The First Part Last, actually. It wasn't terrible, but I just didn't feel connected to it. That is not to say that I don't think students could connect with the characters and their situation (especially students who are teen parents themselves), but I just couldn't relate and I felt bad that I wasn't seriously connected with this book. For most of the book, I felt disconnected to the characters because I felt like I was thrown into their lives, without really getting a good foundation for their history (even though the book has flashbacks to "then"), but I didn't realize that this is the second book in the Heaven series, so perhaps I should really read the first and see if my opinion changes. All that being said, it was a quick read, however.

If I were to recommend this to students, I would definitely recommend it to teen parents, for I think they are the ones who would truly understand, relate, and benefit from this book. Other than that, I don't know if I would recommend it to many other students, for I think it might be hard to relate. It is appropriate for late middle school through high school. (less)

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Mar 30, 2013 Sarah Clark rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: girly-books, young-adult, realistic-fiction

Just read this book a second time when an English teacher wanted to consider it for a 7th or 8th grade class. There is beauty in the simplicity of Johnson's storytelling style and how she plays with time and innocence by flipping back and forth from "then" to "now" chapter to chapter. The story should be compelling: a relatable teen in New York tells the story of his girlfriend getting pregnant and beginning to raise their daughter. But perhaps because this brief novel is pared down and poetic,...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Amanda Shepard rated it 3 of 5 stars

The First Part Last follows the story of Bobby, your typical teenaged boy in an urban city, and doesn't seem to have a care in the world. At least, until he learns on his sixteenth birthday that his girlfriend, Nia, is pregnant. This completely changes his world. Told in "then" and "now" sections, The First Part Last tells Bobby's story from learning that Nia is pregnant to what his life is like with a baby at 16. Suddenly, his life revolves around his daughter, and he finds that he no longer ha...more The First Part Last follows the story of Bobby, your typical teenaged boy in an urban city, and doesn't seem to have a care in the world. At least, until he learns on his sixteenth birthday that his girlfriend, Nia, is pregnant. This completely changes his world. Told in "then" and "now" sections, The First Part Last tells Bobby's story from learning that Nia is pregnant to what his life is like with a baby at 16. Suddenly, his life revolves around his daughter, and he finds that he no longer has time for the fun things that he used to do, like hanging out with friends and going to parties. The only way for Bobby and Nia to have a normal life is for them to put their baby up for adoption, but once the baby is born, Bobby is no longer sure that this is what he wants to do.

Overall, I think this book is generally a good look at teenage pregnancy, especially from the male perspective. Not many young adult books that are published about this topic take it on from the male point of view, the majority of them deal with what the girl is going through and how it will drastically change her life. I think a lot of people forget that having a baby also changes the life of the guy involved as well, especially if he wants to be involved in his baby's life. Overall, I thought the tone of the novel seemed very mellow, and didn't really seem to be building up to anything. However, I think this worked for the length of the novel, if it was any longer, it might have lost my attention. All in all, I definitely think this is a fairly truthful novel, and a good look into a life that many teenagers hear about, but they don't really know much about.

As for a classroom setting, I think this book would be good to keep n the shelf, but again, I don't really see how it would be taught in a classroom, though it could fit into a health class, when talking about the consequences of sex and the like. But it's also a good novel for teachers to keep on the shelf, for students that may be in the same situation that Bobby finds himself in.(less)

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Feb 24, 2013 Holly Kregel rated it 3 of 5 stars

The First Part Last, by Angela Johnson, is about Bobby, an African American teenage boy living a very atypical urban teenager's life. The story goes back and forth from "then" and "now" telling the story of how he came to be a single teenage father to an infant named Feather. The "then" stories depict a typical, romantic high school relationship between two teenagers in New York. Things change when they become pregnant; Bobby realizes that he has to grow up while Nia begins to fold inside hersel...more
The First Part Last, by Angela Johnson, is about Bobby, an African American teenage boy living a very atypical urban teenager's life. The story goes back and forth from "then" and "now" telling the story of how he came to be a single teenage father to an infant named Feather. The "then" stories depict a typical, romantic high school relationship between two teenagers in New York. Things change when they become pregnant; Bobby realizes that he has to grow up while Nia begins to fold inside herself, unsure of what to do for her own life and for that of her child's. Stress causes Nia to get sick several times throughout the pregnancy, and Bobby sticks with her through it. Toward the end of the pregnancy, Nia decides that she wants out, and contacts an adoption agency. However, when Nia gets pre-eclampsia and goes into a persistent vegetative coma, Bobby makes the decision to keep the baby. The "now" stories talk about the first year for Bobby, as he struggles to balance schoolwork, friendships, and the challenges of single parenthood. The reader follows Bobby as he quickly grows up and realizes that he has to do what is best for Feather, even if that means leaving all he's ever known.

I feel a particular closeness to this book because I am a young parent. Reading the book was a bit cathartic for me, in that I could relate to both Bobby and Nia, and began to explore feelings I hadn't ever really faced. Needless to say, I really enjoyed the book. It was a very quick read, and had smooth transitions, even though it's back and forth between past and present with every chapter. The book is probably not something I would have found on my own, but I am an avid pursuer of fiction books about pregnant teenagers, and I'm interested to see how this group is portrayed in popular culture. It reminds me of Someone Like You, by Sarah Dessen. Both tell the story of a single parent who has to simultaneously grieve the loss of their loved one and move on to take care of another life.

This book has a lot under its surface, so even though its reading level seems lower, I wouldn't give it to anyone under 13 or 14. I think boys or girls would be interested in reading this, because the author takes what could otherwise be teenage girl drama novel and puts in a male protagonist. Anyone who enjoys drama may like this book, as well as high-schoolers who have atypical adolescenthoods. Also, people who enjoy coming of age stories or american multicultural fiction, or teenagers who are pregnant or parenting may enjoy what this story has to offer.(less)

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Feb 15, 2013 Aerobooty rated it 5 of 5 stars

ALIYAH RUSSELL

I’m reading a book called The First Part Last by Angela Johnson. The genre of the book is realistic fiction. Although the characters in the book are made up, there are facts about when young teenagers get pregnant throughout the entire book. The book takes place in New York, before and after the baby was born. The main character in the book is named Bobby.

The conflict in this book is Bobby and his girlfriend are deciding if they want to keep the baby or give it up for adoption. At...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Angela rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

Bobby is 16 years old and a new dad. He and his daughter, Feather, live in a New York apartment with Bobby’s mother. Feather’s mother, Nia, is not around, so Bobby is learning to be the baby’s only parent.

This book has won all sorts of awards, so I was excited to read it. While the book does have some great merits, I don’t know why it has been decorated with so many honors. I came away unsatisfied with how much was left unsaid.

First, the good. The book is poetic without being pretentious. I love...more Bobby is 16 years old and a new dad. He and his daughter, Feather, live in a New York apartment with Bobby’s mother. Feather’s mother, Nia, is not around, so Bobby is learning to be the baby’s only parent.

This book has won all sorts of awards, so I was excited to read it. While the book does have some great merits, I don’t know why it has been decorated with so many honors. I came away unsatisfied with how much was left unsaid.

First, the good. The book is poetic without being pretentious. I loved the language. Angela Johnson has a way of working poetry into her words in a way that seems effortless, and it’s a pleasure to read. She is able to capture the emotion of any moment. I also like that this book is high-interest and is accessible to my lowest (high school) readers. It’s also an interesting perspective—we don’t hear much about teen fathers, and when we do, they’re not the primary caregivers.

I appreciate that Johnson isn’t preachy. Bobby and Nia make decisions, both together and alone, and they’re personal decisions. They’re not touted as the best or only solutions, so readers are allowed to have their own opinions. It’s a great starting point for discussion.

Johnson also did a great job building suspense. It’s clear that Bobby and Nia have a strong relationship, so her absence is puzzling until the truth comes out. That mystery alone kept me turning pages.

My concerns about the story are grounded in Bobby’s parenting experiences. The book focuses mostly on the parental hardship of sleep deprivation. Bobby stays up many nights with his daughter and is constantly exhausted. However, he doesn’t deal with any other parenting issues, such as loss of personal freedom, school, and work/money. Bobby never has to tell his friends no. He’s constantly hanging out with his buddies—he just has Feather with him. There is only one scene in which Bobby goes to class, and then later on he mentions that he’s going to graduate early. Yet we don’t see him trying to fit in school or homework, so I don’t know how he’s doing all of his regular work plus the extra he’ll need for early graduation. Money is never mentioned. Bobby doesn’t have a job, yet Feather spends school hours with a sitter, and Bobby has all of the baby supplies he needs. He even takes her to the hospital—but is she covered by insurance? Whose? I’m assuming mom and dad probably help out, but mom is hands-off throughout the book, constantly reminding Bobby that he’s the father, so I don’t see her freely handing out the cash. Toward the end of the book, Bobby also makes a decision that would have some major financial requirements, but money and work is never discussed.

Overall, Bobby seems to be playing house—and teen readers could go away from this thinking that getting enough rest is the biggest challenge of being a parent.

• Moderate language with an instance of extreme language
• Sex and contraception are discussed. Aside from Feather’s conception, it’s implied that Nia and Bobby have sex another time.
• High interest—my reluctant readers are all over this book because they’re curious about a teen dad and the book is thin.
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Jan 31, 2013 Tanya Cadenas rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is about a 16- year- old boy in which he has to deal with being a father. I would recommend this book to both boys and girls. Basically, I would most likely recommend this book to everybody. We have all read plenty of stories of teen moms. They raise their kids, like happy, etc. In most of the tales, dads are irresponsible, uninvolved, or just plain absent. Aren't there to be any good teenage dads out there? Its this book, its a different story. I would recommend this book to everybody...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Rachelmontoya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Main characters: Bobby, Feather, Nia

Setting: Urban New York, present day

POV: 1st person, Bobby

Lexile level: 790L

Age group: Middle Grades

Genre: Multicultural Literature

Summary: This Coretta Scott King Award winner is captivating and intriguing from start to finish. It deals with the controversial topic of teen pregnancy. While we often see teen pregnancy through the perspective of the teen mother, this novel flips it and shows the point of view of a teen father. The story is told through the teen...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Alunafowler rated it 5 of 5 stars

The short contemporary realistic winning award novel, The First Part Last by Maya Johnson was a book of poems in verses. This book introduced the hardship of a teen male parent who is struggling to become a mature father. The book refects back and forth on his life and events that made him who he is. His character comes off as a lovable parent who wants the best for his child that he love and thinks the world of. His parents are in his life, but does not support him as he would hope for. He suff...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Amy Conoley rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 13, 2012 Julie rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: 12+, high interest low level

Shelves: african-american-lit, young-adult, books-for-guys, coming-of-age, contemporary-lit, pregnancy, award-winner

Umm...

I read this book at work today, so it's obviously a quick read. I was definitely underwhelmed. It's a Printz award winner, but that must be for the concept because I didn't find the actual story or writing to be very compelling.

The novel is told from the point of view of a teen dad, but it's completely superficial and I found no real depth to it. Bobby, the father, is doing the responsible thing by "raising" his infant daughter after his girlfriend goes into a permanent vegetative coma du...more

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Oct 23, 2012 Stacy Chrzastowski rated it 5 of 5 stars

Grade Level/Interest Level: 6-8th grade
Reading Level: Lexile Adult Directed 790 level, 5th grade
Main Characters: Bobby, Nia, Feather, K Boy, J.L.
POV: Bobby
Setting: Manhattan

The First Part Last is a story of a young boy who suddenly finds out his senior year of high school that his girlfriend is pregnant. The story fluctuates between "then" and "now" chapters that talk about when Nia was pregnant and now that Nia is gone due to a tragedy, what he will do for his daughter thinking of what’s best f...more

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Oct 21, 2012 Jie Wen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Book Review:
I would give this book a 5 star because I really enjoyed reading it. I really liked how it explains a father taking care of a baby because usually mothers do that. In the book, the character, Bobby, is taking care of Feather, his daughter. His girlfriend is Nia and she got a disease which she couldn't help him to take care of Feather. I really like the quotes in the book. The quotes are very inspiring. I can even relate them to daily life. Also at some points, I wrote down my favori...more

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Mustianland: What do you think about the first chapter of First Part Last?	26	28	Mar 18, 2013 10:29am
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Quotes from The First Part Last

“If the world were really right, humans would live life backward and do the first part last. They'd be all knowing in the beginning and innocent in the end...” — 19 people liked it

“which pisses her off and makes her scream and i look around my room and miss me.” — 6 people liked it

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/148769.The_First_Part_Last?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348990125l/148769.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/148769.The_First_Part_Last?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The First Part Last by Angela Johnson[/url]

The First Part Last (Heaven #2)

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