THE FIRST PART LAST

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Johnson, Angela. 2003. THE FIRST PART LAST. New York: Simon Pulse. ISBN 0689849230

PLOT SUMMARY
Johnson tells the story of a young 16 year old boy, Bobby, struggling to raise his infant daughter. The chapters alternate between before and after the baby, Feather, was born. Bobby is absolutely exhausted balancing home and school but is dedicated to being the best father he can be to his little girl. Towards the end of the novel, it is revealed the couple planned to give the baby up for adoption. However, when Nia dies during childbirth, Bobby decided he would raise the baby himself.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Even though Bobby is only 16, his days of childhood are over with the arrival of his newborn daughter. Plot is simple with the focus on Bobby’s growing maturity as he honors his commitment to be a father. The audience is thrown for one big twist midway through the novel when it is revealed the mother was left in a vegetative state in childbirth.

Johnson does a wonderful job giving justice to the hardship and pains of teen pregnancy. She emphasizes how judgmental and harsh the outside world can be. By using a teen father instead of a mother as a primary caregiver, she transcends stereotypes.

Her now/then style builds great suspense. The audience is left trying to figure out how things came to be and is eager for more details to fill in the blanks.

I appreciated how this book gives voice to the tireless efforts of teen parents. I think it will give audiences more compassion for these situations.

AWARDS WON AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Michael Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
SCHOOL LIBARRY JOURNAL: “Brief, poetic, and absolutely riveting, this gem of a novel tells the story of a young father struggling to raise an infant.”
BOOKLIST: “Johnson makes poetry with the simplest words in short, spare sentences that teens will read again and again.”

CONNECTIONS
*Halfway through the story have readers predict why Nia is not around. After it is revealed that Nia is in a coma, lead a discussion regarding the student’s initial judgments and if her condition came as a surprise to them.
* Have students write their own short narrative following Johnson’s Now/Then style.
*Other books to share by Angela Johnson HEAVEN ISBN 144240342X, LOOKING FOR RED ISBN 0689863888