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The First Part Last
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The First Part Last
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The First Part Last
Audiobook1 hour

The First Part Last

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

Bobby is a typical urban New York City teenager--impulsive, eager, restless. For his sixteenth birthday he cuts school with his two best buddies, grabs a couple of slices at his favorite pizza joint, catches a flick at a nearby multiplex, and gets some news from his girlfriend, Nia, that changes his life forever: He's going to be a father. Suddenly things like school and house parties and fun times with friends are replaced by visits to Nia's pediatrician and countless social workers who all say that the only way for Nia and Bobby to lead a normal life is to put their baby up for adoption. Then tragedy strikes Nia, and Bobby finds himself in the role of single, teenage father. Because his child--their child--is all that remains of his lost love.

With powerful language and keen insight, Johnson tells the story of a young man's struggle to figure out what the "right thing" is and then to do it. The result is a gripping portrayal of single teenage parenthood from the point of view of a youth on the threshold of becoming a man.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateAug 24, 2004
ISBN9781400090679
Author

Angela Johnson

Growing up in the 1960s, my mother and I baked cookies together and I learned about measuring and mixing. I was not, however, interested in moving past cookies since our meals were mostly TV dinners and boxed meals. I didn't have any interest in cooking until the 90s when I finally discovered real food. (You don’t even want to know what I ate in the 80s.) I bought cookbooks and learned to cook, and soon found myself fascinated by how people cooked and ate in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. When not in the kitchen (a kitchen with electricity and running water) or book store or library, I’m traveling and taking photos. I also author a blog about old time cooking and recipes, plus have begun a book series titled "In Great Grandmother's Time." I am not ready to pack my cast iron pans and move back to the 19th century but knowing about every day life in those kitchens has made me appreciate the time, work, and ingenuity it took to feed a family.

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Reviews for The First Part Last

Rating: 4.0472587807183364 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Personal response: I thought this would be an interesting story, but I was wrong. I just personally found it very boring. It is a great book for young men to read as an example of what can happen when you make irresponsible decisions, but it didn't contain the elements that I would have liked to have seen. I would have preferred to see the common attitudes that a teen father to-be expresses towards a teen-mother in a role reversal.I felt the actual reason why Bobby is raising Feather on his own to be contrived, ridiculous, and a far cry from the common reality. I am left wondering if the author felt a male teen single parent to be so rare that the reason for it should be just as rare. Junior high / High schoolcurricular connections:Health educationLife studies / parenting lesson
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    4P. Explained by radical change as story jumps back and forth between the present and the past. Ages 12 and up.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Since middle school, I feel as if film, literature, television, and even music has been--for whatever reason--forcing the reoccurring topic of "the plight of teenage parents" down the collective throat of my generation and subsequent generations. It has become less of a way to draw attention to the adversities faced by adolescent parents and more of a "hot topic" to incorporate into any medium that wants to appear "edgy." With that being said, I think it is unfortunate that I honestly dreaded reading Angela Johnson's The First Part Last. Again; all I had known about Johnson's book was that it centered on teen pregnancy. However, I realized this initial feeling of reluctance was born from the over-exposure to the topic of teen pregnancy throughout the years. In other words--to be frank--I was literally judging a book by its cover--but I'd like to think it was justified. Once I finally got down to actually reading the book, I was immediately thrown a curve ball. Generally speaking, most tales about teenage pregnancy focus on the female parent. In contrast, Johnson's largely focuses on the story of the teenage father. Treading on mostly uncharted territory, the author approaches the--unfortunately--trite topic of teen pregnancy from a new angle. It is with this change in focus that Johnson successfully hooks readers into the heart of the story.Readers will find the book to be a brief but emotional ride. As the story alternates between the past and present, Johnson keenly presents choices and their often distressing consequences to readers. The author honestly and unapologetically presents the decisions that the teenage couple of Nia and Bobby had to face when they discovered that they were to become parents and then flash forwards to the present time when Bobby cares for his infant daughter, Feather, by himself. Like most modern-day, successful, adolescent works of literature, Johnson's work does not hide the facts from its readers. She keeps the story based in the often harsh reality of the real world and gives readers a true sense of what it is like to be a teenage parent by including all of the raw emotions and thoughts of her main character. It is through this realistic portrayal of the teenager that high school students may be able to connect to their own thoughts and feeling to the text. Teachers could couple this book with other books where the main character breaks gender stereotypes as examples of the reversals of gender roles. Obviously, this is a book to be taught only when a teacher is sure that all students can handle such a heavy topic. Though, I believe that Johnson's book should be--at the very least--introduced to students; because, like me, some students will be reluctant to read this book. And like me, they will not know the power of this book until they hold it in their hands, read the words on the page, and feel what the characters are feeling.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A young teenage boy has become a single father. He's not ready for it and struggles to maintain his schooling and raise his daughter and is strained to the point of extreme exhaustion. But throughout there is no doubt that he loves his little girl and he will do anything for her, if he can. It's wonderfully moving and worth a read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The First Part Last By: Angela Johnson. This book makes it feel like real life. Bobby just a normal teen boy living high school years. But he soon finds out that him and his girlfriend Nia will have there life's changed in 9 months by a baby girl named Feather. They soon have to take responsibilities of parenthood, especially Bobby, he soon realizes this baby he will be raising on his own. This book didn't have chapters it went like "now" and "then". What was happening now he had flashbacks to when Nia was pregnant. This book I loved because it really showed how Bobby stepped up and became the father he needed to be for Feather and then he found out Nia was ill and pronounced brain dead during the pregnancy, then he knew he would have to raise this child on his own. Bobby is a great father and the love he has for his daughter is unconditional. This book I recommend reading because it really does show life lessons and it is a great book to explain teen pregnancy. Bobby had his life change with a baby girl, school and Nia condition but he made it through and was the father he was suppose to be. I was very impressed with this book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Exhaustion is all over this book - a great, difficult look at teenage pregnancy.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Bobby tries to explain how he got to where he is now: a sixteen-year-old single father in New York City, with a baby girl he loves more than anything.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A quick read and an excellent recommendation for those wanting realistic fiction on teen pregnancy. I loved the character, Bobby, who although he was not prepared to become a teen father, stepped up and adjusted his priorities.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Bobby is a 16-yera-old kid in Brooklyn when he gets his girlfriend pregnant. Chapters alternate between those titled "Now," in which Bobby tells about the struggle of being a father to a baby when he's still a kid himself; and chapters titled "Then," in which he tells about what happened during the pregnancy.The book is a tie-in with "Heaven," which is set a few years later, and Bobby is a secondary character.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Bobby at the age of 16 is determined to be the father that Feather, his newborn, needs him to be. We get a personal view into Bobby's life as he shares the details of his struggle.Oh crud. I really wanted to like this one more. With the rave reviews and award it received, I didn't think I could miss. HA! I can't even blame my mood on this one - I was ready and in a good frame of mind for it. However, a 3.5/5 isn't a poor rating by far - it was good, but ultimately, I was not deeply touched or over impressed by the writing like I had hoped. Although, it was laced with emotion and authenticity making it a sentimental read.Others have loved this book, so don't hesitate to go for it - it's really a novella, so it won't take you long. It's worth it. :)Originally posted on: Thoughts of Joy
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the story of a sixteen-year-old father, Bobby, and his newborn baby girl. The 10-month-long story unfolds from both ends in alternating chapters of "then" and "now," as Bobby begins to find his way as a single dad.

    There are so many things that I like about this book. It doesn't shy away from the complexities of the situation and characters. Everyone is conflicted. I love that these urban teens (and their families) are basically good people, and that, despite the storyline, it's really not a cautionary tale. And I love Bobby: his earnest struggle to do what he knows is right, even when it's really hard.

    I found the nonlinear narrative to be really effective. When I finished reading, I wanted to immediately begin again, to see how my knowledge of the rest of the story might influence my reading. I suspect that this story will continue to offer new information with repeated readings, which is always a good sign.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    In this thrilling book, 16-year-old Bobby is quickly thrust into the responsibilities of adulthood when his girlfriend, Nia, has a baby and Bobby is expected to raise the baby without much assistance. This book is fast-paced and easy to read as well as compelling and enlightening. It is an especially effective hi-lo (high interest, low reading level) book for struggling young adult readers. However, all readers should find it equally readable and riveting. Told through the perspective of Bobby, the chapters in the book alternate between “now” and “then,” with Bobby alternating descriptions of his current situation with flashbacks to the story of Nia’s pregnancy. Author Angela Johnson has painted such a realistic portrait of Bobby and his struggles that readers will be caught up in his emotions and thoughts and feel for him as the story moves along. Many readers will be able to relate to the book’s themes of family, responsibility, and coming of age. This book could be used to teach older middle school/high school students about teenage pregnancy, its consequences, and how to protect against it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The first Part Last by Angela Johnson is a good book. The plot of the story surrounds a young boy named Bobby and his girlfriend Nia.These two are your typical teenage couple with a regular relationship, but When Bobby discovers that Nia is pregnant, life as he knows it changes. This is not your typical teenage drama because instead of Nia raising their daughter, Bobby takes on the task. Many misforunate events take place that cause Bobby to grow up. Because he's just your average teen, he often times have trouble facing the reality that he now has a daughter to raise. Other times, he's left in awe over the fact and gives his daughter unconditional love. This books makes for a great read.As far as instructional wise, the book can basically be used to teach about teenage pregnancy and the consequences that go with it. It can also be used to make things easier for those who could possibly be dealing with it. Another lesson that could be taught out the book is learning how to face change and embrace it. Sometimes it can be scary but things that you're necessarily used to aren't always what's best. You can introduce new books, activities, and learning materials.Overall I enjoyed the book. I couldn't directly relate to the story but It did remind me a lot of my teenage years and high school. I think the plot was generally good. It could have used a little more detail in some areasbut overall it was good!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Strong, spare and scary tale of a sixteen-year-old father who has total responsibility for his tiny daughter. Told in alternating 'now' and 'then' chapters, it's a powerful and moving account of how a baby changes a life. Especially if one is not quite grown. I especially liked that it was from the father's POV. Nicely done.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Talk about the quickest read ever!
    The story is beautifully written and there's a huge twist at the end. The concept of the first part coming last makes it incredibly more climatic and really makes you wonder what the heck happened.

    Never having a child myself, I can only assume this was an accurate portrayal and that it really bares the grunt of parenthood quickly and honestly. Both the joys and the despairs.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This story is about two teenagers getting pregnant and having to deal with their families after breaking the news to them. The plot of this story takes a turn when the mother, become ill and is pronounced brain dead during the birth of their child. This life changing experience forces Bobby to become a single father trying to balance having a new baby in the house, school and dealing with Nia's condition. Through the story Bobby who is narrating the entire story goes back and forth telling stories about what his life is like now with a baby and the different life events leading up to the birth of his daughter. This book is a great book for adolescents to read. It could be use to teach about responsibility. Bobby had to step up and on up to his responsibility and take care of his daughter as single father. Another lesson that this book could be use to teach is the consequences behind your actions are real. In the book Bobby and Nia have to deal with the teenage pregnancy as a consequence to them having sex. I absolute loved this book. This book really looks at a real life situation from a unique point of view. When teen pregnancy is mention most people won't think about the father becoming a single parent, but this book shows that side. I love how the author created a lot of flashbacks throughout the story, I think that the flashback helps the readers get to know the different charters in the book. This is a book that I would recommend anyone to read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Found in both the YA and adult sections of the library, this book won both the 2004 Coretta Scott King award and the Michael Printz award.Told from the perspective of 16 year old Bobby, we learn his fears of becoming a young father. Moving back and forth from then to now, this format works effectively in showing how young Bobby becomes "a man" all to suddenly.There is a tremendous amount of beauty in this story. As the reader understands Bobby's love for his baby and the way in which he accepts responsibility.Both Bobby and his girlfriend Nia are from middle class families who love their children and encourage them to "do the right thing!" While attending high school and balancing the role of a young father, Bobby shines through.I very much like the writings of Angela Johnson. All of her books show a keen, sensitive insight to the subject matter.Recommended!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book has a very interesting voice to it. The author constantly bounces you around the timeline so it's hard to find your feet, but this isn't a bad thing. It really helps keep you on your toes for the sad and touching ending.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I was lucky enough to have the subsequent book, Heaven, recommended to me as a great book for middle grade readers, so I was more than happy to have a look at this one. It was interesting to learn about things that were mentioned as having happened in the second book and see how they actually played out in Johnson’s mind. Characters are strong and developed over the course of the book; I appreciate this sort of exposition and have had rewarding discussions with my students about how this is loved or hated by different readers.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is a great book looking at teen pregnancy from a young father's point of view. It is simply and beautifully written with a twist at then end that you don't expect. A good choice for a more mature young adult audience.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I love the way this book is written, keeping the reader guessing as it starts off with the main character, who is a young high school teen, at home taking care of the baby he and his girlfriend had. The relationships he has with his parents, his girlfriend’s parents and his friends are so real. Their reactions to teenage pregnancy and the consequences really show the challenges to raising a child while still a child. I was glad that this book focused more on the young man and his struggles because too often the young women who have children are left as the focal point of stories and films about teen pregnancy.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Kearsten says: I enjoyed this story of a 16-year-old boy who takes on the responsibility of raising his baby daughter. It's rough and sad, but one of those books I think should be taught in schools, if only to start a discussion about how this decision to have 'fun' has changed a young man's entire future. Interestingly, one of my personal book groups read and discussed this, and none of them felt that the main character, Bobby, was realistic. They all agreed that a boy willing to take on this responsibility was completely fictional - I'd love to discuss this with some teens and get their thoughts!A quick, low-level, high-interest book - Recommended!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed this story of a 16-year-old boy who takes on the responsibility of raising his baby daughter. It's rough, and sad but one of those books I think should be taught in schools, to start a discussion about how this decision to have 'fun' has changed a young man's entire future. Interestingly, one of my personal book groups read and discussed this one, and none of them felt that the main character, Bobby, was realistic. They all agreed that a boy willing to take on this responsibility was completely fictional.A quick, low-level, high-interest book - Recommended!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This Printz winner packs a powerful punch for being so slim. 16 year old Bobby is a new father and is struggling with how to balance school, fatherhood and being a teenager. When tragedy strikes, he realizes that his own needs aren't so important anymore.I read it in approximately an hour and found that I couldn't put it down. The teens' language is realistic and the parents' reactions are genuine and unexpected. Highly recommended to teens and adults.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Sixteen-year old Bobby gets quite a surprise on his birthday. He finds out his girlfriend, Nia, is expecting their child. Bobby must learn how to balance school, his girlfriend and his friends, and his daughter, Feather. The couple must also decide if they want to raise their daughter or put her up for adoption and allow her to be raised by happy, smiling people. Bobby also must deal with a devastating loss that could impair his decision. He is forced to grow up way too fast and become the man that everyone knows he can.This book is somewhat necessary, in my opinion, to teach to adolescents. With the teenage pregnancy rates so high, and with the media seemingly sensationalizing the trend, it is refreshing to see a real stance on the subject. Students would see the hardships and the sacrifices that Bobby had to make to raise his daughter in a way that he felt right. There is no more hanging out all day; there are only diapers and formula to take care of. I think this is a great story to help teens be more aware of the dangers of unprotected sex.I loved the story. Having it all from Bobby’s perspective and the flashbacks helped me understand more about his life. I felt a sense of sympathy for him because it seemed like he was very smart (he was preparing to graduate from high school at age sixteen), but he just made a couple of bad decisions when it came to sex. Reading about how he wanted better for Feather and how determined he was to be her everything made me all the more endeared to Bobby. He owned up to what he had done and he was determined not to let Feather down. I don’t think a lot of teenage boys would have went the route Bobby chose to (especially with Nia’s condition), I believe most guys would not have been able to handle the stress and strain of raising a child all on their own. I want a part two to read more about their journey in Heaven, Ohio!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The first part last is told from the point of view of a sixteen year old named Bobby who is now a father. The story flashes back from then and now. Then was back before he was a father and the now part is ever since he had the baby, whose name is Feather. It is basically just his life and how he is dealing with being a single father with a small bit of help from his parents. He is forced to grow up very quickly and take on responsibility and even though a lot of times he wishes there was a way out, he always sticks it out. In teaching this book you adolescents, they can learn about books that have flashbacks. This book flashed back from the present to the past leading up to what really happens. It can be tough for some students to keep up but students need to be exposed to these types of books. Having to stay focused with the book going back and forth can improve their reading skills. This book really stresses teenage parenting and how tough it can be. There is a huge reality in this book and I think that adolescents should read it and understand that is is not a game, it is real stuff. I really enjoyed this book. I normally do not like books that go back and forth between scenes and time periods but this book was different. As I was reading it, I pictured it like a movie and how movies sometimes have flashbacks. Also, the whole book I was so curious as to what happened to Bobby's girlfriend Nia. In the "Now" section she was not talked about nor was she present at all. But in the "then" section she was present and she and Bobby seemed to be doing fine. IT is not until the end that we find out what happens and so it kept me on edge.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This novel moves back and forth between current scenes and scenes of the past. In these flashbacks, Nia and Bobby a sixteen-year-old couple are faced with the challenge of having a baby together. Neither set of parents are pleased with this situation, and Bobby and Nia must decide if they will keep the baby or regain their own childhood by putting the baby up for adoption. The current scenes depict Bobby caring for the young baby, Feather. Bobby is overwhelmed with the responsibility of fatherhood, and he attempts to accept the series of events that have lead to his current situation in life. Many lessons can be taken from this book, and I think that it would be beneficial to share with late middle school students or early high school students. The life lessons of trials that come with teenage pregnancy would help adolescents think carefully about the consequences of their actions. Young adults need to consider how their actions can affect not just themselves but also others in their lives. In addition to moral lessons, this book would be helpful in teaching teenagers the concept of flashback. This is a wonderful element to use in narrative text, and The First Part Last implements flashback scenes in an effective way. The format of this book and relevant storyline would be sure to captivate a young audience.Although I think I young audience would be sure to benefit this novel, it was just as enjoyable for me! The fact that this book was written from the perspective of a male trying to raise a baby with little help from anyone made it all the more captivating. Single mothers raising babies can be found in a number of movies, reality television shows, and books, but single fathers are a rarity. Bobby's relationship with his daughter is special and truly touching right down to the way in which he decides on her name, Feather. This book is all about sacrifices, but in those sacrifices, sweet blessings are found.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Bobby is a sixteen year old boy who finds out his girlfriend Nia is expecting a baby. With this news, Bobby and Nia are both prepared for their lives to change. They are faced with the touch decision to keep the baby or put her up for adoption. The decision is made to give her up because Bobby and Nia think they are just way to young to be parents. Nia is 8 months pregnant and in one month the baby will not be in their lives. That is the case until a turn for the worst happens and turns Bobby's life completely upside down.I had a hard time thinking of teaching connections to use with this book. In my opinion, it is more of a read for pleasure type of book. If an older age group were to read this book, it could be a good sex education book. Not only is it a story on teenage pregnancy, but also the hardships that come along with being teenage parents.The First Part Last was heavyhearted book from start to finish. I really felt for the characters in the book as I was reading. The love Bobby has for Nia and now baby Feather is unconditional and undying. Towards the end of the book I found myself crying right along with Bobby. The way Angela Johnson told the book from "then" to "now" made it even better because you could see what their lives were like before and after Feather was born. This book is definitely worth reading to find out what happens to both Bobby and Nia.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This book is about a young african american boy whose girlfriend is pregnant. They are only babies themselves having a baby. Something will happen to Nia, his girlfriend. Doctor visits and now formula and diapers. The book is told through "then" and "now" moments. What will happen? Will they keep the baby? Or give the baby up for adoption?The idea I have with this book is to do a role play of the characters of the book. There will be a group of about 5. One to play Bobby, one to play Nia, one to play the sitter, and two to play the friends. The students will read Part I of the book and act out how they think Part II will occur using each of the 5 characters. The groups should pick up on where we were left off in Part I and continue on in role playing. My second idea for the book is for the students to finish reading the book and read Heaven, which the class will read anyway. After reading both books by the same author, we will have a grand conversation about the similiarities and differences among the writing of both novels. The students can make some text-to-text connections between the two as well during our conversations. I actually didn't enjoy the book as much as I thought I would. I don't think I would share the book with middle grade readers. I'm not sure if I like the transitions between "now" and "then" through the book. However, I think that was different and neat. I don't like the outcome of the book. I would only give it 3 stars, which is nice. I'm not sure why I didn't get into the book as much as I thought I would. Maybe it just wasn't my cup of tea.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Sixteen year old Bobby is faced with the challenges of raising his new born daughter, Feather, without her mother. During the story Bobby finds different ways to cope with this new life. He is responsible for the baby's bath, sleeping times, feedings, and babysitters. He has financial and emotional support from his family, but has to learn to make the best decisions for he and his daughter. There are two important ideas in this book that would be good for teachers to discuss with adolescents; teenage parenting and responsibility. Usually teen moms are the ones who normally raise the new baby. However, in this story the father of the baby is the one cares for the baby girl. This would be a good book to use to compare to a story of a teenage mother. The teacher can also emphasize that even though one may have their parent's support, teenage parenting is never easy. Likewise, responsibility is a great idea to discuss with the class. Without Bobby being responsible, Feather may have not received the care she needed to survive. The idea of responsibility can also be used to discuss the responsibility that students have in their daily life.I really enjoyed reading this book. It was the type of book that once you pick it up, you do not want to put it down. While reading the book, I never knew what to think of the mother since she was not mentioned until close to the end. It was devastating when I found out that something happened to her where she ended up with brain damage and could not even take care of her self. Bobby was faced with some big challenges,but in the end decided to keep his baby girl. This story is truly inspirational for those in this particular situation. On the other hand, it could also help those who think they want to be teenage parents change their minds.