The First Part Last by Angela Johnson

Johnson, A. (2003). The first part last. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.  ISBN 0689849222   Hardcover, $15.95

Cover Photo courtesy of Goodreads.com

Annotation: 16-year-old single father Bobby reflects on raising his daughter alone and the events that led him to this situation.

Booktalk: When sixteen-year-old Bobby looks into the eyes of his tiny, newborn daughter, Feather, he concludes that if the world made sense, humans would get to “do the first part last.” We would be born full of the wisdom we need to live our lives and get to die peacefully innocent. Sadly, that’s not how life works. We all get thrown a curveball or two.

On Bobby’s 16^th birthday he gets a huge curveball when his girlfriend Nia tells him she’s pregnant. Months later, Bobby’s life is not at all what he had planned. A single father and still in high school, Bobby loves Feather fiercely, but he knows that life will never be the same. He can’t escape the fact that he’s still a kid himself. He can’t help that he still wants to be irresponsible and goof off with his friends and that he still wants to dream of going to college. Mostly, though, Bobby just wants a good night’s sleep.

Can Bobby survive this particular curveball? Can he do what’s best for Feather and still have a life of his own? Bobby just wants to do what’s right but how does he figure out what that is? When the first part comes first, how do you figure out what the last part should be?

Awards:

• 2004 Michael L. Printz Award 
• 2004 Coretta Scott King Award 

Book Trailer for The First Part Last:

** Be aware if you try to Google her, that there are several famous Angela Johnson's out there! There's a singer/songwriter, a famous blogger, and even a state farm agent!**

Check out Johnson's official website.

Read a short biography of the author.

See what her publisher, Simon & Schuster, has to say about her work.