Book Cover Photo Source: Barnes and Noble: http://searchbarnesandnoble.com/first-part-last/Angela-Johnson/e/9780689849237/?itm=1, accessed September 12, 2009.Bibliography:
Johnson, Angela. 2003. THE FIRST PART LAST. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689849222
Critical Analysis:
In THE FIRST PART LAST, by Angela Johnson we meet Bobby the teenage father of Feather, who at the beginning of the book is just days old. At 16, Bobby is struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is now a father, while trying to keep up with school, his childhood friends, and his parents sometimes high expectations.
Told in alternating chapters of "Now" and "Then" the language in this brief novel is both believable and appealing to young adult readers. In these, we learn that "Then" refers to the period of time when Bobby and Nia, the baby's mother, find out about the pregnancy and struggle to make the right choice regarding it. "Now" refers to the present with Bobby struggling to care for Feather, as a tragedy surrounding her birth has left him to do this alone. Bobby, who comes from a middle-class, supportive family, fluctuates between total love and adoration for his daughter, and panic of his situation. Johnson's superb writing urges the reader to analyze the changes that take place in Bobby's character and his situation. The ultimate tragedy in the story is that Bobby doesn't realize what he has in Nia until it is too late. The author does a great job of not revealing the climax until it happens, although the reader wonders why Bobby is alone all through the book.
Unique in that it is told from the boy's point-of-view, this emotional, novel does a great job in showing the awesome responsibility that comes with teen pregnancy and parenthood, without lecturing the reader. Given the length of the story, it could easily be listened to in 2 class periods, making it a great choice for high school classrooms.
Winner of the 2004 Coretta Scott King Award (Writing category)
Winner of the 2004 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
Review Excerpts:
KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Sixteen-year-old Bobby has met the love of his life: his daughter. Told in alternating chapters that take place "then" and "now," Bobby relates the hour-by-hour tribulations and joys of caring for a newborn, and the circumstances that got him there. Managing to cope with support, but little help, from his single mother (that wants to make sure he does this on his own), Bobby struggles to maintain friendships and a school career while giving his daughter the love and care that she craves from him at every moment."
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: "Narrated in first-person point of view from the perspective of Bobby, a young, black male, this adolescent novel depicts life before and after having a child. By showing the tremendous responsibility that accompanies teenage parenthood, Johnson attempts to compel teenagers to evaluate the ramifications of premarital sex and pregnancy. Because most stories are written from the viewpoint of the teenage mother, the author presents her story in a unique way by writing from the viewpoint of a teenage father."
Classroom Connections:
Pre-reading Question: How do you think your life would change if you suddenly had the responsibility of an infant? Based on your answer make a schedule of your life as it is now, and how you think it would be with a baby.
Cooperative Learning Project:
In groups of 3 or less explore and research one aspect of teen pregnancy from the list provided (or choose one of your own):
- How sex education affects pregnancy rates
- Social implications of teen pregnancies on communities
- Long-term effects for the mother (and/or father) for future success
- Long term success for the infant in health and education
- The availability of birth control and other services on pregnancy rates
- Which children are most at risk for teen pregnancy
- Adoption
- Foster care system
- Teen shelters
- Outstanding programs for young mothers and fathers
- Abstinence programs
Report your findings to the rest of the class.
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