The First Part Last

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Average customer rating 4.5 (8 comments)

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Set in 1990’s New York, Angela Johnson’s Story The First Part Last is about a young teenager named Bobby whos is trying to do the right thing no matter what the cost. Nia, Bobby’s pregnant girlfriend will make decisions about whether or not to keep the baby neither teen planned for. before Nia was pregnant, Bobby was just living the life of a careless teen. He’s an artist at heart that shares the images in his mind with the world through graffiti. In one part of the story he describes how he feels while he’s painting, “I’m always the pale white ghost boy beside the brown girl who is always looking away.” in another part of the story, Nia and Bobby are in the doctor’s office discussing the different options that might be best for their situation. The entire time they were there, Bobby did not speak because he knew that Nia’s parents would never let Nia keep the baby no matter what he said. At this point in the story you are not sure if Bobby will ever have a voice when it comes to his child. will art be his only way of communication? As a writer, Angela Johnson tries to demonstrate responsibility for what are “just in the moment” acts. As a teenager, this book really put it into perspective that every decision we make has a consequence and we have to be able to deal with it.

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Bobby was a classic city boy. He spent his time playing basketball, hanging with his friends, and trying not to get caught graffitiing. All that changes when his girlfriend Nia tells him that she's pregnant. Bobby is determined to do the right thing for his kid and his girl, but how does a 16 year old, who can't even figure out what to do with himself, figure out how to make those kinds of choices? This short book is a very compelling read. It alternates between what happens after the baby, named Feather, is born and while Nia is pregnant. It doesn't come off preachy or as a morality tale of why teen pregnancy is evil. Bobby's no nonsense, "just the facts" attitude is conveyed well, but so is the fact that he really cares for his daughter and her mother.

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This book is really good. I have 100,000 girlfriends that are 10 years old that have babies and are adapting to their new lifestyle.

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To begin with i had first seen this book and i love it and for me a 9th grader im gonna start to read it becuase these are things that could happen to me

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I L-O-V-E this book I read it once in the ninth grade and ever since I've looked everywhere for it until I found it. I just love the way Ms. Johnson wrote this book and I look foward to reading more of her books.

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this is one of the most moving, page turning, gripping, teaching, a.m.a.z.i.n.g. books i have read in a very long time. I hated that it ended! a good book has the ability to change the thinking of the reader.. and it did. this book included incredible insights and enough soulfood to last me a while. Johnson provides a lot to think about. I deeply admire her work and aspire to capture at least some of her ability in my own stories. She is truly talented, and i hope she continues to write for a very long time.

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I thought this book was great! This book has a very good moral lesson. I've learned that it's hard to take care of a baby if you're so young. I recommend this book to teenagers.

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This book is amaizng. It shows teens that even if they make a bad mistake its gunna be hard but you really need to make the right decision afterwards. The author did a great job on how she set up the book.. Desiree-Leigh<33>