Laura E. (lauramsellis) reviewed The First Part Last (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner) on + 331 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
Rarely do we see teen pregnancy from the father's perspective. Narrator Khalipa Oldjohn gives realistic insight into the consequences of unexpected parenthood on one teenaged father. Alternating between "then," when Nia told him on his sixteenth birthday that he was going to be a father, and "now," as he struggles to raise his daughter alone, we witness Bobby coming to grips with responsibility as he struggles to do the right thing. The back-and-forth between past and present requires close attention to the narration to understand why Bobby gave up the adoption option in favor of fatherhood.
Kat B. (KatAstraFe) reviewed The First Part Last (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner) on + 25 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
Bobby is a teenage father who grew up to fast. This book is a realist view on how becoming a father changed his life. His love for his daughter and his commitment to wade through life's challenges make him a likeable character. True to the title this book is sequentially out of order. Making the dramatic climax that more anticipated. i liked the books thin easy to read feel, not because I'm intimidated by larger books because I feel the book reflects its audience. Its deep and profound but simplistic and easy to handle all at once.
Al C. (vavoice) -
Helpful Score: 2
A book written simply, from a rare perspective. A powerful message that transcends cultural and social boundaries. If this isn't already, it should be required reading for middle and high school students.
Jayla P. reviewed The First Part Last (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner) on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A book that shows the boy's part of being a teenage parent
Helpful Score: 1
I agree that it should be required reading for every teen. It shows what it is relly like for teens to have a baby. I enjoyed it and read it a second time which is unusal for me. A great book.
Jennifer S. (JenShaw) reviewed The First Part Last (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner) on + 12 more book reviews
Summary
This is a moving story of Bobby, a teenage boy and the changes that his life takes once he learns his girlfriend Nia is pregnant. The book explores the complications of teenage pregnancy and the decisions the couple, and ultimately Bobby must make that will affect the rest of their lives.
Critical Analysis
The First Part Last is the 2004 winner of the Michael L Printz and Coretta Scott King book awards. What makes this book special is that it is told in the first person format from the male point of view. The story also alternates between the present and past allowing us to understand the connections that shape Bobbys decisions. The story is grounded in reality from the consequences of not using contraception, weighing the option of adoption, adolescent bad decisions, single parenting, school, and making the best decisions for his and his daughters future. The emotion and descriptions of the scenes between Bobby and his daughter Feather were moving. The one area I thought was missing from the story was the interaction of Bobby and Nia with their parents. These are teenagers and I would have expected more pressure from the adults involved to push the course that they thought was best.
This is a moving story of Bobby, a teenage boy and the changes that his life takes once he learns his girlfriend Nia is pregnant. The book explores the complications of teenage pregnancy and the decisions the couple, and ultimately Bobby must make that will affect the rest of their lives.
Critical Analysis
The First Part Last is the 2004 winner of the Michael L Printz and Coretta Scott King book awards. What makes this book special is that it is told in the first person format from the male point of view. The story also alternates between the present and past allowing us to understand the connections that shape Bobbys decisions. The story is grounded in reality from the consequences of not using contraception, weighing the option of adoption, adolescent bad decisions, single parenting, school, and making the best decisions for his and his daughters future. The emotion and descriptions of the scenes between Bobby and his daughter Feather were moving. The one area I thought was missing from the story was the interaction of Bobby and Nia with their parents. These are teenagers and I would have expected more pressure from the adults involved to push the course that they thought was best.
