Johnson, Angela. The First Part Last. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003. Print.
Annotation:
At a time when most teenagers fantasize about leaving for college, attending spring break parties and meeting so many new people they forget their names, Bobby and Nia are faced with a decision- do they keep the baby growing in her belly, or do they stay carefree teenagers? When tragedy strikes, Bobby feels he no longer has a choice and that it is time to become a man and ultimately, a father.
Justification for Nomination:
Angela Johnson's The First Part Last is a realistic first person narrative, told by Bobby, a teenage father. Johnson makes use of Brooklyn “street” vernacular in dialogue enough to give the piece authenticity, but not so much that it distracts from her larger purposes. Johnson's form is often poetic, but stays consistent with a fragmented stream-of-consciousness befitting a sixteen year old boy. This style is interlaced with more straight-forward narration and a constant “then”/”now” time shift, but only once does the perspective switch from Bobby's first person narration. One of the last few chapters of the book is entitled “Nia”, and shares a few paragraphs of Nia's stream-of-consciousness before entering a traumatic “brain death”.
Johnson's novel is brief, but effectively implements voice and tone that create a true-to -life story and resonates with teen readers. Bobby wants to have fun, like any other teenager. He wants to stay up late, be irresponsible and enjoy adolescence. He wants to shoot hoops with his friends and feel the colors of spray paint graze his fingers as the hit the brownstone. In short, Bobby wants what all teenagers want- freedom, self-discovery and a chance to make mistakes. For Bobby though, one mistake is too much. One mistake takes away any future chances at adolescent irresponsibility. Bobby is going to be a father, and after Nia falls into a permanent vegetative state, he chooses to keep their baby, Feather and raise her himself. When Bobby's mother insists that he indeed raise this child “by himself”, he must grow up- and fast. Midnight feedings, diaper changes and grocery trips are all Bobby's responsibility now. Bobby's experience mirrors what all teenagers must face- a journey into adulthood. Not all readers' experiences will be as dramatic as Bobby's, but the concerns are the same. Who am I? I am no longer a child, but can I yet be an adult? What parts of my past routine and my past self do I cling to? What new habits must I make? What does “coming of age” mean for me, at this time and place?
The First Part Last is also realistic and yet unique in its representation of a single, teenage father. Rarely, in literature is a single father represented and if one is, I would venture to say that single father is not also a black, sixteen year old boy from Brooklyn. Johnson's novel breaks ground with the character of Bobby, not because such a man doesn't exist in reality, but because the literary canon at present, represents only a vary narrow population. Bobby's character is fully human. He nearly leaves Feather alone once. He gets arrested for tagging. He wants to shrug his responsibilities. He also makes a difficult decision. He takes on adult responsibility. He loves his daughter and he works hard to stay in school and care for a newborn. Bobby's character does not shine without also failing and for this reason, he is relatable. A teen reader can see in Bobby their own insecurities, desires and hopes.
Genre: Realistic Fiction/ Coming of Age
