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{{Short description|2003 young adult novel by Angela Johnson}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox book | 
| name = The First Part Last
| image = The First Part Last (Angela Johnson novel) cover art.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption =
| author = [[Angela Johnson )|Angela Johnson]]
| illustrator =
| country = United States
| published = 2003 ([[Simon and Schuster|Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers]])
| media_type =
| series = [[Heaven Trilogy]]
| pages = 131
| awards = 2004 [[Coretta Scott King Award|Coretta Scott King Author Award]]<br />2004 [[Michael L. Printz Award]]
| isbn = 0-689-84922-2
| congress = PZ7.J629 Fi 2003
| oclc = 50810558
| preceded_by = [[Heaven(novel)]]
| followed_by = [[Sweet, Hereafter(novel)]]
}}
'''''The First Part Last''''' is a young adult novel by [[Angela Johnson (writer)|Angela Johnson]] that deals with the subject of [[teen pregnancy]]. It's the second book in the [[Heaven Trilogy]]. Johnson writes the story in first person narration from the perspective of Bobby, the 16-year-old father, setting it apart from most books on the subject. The book is divided into four parts and its chapters alternate between "then" and "now."

Bobby and Nia, the child's mother, are urban upper-middle-class African-American teenagers in New York. Although the parents initially intended to give their daughter Feather up for adoption, Bobby raises the little girl on his own and realizes how hard it truly is to be a parent. Bobby becomes tired all the time, and can't always get to school on time. Bobby's mother won't do any of the work, because she feels that doing so will only make Bobby more dependent upon them. Nia, while giving birth to Feather, gets [[eclampsia]], a life-threatening complication, which leaves her in a permanent coma. In the end, Bobby moves to Heaven, Ohio.

==Characters==
*Bobby – Main character and Feather's father
*K-Boy – Bobby's friend
*J.L. – Bobby's friend
*Fred – Bobby's father
*Mary – Bobby's mother
*Paul – Bobby's brother
*Mr. Wilkins – Nia's father
*Mrs. Wilkins – Nia's mother
*Coco Fernandez – Bobby's neighbor
*Nia – Bobby's girl-friend and the mother of Bobby's daughter
*Nick – Paul's kid
*Nora – Paul's kid
*Feather – Bobby's baby/kid

== Themes ==
Kristi Jemtegaard said that Bobby is "venturing alone into fatherhood like someone exploring an alien planet."<ref>{{cite journal
| last = Jemtegaard | first = kristi | title = Angela Johnson ''The First Part Last'' | journal =Just No Okay Just No.
| date = March–April 2004
| url = http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=b1fc05fb-1a61-4ed9-b3dd-aac7882d3695%40sessionmgr13&vid=15&hid=111
| access-date = 3 March 2012 }}
</ref> The author also said the novel's protagonist deals with "disappointed parents and fierce love for his baby.

== Reception ==
''The First Part Last'' received mostly positive reviews. The Nell Beram said that "Johnson has a unique storytelling strategy."<ref>{{cite journal | last =Beram | first = Nell | title = Angela Johnson ''The First Part Last'' | issue = high school | date = July–August 2003 | url = http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=b1fc05fb-1a61-4ed9-b3dd-aac7882d3695%40sessionmgr13&vid=15&hid=111 | access-date =13 March 2012 }}</ref> Another author from Publishers Weekly discussed how Bobby's descriptions of Nia conveys to people what a "loving and trustworthy father he promises to be."<ref>{{cite journal | title = '' The First Part Last'' | journal = Publishers Weekly | issue = high school | date = June 16, 2003 | url = http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=b1fc05fb-1a61-4ed9-b3dd-aac7882d3695%40sessionmgr13&vid=15&hid=111 | access-date =15 March 2012 }}</ref> However, not all reviews from Publishers Weekly were positive; the author also said, "the only misstep is a chapter from Nia's point of view which takes readers out of Bobby's capable hands."
[[Kirkus Reviews]] stated "By narrating from a realistic first-person voice, Johnson manages to convey a story that is always complex, never preachy. The somewhat pat ending doesn't diminish the impact of this short, involving story. It's the tale of one young man and his choices, which many young readers will appreciate and enjoy."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/angela-johnson/the-first-part-last/ |website=www.kirkusreviews.com |title=The First Part Last |date=1 June 2003 |publisher=Kirkus Media LLC |access-date=4 July 2015 }}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
*[[Coretta Scott King Award]], 2004<ref>[http://www.ala.org/ala/emiert/corettascottkingbookaward/cskpastwinners/chronologicallist/cskchronological.cfm Coretta Scott King Book Award Complete List of Recipients—by Year] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007191557/http://ala.org/ala/emiert/corettascottkingbookaward/cskpastwinners/chronologicallist/cskchronological.cfm |date=2008-10-07 }}, [[American Library Association]], retrieved 2009-01-17</ref>
*[[Michael L. Printz Award]], 2004

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Portal|Children and Young Adult Literature}}

==External links==
* [http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/0689849222.asp Teenreads.com review]

{{Michael L. Printz Award Winners}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:First Part Last, The}}
[[Category:2003 American novels]]
[[Category:American young adult novels]]
[[Category:African-American young adult novels]]
[[Category:Michael L. Printz Award–winning works]]
[[Category:Novels about teenage pregnancy]]
[[Category:Novels set in New York City]]
[[Category:Coretta Scott King Award–winning works]]

The First Part Last - Revision history

imported>Ser Amantio di Nicolao: add {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}