CITATION: Johnson, A. (2005). The first part last. New York: Simon Pulse. IDENTIFYING #: ISBN 13 9780689849220CLASSIFICATION: FICTION
GENRE: REALISTIC FICTION
CALL #: FIC JOHNSON
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: YOUNG ADULT
RATING: 4
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: YOUNG ADULT
RATING: 4
Annotation: 16 year-old Bobby struggles to be a good man and the best father he can be to the infant daughter he loves with all his heart.
Summary: Bobby is a normal, happy-go-lucky teenager living in New York. He has two parents who love him. He knows all about safe sex, and his mom stores a basket of condoms underneath the bathroom sink for him. His parents never expected something like this, and neither did Nia's. This never should have happened, but it did. Nia got pregnant, and now Bobby's a father. Through a series of flashbacks, Bobby describes his love for Nia, and how they struggled to make the right decision. But there came a time when Bobby had to decide what to do on his own. Bobby wants to be a good man, and a good father, but he's still a kid himself. Although he has support, in many ways, Bobby is all alone, and he finds that sometimes doing the right thing is the hardest thing you'll ever do.
Notes: Not your typical "teen parent" story. Bobby's memories open our eyes to the issues surrounding teen pregnancy beyond "the decision" and breaking the news to one's parents. Although it is an easy read (short, and quick), it's not an easy story, and one particularly shocking revelation is quite emotional. Teens will probably enjoy the uncommon perspective of the father's (Bobby's) point of view on a topic normally dealt with from the mother to be's view.
