LS 5903 MULTICULTURAL LITERATURE

Review of THE FIRST PART LAST
A. Johnson, Angela. 2004. New York: Simon, Pulse. ISBN 0689849230, 9780689849237.

B. PLOT SUMMARY: On Bobby's 16th birthday he gets a surprise from his girlfriend, Nia. She's pregnant! Bobby's family is very real, a working middle class family where Nia's family is more upper middle class. The parents are pushing for adoption and Nia's family is much more upset about the situation than Bobby's. Bobby makes the tough decision to keep the baby and care for Feather himself even though it comes at the price of nearly loosing his pre-baby life. He does stay in school and is a good role model to his male friends for, hopefully only a future reference. Near the end of the book we find that Nia is in a coma and fighting for her life. She has never recovered from childbirth and eclampsia. Bobby is so in love with his baby girl and awed by the depth of his love for her and amazed each day by things she learns and how much she grows. At the end readers are led to feel that Bobby and Feather will make it and their life together will be good though difficult daily.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
People that believe one doesn't judge a book by it's cover are truly blind in the day and age we live in. The paperback cover is more effective it draws you in. It shows an extremely handsome young African American in casual clothes and thick picture perfect dreadlocks. He is holding a newborn baby girl who's dressed in a fucshia sleeper.

This book is very much not the norm. In reality and in fiction portrayals we have many worries about the African American male father who infrequently acknowledges and rarely helps raise the baby or pay child support to the mother. Bobby is the complete opposite which is very healthy. He talks in glowing terms about the baby girl, Feather, falling asleep on his stomach. He is responsible and stays in school and takes care of his daughter riding the bus across town to get her in a good childcare program and then rushing back to high school classes.

Another thing that is not the norm is that Bobby's mother doesn't jump up and decide to raise the baby as if she were mother instead of grandmother. Bobby's mom is helpful and supportive but she is not routinely sympathetic. She gives Bobby tough love and helps him rise to the occassion.

There is a bit of stereotypical attitude in that the wealthy get more upset as a rule about out of wedlock babies than the middle class and working poor. Parents of daughters get more upset because it is usually the mom whose life changes most dramatically.

Bobby's friends seem authentic by the clothing, language, and attitudes. One of his friends understands and is encouraging to Bobby. The other is so put off and walks away from their friendship in part because of the lack of time that he and Bobby have to spend together.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:
School Library Journal opines, "Grade 8 Up-Brief, poetic, and absolutely riveting, this gem of a novel tells the story of a young father struggling to raise an infant. Bobby, 16, is a sensitive and intelligent narrator. His parents are supportive but refuse to take over the child-care duties, so he struggles to balance parenting, school, and friends who don't comprehend his new role. Alternate chapters go back to the story of Bobby's relationship with his girlfriend Nia and how parents and friends reacted to the news of her pregnancy."

Reviews accessed at :
http://www.amazon.com/First-Part-Last-Angela-Johnson/dp/0689849230/ref=pd_sxp_f_r/103-3639199-3279836

CONNECTIONS:
Other realistic fiction with African American protagonists
Myers, Walter Dean. MOTOWN AND DIDI
Frank, E.R. AMERICA
Multicultural but with a Jewish and Christian family and real life situations
Mazer, Norma Fox. AFTER THE RAIN
African American Realistic Fiction, issue: Drunk Driving and it's consequences
Sharon, Draper. TEARS OF A TIGER
Caucasian Realistic Fiction, issue: Drunk Driving and it's consequences
Rylant, Cynthia. Izzy, Willy, Nilly