The First Part Last by Angela Johnson

I finished The First Part Last a few days ago, and I really wanted to take some time to let it sink in. It was an easy read, but the topic of the book is not easy. The portrayal of the young father trying to raise his child is wonderful. The part in the book when Bobby realized he left her alone in his apartment to go meet his friend was heartbreaking. The "want" to still be a teenager, but the "need" to be responsible and be a father is the internal battle he faced. This book could speak to many teenagers because most think that it can't happen to them, but so did the two main characters in this book. The daily struggles Bobby went through trying to be a father and a student should give teenagers today a front and center look at the all too common occurrence of teenage pregnancy. An interesting aspect of the book is the forshadowing that led me to believe Nia had died in childbirth. The ending definitely has a twist that I was not expecting.