A review by bookishkellyn
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson

emotional hopeful sad

5.0

The book opens up with Bobby holding his 11-day-old daughter (Feather) as he ponders how wonderful it would be if we could “live life backwards and do the first part last” to end life being held in our parents’ arms the same way. The book paints a realistic outlook of what becoming a teen parent looks like as it flashes back and forth from ‘now’ and ‘then.’ You quickly realize that his girlfriend/Feather’s mother (Nia) isn’t in the picture, and the how and why is an unexpected gut punch when it’s revealed. This was a short but powerful read that aged well and felt like poetry. I highly recommend the audiobook version.