ReadAthon April 2010 - Update 3 - First Part Last by Angela Johnson

Angela Johnson is my new favorite writer.  First Part Last was even better than Heaven.  The voice of Bobby, the teen-aged father, was so real.  I loved how she went back and forth between the time periods: Then - before Feather was born and Now - having and taking care of Feather.  I thought the book would be spoiled because I knew he kept the baby, but it wasn't.  We follow Bobby as he learns to take care of, and be responsible for, his baby girl.  We also listen to him reminiscing about the months before Feather was born. Bobby and Nia had decided to give up the baby and were just trying to make it through.  They were still going to school and hanging out with friends.  If they could just make it through these nine months, everything would be ok, because they were intent on doing the right thing.  As Bobby tells the story of Feather's first few months, although he is extremely tired and at wit's end, you hear his love for her in his "voice".  Every time he has to get up in the middle of the night, change a diaper, go to the sitter, falls asleep in class, etc., the love is there. 
"I want to cry. I want to cry a lot these days, and sometimes I do, and this makes me crazy."  You feel for him and Feather.  Can hardly wait to get to Sweet, Hereafter!


Title of book(s) read since last update:
Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
Hotlanta by Denene Millner - 80/272

Number of books read since you started: 5

Pages read since last update:357 pg
Running total of pages read since you started:
687 pgs plus 15 min audio

Amount of time spent reading since last update:3 hrs 10 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 7 hrs

Mini-challenges completed:1
Other participants you’ve visited:
Nomad Reader