Cover of The First Part Last

The First Part Last

by Angela Johnson

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Assigned across 2 curriculum lists · 1 state

Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).

On reading-award lists:Coretta Scott King Author AwardGeorgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson is assigned in US schools at grades 4–8. It appears across 2 curriculum references and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where The First Part Last is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Grade range
Grades 4–8
Pages
84
Reading time
about 1h 30m (est.)
First published
2003
Genre
Young Adult Fiction
ISBN-13
9781439106587

New to these terms? Reading levels by grade · What is the Coretta Scott King Award?

More formats & details

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Why widely assigned

This Young Adult Fiction title, typically at grades 4–8. Written in the 2000s; cited across 2 curriculum frameworks.

Where this book is assigned

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Common questions

What grade level is The First Part Last?
The First Part Last is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–8. It appears on 2 school reading lists across 1 state, from grade 4 to grade 12. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read The First Part Last?
It takes about 1h 30m to read The First Part Last (84 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 90 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign The First Part Last?
The First Part Last appears on reading lists for Coretta Scott King Author Award, Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The First Part Last banned in schools?
The First Part Last has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 1 state (IA) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band
Grades 4–8 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 2 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
Documented as challenged or removed in 1 state per PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans — see the full banned & challenged books list.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: award-winner.

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