There are tons of dilemmas in The First Part Last. There's the choice that Bobby and Nia made to have unprotected sex, and once the pregnancy test is positive, the choices come fast and furious. And once Bobby is a single father, they just keep raining down upon him. Whether he's choosing to skip the arcade and the good times it offers, or committing to move his little family to Ohio, Bobby barely takes a break from decision-making. He always tries to do the right thing, and sometimes this is really clear—but most of the time, it isn't. Sigh. Choices can be hard, yo.
Questions About Choices
- How does Bobby make choices about Feather in the novel? What influences his choices? What doesn't?
- Bobby makes a choice to skip school and tag a wall. What causes him to do this?
- Mary, Bobby's mom, makes a deliberate choice not to become a parent to Feather. Why does she make this choice? Is it the best choice for her to make?
- Bobby eventually decides to leave New York for Ohio. What does this decision reveal about him?
Chew on This
Bobby makes more bad choices than good throughout the novel.
Bobby makes more good choices than bad throughout the novel. His bad ones might be epic, but they're the exception, not the norm.