What grade level is The First Part Last?

The First Part Last is listed for grades 4–8. It appears on 2 book-award 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.

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.

The First Part Last

Name: The First Part Last
Availability: InStock
Author: Angela Johnson
ISBN: 9781439106587

by Angela Johnson · Grades 4–8 · Young Adult Fiction

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson is on US reading lists at grades 4–8. It appears on 2 lists: 2 book-award lists, across 1 state. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Grades 4–8 · 84 pages. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9781439106587). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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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 Award Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers

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.

Reading level at a glance

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

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-09-24; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

Good fit for grade 4?

If you have read it with a child or a class in this grade, tell other parents and teachers. One tap, no account.

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

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About this book

Book facts and sources (2)

Awards won: Coretta Scott King Author Award, 2004 (source: Wikipedia)
Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers, 2004 (source: sites.google.com)
Catalog record: First published 2003 · 84 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

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Why it is assigned

This young adult fiction title is typically read at grades 4–8. Written in the 2000s; cited on 2 lists: 2 book-award lists.

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is The First Part Last?: The First Part Last is listed for grades 4–8. It appears on 2 book-award 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 the book-award lists citing this book.
Curriculum alignment: Cited in 2 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence: On state book-award lists in 1 state (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.