What books are similar to The First Part Last?

The 10 closest matches to The First Part Last by Angela Johnson on ReadingList include Toning the Sweep, I Dream of Trains, American Born Chinese, Bad News for Outlaws, and Bronx Masquerade. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like The First Part Last reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–8), so the picks stay grade-appropriate. See how ReadingList judges text difficulty on the /standard methodology page.

How does ReadingList choose similar books?

Matches are ranked by shared themes, shared award and reading-program lists (two books picked for the same state award were chosen by the same committees for the same readers), same genre, comparable Lexile and grade band, and publication decade — computed from cited public curriculum data, not editorial opinion or AI-generated summaries.

Books like The First Part Last

If you liked The First Part Last, read Toning the Sweep, I Dream of Trains, or American Born Chinese — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like The First Part Last by Angela Johnson (Young Adult Fiction · grades 4–8)? The 10 titles below are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level, and each linked to the curricula, states, and grades where it’s assigned, with primary sources.

These are reading-level matches, not just topical ones — so the picks stay grade-appropriate for a grades 4–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

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Why each is a match

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Toning the Sweepgrades 4–8: Is by Angela Johnson, the same author, both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, and same genre (Young Adult Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
I Dream of Trainsgrades K–5: Is by Angela Johnson, the same author, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
American Born Chinese530L: Same genre (Young Adult Fiction), overlapping grades (7–12), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Bad News for Outlawsgrades 3–7: Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Bronx Masqueradegrades 4–8: Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Day of Tearsgrades 7–12: Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (7–12), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Ender's Game780L: Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (6–10). Amazon → books like this →
Everything We Never Hadgrades 7–12: Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon → books like this →
Forged by Firegrades 7–10: Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (7–10), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Long Way Down720L: Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon → books like this →

Books like The First Part Last for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 3–5— same scoring, different audience.

Miracle's Boys by Jacqueline Woodson · grades 4–8 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2000s).
Remember by Toni Morrison · grades 4–8 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2000s).
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare · grades 3–7 — Same genre (YOUNG ADULT FICTION) and overlapping grades (3–7).
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli · grades 3–7 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (3–7).
The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley · grades 3–7 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (3–7).

Books like The First Part Last for middle school (grades 6–8)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 6–8— same scoring, different audience.

Miracle's Boys by Jacqueline Woodson · grades 4–8 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2000s).
Monster by Walter Dean Myers · 670L — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (8–11).
Never Thought I'd End Up Here by Ann Liang · grades 7–12 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–12).
Remember by Toni Morrison · grades 4–8 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2000s).
Sky's End by Marc J. Gregson · grades 7–12 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–12).

Books like The First Part Last for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 9–12— same scoring, different audience.

Artifice by Sharon Cameron · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction).
Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction).
Chaos Theory by Nic Stone · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction).
Come Home Safe by Brian G. Buckmire · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction).
Conditions of a Heart by Bethany Mangle · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to The First Part Last?: The 10 closest matches to The First Part Last by Angela Johnson on ReadingList include Toning the Sweep, I Dream of Trains, American Born Chinese, Bad News for Outlaws, and Bronx Masquerade. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like The First Part Last reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–8), so the picks stay grade-appropriate. See how ReadingList judges text difficulty on the /standard methodology page.
How does ReadingList choose similar books?: Matches are ranked by shared themes, shared award and reading-program lists (two books picked for the same state award were chosen by the same committees for the same readers), same genre, comparable Lexile and grade band, and publication decade — computed from cited public curriculum data, not editorial opinion or AI-generated summaries.

Book data last updated 2026-09-05. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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