The First State of Being – the latest book by Newbery Medal-winning author Erin Entrada Kelly
An Introduction
In The First State of Being, Newbery Medal-winning author Erin Entrada Kelly delivers a moving and imaginative story that blends the wonders of time travel with the emotional depth of growing up. Set against the backdrop of the impending Y2K crisis in August 1999, this captivating middle grade novel explores themes of identity, friendship, trust, and the pull of the unknown future.
Twelve-year-old Michael Rosario lives a predictable life at the Fox Run Apartments in Red Knot, Delaware. His days revolve around school, his awkward crush on his older babysitter Gibby, and anxieties over the Y2K scare. Everything changes when a disoriented teenager named Ridge appears out of nowhere. Ridge is bold, curious, and out of place—because he’s from the future. As the world’s first time traveler, Ridge is fascinated by everything Michael takes for granted, from microwaves to shopping malls.
As the two boys grow closer, Michael discovers that Ridge carries something astonishing—a book detailing events of the next twenty years. For a boy who often feels powerless in the present, the opportunity to know the future is irresistible. But as his desire for control intensifies, Michael must decide how far he’s willing to go to shape what comes next—and what he’s willing to risk along the way.
A story rich with heart and humor, The First State of Being masterfully captures the emotional complexity of adolescence while immersing readers in a time-bending adventure. It’s a novel for dreamers and thinkers, for fans of Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me, and for anyone who has ever wished they could see their future—only to realize that what matters most is in the present.
Erin Entrada Kelly’s The First State of Being: A Timeless Tale of Friendship, Forgiveness, and Finding Your Place
The book is another shining example of Erin Entrada Kelly’s remarkable storytelling. Known for her deep character work and relatable themes, Kelly is one of today’s most celebrated voices in children’s literature. She received the Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe and a Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space, and her debut, Blackbird Fly, was named a Kirkus and School Library Journal Best Book, among many other honors. Her novels, including The Land of Forgotten Girls, You Go First, Lalani of the Distant Sea, and Those Kids from Fawn Creek, have earned spots on numerous “best of” lists.
In addition to writing, Kelly teaches children’s literature at Rosemont College and serves on the faculty at Hamline University’s MFA program. A former journalist and magazine editor, her storytelling is informed by her rich professional background and her deep understanding of the emotional lives of young readers.
With The First State of Being, Erin Entrada Kelly reaffirms her unique ability to speak to the heart of childhood—its hopes, fears, questions, and triumphs—through stories that feel both magical and real.
