The First State of Being is a 2024 children's time travel novel by Erin Entrada Kelly. Set in the lead-up to Y2K, it follows a young boy who discovers a strange teenager who claims to be from the future. Kelly earned the Newbery Medal in 2025 for the book, her second medal and her third recognition; it was also a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2024.[1][2]
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| Author | Erin Entrada Kelly |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Time travel |
| Publisher | Greenwillow |
| Publication date | 2024 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 272 |
| ISBN | 9780063337312 |
Summary
editIn 1999, 12-year-old Michael is preparing for Y2K when he meets the mysterious boy Ridge, an out-of-place teenager who dresses and speaks queerly and claims to be from the future. Incredulous, Michael changes his mind after Ridge accurately predicts an earthquake; Ridge has actually time-traveled backward from the year 2199 using a time machine invented by his mother and motivated by a dare from his siblings. Michael decides to help Ridge find his way back to the future by helping to locate the time machine.[3][4][5]
Themes
editThis book deals with the themes of "future knowledge" and the paradox of what would happen if it was known by past eras! Also dealt with is a theory of states of being. The first states of being is the known present. The second is the projected future, and the third is the unknown future.
https://www.supersummary.com/the-first-state-of-being/summary/
References
edit- ↑ "Association for Library Service to Children - Newbery Medal Winners & Honor Books, 1922 – Present" (PDF). ALA.org. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
- ↑ "2024 National Book Awards Longlist for Young People's Literature". National Book Foundation. 2024.
- ↑ Kelly, Erin Entrada (January 15, 2024). "The First State of Being". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
- ↑ Quay, Alexandra (2024). "KELLY, Erin Entrada. The First State of Being". School Library Journal. 70 (2): 94. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
- ↑ Quealy-Gainer, Kate (2024). "Review of The First State of Being, by Erin Entrada Kelly". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 77 (6): 218–219. doi:10.1353/bcc.2024.a917180. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
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