As an adult reader, it is always a bit of a shock to see books set during my adulthood considered historical, or in the case of THE FIRST STATE OF BEING by Erin Entrada Kelly, to have my freshman year of college be a time period that can be traveled BACK to. Of course, in this novel, the future isn’t now, but instead 2199, and experimental technology called STP allows teenager Ridge Sabio to place himself in 1999 with 12-year-old Michael and his 16-year-old babysitter Gibby. Ridge is shocked to discover the technology actually worked, and at first attempts to minimize the dangers of this situation – can he get back? Will he get sick from viruses he is not protected from? – in favor of the novelties of the era – malls! cars! phones!.
Intermingled with the time travel storyline are themes of class, race and wealth disparities, environmentalism, and discussions of anxiety, guilt and grief. There are numerous explanatory interludes within the book with explanations of terms and period-specific language, including about the Y2K panic.
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“You have a weighted mind,” Ridge said. “That’s what my mom calls it when people carry a lot of worries and anxieties—a weighted mind. Because it can feel heavy. Some people get upgrades for it where I’m from.” “What do you mean, upgrades?” “You can get artificial upgrades for certain things. My mom says it’s not really an upgrade, though, because upgrade implies that all our so-called imperfections are problematic, and she says that’s not true. The Global Science Council agrees. But the AI companies—the ones who offer the upgrades—think the GSC is wrong. They say it’s another era of human evolution. There’s a lot of debate on the topic.”
Chapter 18 pg. 139
We welcome all discussion on this title, but I would especially love thoughts on whether nostalgia by adult readers are driving popularity of this title, or if having a unique time travel story with neither time setting in the now makes the story have a universal appeal. The Newbery criteria includes “The book displays respect for children’s understandings, abilities, and appreciations.” as one of its factors, and it is interesting to ponder this in relation to this story and its setting.
Heavy Medal Award Committee members and others are now invited to discuss this book further in the Comments section below. Let the Mock Newbery discussion begin!
Emily Mroczek (Bayci) is a freelance children’s librarian in the Chicago suburbs. She served on the 2019 Newbery committee. You can reach her at emilyrmroczek@gmail.com.
This is a title I appreciated a lot more on the second read. It’s one I can definitely imagine recommending to so many readers so has the kid appeal for me. I thought Michael and Ridge had magnificent characters with so many realistic qualities.
I agree with Emily, I appreciated this more on a reread.
I did feel that the setting – time and place was strong. I feel the historical fiction comment – 1st the 80s and now the 90s. I lived through the Y2K scare and the book dealt with it well. Some people were really worried about it and others not so much. The cultural references were good and grounded the story without being too much.
I felt like all the characters were well developed. Michaels thoughts and emotions were particularly well done, like his struggle with what was dangerous on pages 109, 110. Mosley, a minor character, was well done as well and his death hit hard.
The theme of the book – the first state of being – was well done and even explained on pg. 118. Live in the present, let go of the past, and worry about the future when you get there.
I really love a good time travel book and the whole struggle about timelines and cause/effect was fun and well thought out. The “Ridge” mystery in particular was clever.
Overall, the book had great characters, a well developed theme, and a plot that flowed really well.
My only minor issue was just that it may have been too overly positive. For example, mentioning the Conklin Principle again on page 149 (I am guessing from my notes it had been mentioned before but can’t remember where in the book). It just felt a bit heavy handed with the “we all need to be positive” message.
Curious to see what others have to say.
re the setting: Both this and Mid-Air have 1980s/1990s elements that can be more fun and more understood by adult readers, but I don’t think this is a problem. I’ll never forget my introduction to the term, “nostalgia porn,” in a review of Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. My understanding of this label is when a book revels in the past without that content being relevant to the overall story. That’s not the case for our finalists. The “historical,” (sigh) 1999 content in First State is necessary for the setting. Modern young readers will likely have Back to the Future – esque mental pictures, but some of these readers might discuss the timeline with their parents and even grandparents (we Gen Xer’s are in our 50s!). Some readers have already been introduced to “vintage,” things like phone booths and Izods with the collars up thanks to family stories and photo albums. This connection could inspire families and educators to read this aloud with great discussion possiblities. But teachability isn’t a Newbery consideration, so we’ll see.
THE FIRST STATE OF BEING checks all the boxes: it has a clearly defined theme (to live in the now, the first state of being), the stakes are high (will Ridge ever make it back!?) and the story is evenly paced. The setting is depicted in fine detail: the Backstreet Boys and Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Y2K scare the drives Michael’s anxieties, the difficulty in getting a hold of someone when all you had were home phones and answering machines. (I think both nostalgic adults and children curious about what a teen’s social life was like before cell phones would find this setting appealing, Kate).
Here’s what I liked best, though: the characters are so dynamic and carefully written! Erin Entrada Kelly always writes characters that readers cheer for and don’t want to let go of, and Michael, Gibby, and Ridge are no exception. Especially Michael! He is such a sweet kid who has his missteps, but ultimately tries to do right by everyone and cares deeply about his loved ones. His regret after Mr. Mosley’s death is so heartbreaking and his discomfort with meeting someone new in Ridge when he’s in (love-struck) awe of Gibby is relatable. I also love the relationship between the three: they each try to help each other while keeping each other accountable, and ultimately it’s Ridge who helps Michael come out of his shell while Gibby is the glue that holds everyone together enough to drive their actions forward.
I was also struck by the maturity of the language in the chapters that take place in 2199. I love all things time-travel, so I relished the passages that explained how the Spatial Teleportation Module (STM) worked, but Dr. Sabio and the other experts were asking tough questions! The topics of a global good and manipulating historical events were discussed, and Dr. Sabio (and readers) are asked: “Are we going to travel back in time and prevent genocide, the world wars, the atomic bomb?” Erin Entrada Kelly thus shows a great respect for children’s understanding, as was previously brought up during our discussion of THE COLOR OF SOUND. So does all of this make THE FIRST STATE OF BEING a strong contender for the Newbery? I would say so, except…. I agree with Julie. It’s a little heavy-handed in its positive message and readers are kind of hit over the head with the importance of living in “the first state of being.” Now, I tend to like my middle grade novels with a sucker punch to the feels, so I’m inclined to say that this book being too optimistic is a question of my personal taste, but what does everyone else think?
THE FIRST STATE OF BEING’s exploration of 90s culture is not just a backdrop but a vibrant and nostalgic journey that was interesting. Erin Entrada Kelly consistently provides quality middle-grade literature.
Erin Entrada Kelly explores the setting and theme of time travel from two character perspectives: Michael and Gabby in the 1990s “present” and Ridge Sabio, a teenager from 2199.
Interpretation of the theme or concept (check)
Presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization (check)
Development of a plot (check)
Delineation of characters (check)
Delineation of a setting (check)
Appropriateness of style (check)
The material is well organized with three distinct fonts: the primary 90s setting, official scientific reports by the University of Delaware Spatial Teleportation Sciences Department, and the 2199 audio transcripts of the Sabio family working to get Ridge back to the future.
I particularly liked the scientific reports from 2199. For example, the climate variability shift led to wild bee extinction in 2100. The Pop Culture Omnibus excerpt on pages 23-24 identifies 90s slang for a potential time traveler, including phrases like “What’s Up,” “Later,” “No duh,” “Let’s bounce,” and “Word.” I kept looking for Ridge to include new slang from 2199 so Michael and Gabby could piece together the “something off” (‘Sus’ in current teen slang) and relate.
My favorite quote was Ridge’s explanation of the fictional ‘Conklin Principal’ (p. 149): “For every bad outcome you can anticipate, you should consider at least one positive outcome.” This provides the trajectory shift for Michael, the middle-grade protagonist. The anxiety and fear from ‘what-if’ thinking that previously led to Michael’s stealing, hoarding, and separation from peers is shifted to the attitude of service, gratitude, and hope as Michael helps Ridge accept a gift from apartment handyman Mr. Mosely and learns from his experiences.
Overall, I just felt meh. Liked the book, could see it in Newbery and National Book Award contention but just wasn’t wow-ed by it in comparison to THE SECRET LIBRARY, the other time-traveling stand out of 2024. Why?
I was frustrated by one element, the thread of “the first state of being,” Ridge introduces on p. 118. That’s what my mom calls the present moment. The past is the past. The future is the future. This is the first state, the most important one, in which everything matters.”
I saw the plot crumbs the whole way through, and the ending was not a revelation. I was sometimes a little bored, and my sister tapped out by chapter 12. I was mostly conflicted with contradictions in “Not knowing is part of life”(p.221), which shows Michael’s growth and the final interaction with Ridge that sets up the character’s future connection.
I liked the way things wrapped up on page 248—it was open to imagination and felt just right. But then those “additional excerpts” on pages 251-252 made me more frustrated than resolved. Readers learn that while Ridge keeps this non-essential Y2K history secret, a stock tip changes Michael’s trajectory. Eh- It looked like cheating—I am pretty sure that is illegal in all past and current states of being. I don’t think it was necessary. A “go get the girl” and reflection that Michael chose to invest his money would have been more consistent and effective.
I think this will resonate more with adult readers that lived in the 1900’s (lol) than with young readers today. I wonder how it will hold up in the future.
I would like to add this…. Kate Olson’s choice of the quote about anxiety (Chapter 18 pg. 139) really got me thinking. This is also the power of a committee. We come to the table with our own ideas and they shift as counter arguments are made. It’s pretty cool.
Mental Health is something we all have. Total health for kids means normalizing conversations around mental health, and I am always advocating for books as a tool to help that. Many of the best books of 2024 address anxiety, but Erin Entrada Kelly really does an amazing job with text that links this health issue to ethical discussion for the future:
“Upgrade implies that all our so-called imperfections are problematic, and she says that’s not true. The Global Science Council agrees. But the AI companies—the ones who offer the upgrades—think the GSC is wrong. They say it’s another era of human evolution. There’s a lot of debate on the topic.”
As others have mentioned, the characterizations in FIRST STATE OF BEING are well done, and the way Michael, Ridge, and Libby interact and develop through the events is convincing. I like the construction of the plot, how the time travel mistake got things going and what it finally caused in the end. But never really felt much tension or suspense, especially since from the future characters’ point of view, the consequences of Ridge’s actions could have been catastrophic. The plot worked well as a framework for the character development, and the premise is pretty engaging. Comparing the plot to books like MAX IN THE HOUSE OF SPIES, THE WRONG WAY HOME, or NOT QUITE A GHOST, though, I fell like FIRST STATE doesn’t engage readers and bring them into the world of the novel quite as strongly.
I actually have to disagree with you, Steven, about the feeling of tension or suspense in the future timeline. I felt like Ridge’s mother and siblings were well aware of the potential consequences of Ridge’s actions and worked feverishly to get him back. I also think that the book presented multiple ideas for how time travel might work including one where the timeline in which Ridge’s family lived would not have been affected by anything Ridge did in the past since it would have resulted in the creation of an alternate timeline.
I really liked this book and I am a sucker for a time travel book but I especially liked how it set forth a number of ideas for how time travel might work which allowed the reader to suspend their disbelief a little while we, as the audience, wait to see what the consequences of Ridge’s actions were.
Rereading some of those sections about Ridge’s family, I can see that you may be right, Courtney. The use of the transcript form for those parts means we don’t really get into the heads of Ridge’s family, just learn what they say. And you’re right, they’re desperate to get him back. I guess my sense of a lack of urgency was actually based on the family’s focus on saving Ridge vs. saving the world. Maria’s insistence that they figure out how to bring Ridge back before letting others (the GSC) know about the situation. That decision makes sense for Maria the mother, but maybe not for Maria the scientist. And it probably makes sense for most readers too, since we know Ridge is okay and can see a path for him to return.
I think Quade and I are on the same wave-length with this book. What he said in the middle of his review “Overall, I just felt meh. Liked the book, could see it in Newbery and National Book Award contention but just wasn’t wow-ed by it in comparison to THE SECRET LIBRARY, the other time-traveling stand out of 2024.” I liked a lot about this book, but I think that’s where it stops and ends. I liked it. Gibby, Michael, Ridge, Mr Morsley all wonderful likable characters. Did any of them stun me? No. I usually LOVE a book with a lot of academic excerpts (for adults but Emily Wilde comes to mind), and I liked the context from the future, but did it wow me? Still no. The twist at the end that Gibby ends up being what the EGG is named after and the little tidbit that Michael and Paige get married and save all the otters was very sweet, but there wasn’t enough investment in Paige or Paige/Michael’s relationship for me to think anything other than “that’s sweet.”
A good book, I think there are some time travelling loving book readers that will be very pleased by this novel, but I wasn’t wow-ed and I don’t know if the Newbery committee will be either.
And I know, I know that the Newbery committee is only supposed to think of books in 2024, but I couldn’t help but read this book and have HELLO, UNIVERSE echoing around in my brain. Is this book better than that one? The actual Newbery winner? No. Not for me.
I had high expectations for THE FIRST STATE OF BEING (Erin Entrada Kelly! Time travel! Y2K!) and I really enjoyed it as I was reading it, but it simply didn’t stick with me the way some of this year’s other books did.
Many others have mentioned the Conklin Principle and “the first state of being,” living in the present; I’ll add this quote from page 94:
“I know it doesn’t seem glamorous or interesting to you right now,” Ridge said. “But that’s because no one realizes they’re living history every minute of every day….Every breath we take, we’re contributing to history.”
This is a title I appreciated a lot more on the second read. It’s one I can definitely imagine recommending to so many readers so has the kid appeal for me. I thought Michael and Ridge had magnificent characters with so many realistic qualities.
I agree with Emily, I appreciated this more on a reread.
I did feel that the setting – time and place was strong. I feel the historical fiction comment – 1st the 80s and now the 90s. I lived through the Y2K scare and the book dealt with it well. Some people were really worried about it and others not so much. The cultural references were good and grounded the story without being too much.
I felt like all the characters were well developed. Michaels thoughts and emotions were particularly well done, like his struggle with what was dangerous on pages 109, 110. Mosley, a minor character, was well done as well and his death hit hard.
The theme of the book – the first state of being – was well done and even explained on pg. 118. Live in the present, let go of the past, and worry about the future when you get there.
I really love a good time travel book and the whole struggle about timelines and cause/effect was fun and well thought out. The “Ridge” mystery in particular was clever.
Overall, the book had great characters, a well developed theme, and a plot that flowed really well.
My only minor issue was just that it may have been too overly positive. For example, mentioning the Conklin Principle again on page 149 (I am guessing from my notes it had been mentioned before but can’t remember where in the book). It just felt a bit heavy handed with the “we all need to be positive” message.
Curious to see what others have to say.
re the setting: Both this and Mid-Air have 1980s/1990s elements that can be more fun and more understood by adult readers, but I don’t think this is a problem. I’ll never forget my introduction to the term, “nostalgia porn,” in a review of Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. My understanding of this label is when a book revels in the past without that content being relevant to the overall story. That’s not the case for our finalists. The “historical,” (sigh) 1999 content in First State is necessary for the setting. Modern young readers will likely have Back to the Future – esque mental pictures, but some of these readers might discuss the timeline with their parents and even grandparents (we Gen Xer’s are in our 50s!). Some readers have already been introduced to “vintage,” things like phone booths and Izods with the collars up thanks to family stories and photo albums. This connection could inspire families and educators to read this aloud with great discussion possiblities. But teachability isn’t a Newbery consideration, so we’ll see.
THE FIRST STATE OF BEING checks all the boxes: it has a clearly defined theme (to live in the now, the first state of being), the stakes are high (will Ridge ever make it back!?) and the story is evenly paced. The setting is depicted in fine detail: the Backstreet Boys and Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Y2K scare the drives Michael’s anxieties, the difficulty in getting a hold of someone when all you had were home phones and answering machines. (I think both nostalgic adults and children curious about what a teen’s social life was like before cell phones would find this setting appealing, Kate).
Here’s what I liked best, though: the characters are so dynamic and carefully written! Erin Entrada Kelly always writes characters that readers cheer for and don’t want to let go of, and Michael, Gibby, and Ridge are no exception. Especially Michael! He is such a sweet kid who has his missteps, but ultimately tries to do right by everyone and cares deeply about his loved ones. His regret after Mr. Mosley’s death is so heartbreaking and his discomfort with meeting someone new in Ridge when he’s in (love-struck) awe of Gibby is relatable. I also love the relationship between the three: they each try to help each other while keeping each other accountable, and ultimately it’s Ridge who helps Michael come out of his shell while Gibby is the glue that holds everyone together enough to drive their actions forward.
I was also struck by the maturity of the language in the chapters that take place in 2199. I love all things time-travel, so I relished the passages that explained how the Spatial Teleportation Module (STM) worked, but Dr. Sabio and the other experts were asking tough questions! The topics of a global good and manipulating historical events were discussed, and Dr. Sabio (and readers) are asked: “Are we going to travel back in time and prevent genocide, the world wars, the atomic bomb?” Erin Entrada Kelly thus shows a great respect for children’s understanding, as was previously brought up during our discussion of THE COLOR OF SOUND. So does all of this make THE FIRST STATE OF BEING a strong contender for the Newbery? I would say so, except…. I agree with Julie. It’s a little heavy-handed in its positive message and readers are kind of hit over the head with the importance of living in “the first state of being.” Now, I tend to like my middle grade novels with a sucker punch to the feels, so I’m inclined to say that this book being too optimistic is a question of my personal taste, but what does everyone else think?
THE FIRST STATE OF BEING’s exploration of 90s culture is not just a backdrop but a vibrant and nostalgic journey that was interesting. Erin Entrada Kelly consistently provides quality middle-grade literature.
Erin Entrada Kelly explores the setting and theme of time travel from two character perspectives: Michael and Gabby in the 1990s “present” and Ridge Sabio, a teenager from 2199.
Interpretation of the theme or concept (check)
Presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization (check)
Development of a plot (check)
Delineation of characters (check)
Delineation of a setting (check)
Appropriateness of style (check)
The material is well organized with three distinct fonts: the primary 90s setting, official scientific reports by the University of Delaware Spatial Teleportation Sciences Department, and the 2199 audio transcripts of the Sabio family working to get Ridge back to the future.
I particularly liked the scientific reports from 2199. For example, the climate variability shift led to wild bee extinction in 2100. The Pop Culture Omnibus excerpt on pages 23-24 identifies 90s slang for a potential time traveler, including phrases like “What’s Up,” “Later,” “No duh,” “Let’s bounce,” and “Word.” I kept looking for Ridge to include new slang from 2199 so Michael and Gabby could piece together the “something off” (‘Sus’ in current teen slang) and relate.
My favorite quote was Ridge’s explanation of the fictional ‘Conklin Principal’ (p. 149): “For every bad outcome you can anticipate, you should consider at least one positive outcome.” This provides the trajectory shift for Michael, the middle-grade protagonist. The anxiety and fear from ‘what-if’ thinking that previously led to Michael’s stealing, hoarding, and separation from peers is shifted to the attitude of service, gratitude, and hope as Michael helps Ridge accept a gift from apartment handyman Mr. Mosely and learns from his experiences.
Overall, I just felt meh. Liked the book, could see it in Newbery and National Book Award contention but just wasn’t wow-ed by it in comparison to THE SECRET LIBRARY, the other time-traveling stand out of 2024. Why?
I was frustrated by one element, the thread of “the first state of being,” Ridge introduces on p. 118. That’s what my mom calls the present moment. The past is the past. The future is the future. This is the first state, the most important one, in which everything matters.”
I saw the plot crumbs the whole way through, and the ending was not a revelation. I was sometimes a little bored, and my sister tapped out by chapter 12. I was mostly conflicted with contradictions in “Not knowing is part of life”(p.221), which shows Michael’s growth and the final interaction with Ridge that sets up the character’s future connection.
I liked the way things wrapped up on page 248—it was open to imagination and felt just right. But then those “additional excerpts” on pages 251-252 made me more frustrated than resolved. Readers learn that while Ridge keeps this non-essential Y2K history secret, a stock tip changes Michael’s trajectory. Eh- It looked like cheating—I am pretty sure that is illegal in all past and current states of being. I don’t think it was necessary. A “go get the girl” and reflection that Michael chose to invest his money would have been more consistent and effective.
I think this will resonate more with adult readers that lived in the 1900’s (lol) than with young readers today. I wonder how it will hold up in the future.
I would like to add this…. Kate Olson’s choice of the quote about anxiety (Chapter 18 pg. 139) really got me thinking. This is also the power of a committee. We come to the table with our own ideas and they shift as counter arguments are made. It’s pretty cool.
Mental Health is something we all have. Total health for kids means normalizing conversations around mental health, and I am always advocating for books as a tool to help that. Many of the best books of 2024 address anxiety, but Erin Entrada Kelly really does an amazing job with text that links this health issue to ethical discussion for the future:
“Upgrade implies that all our so-called imperfections are problematic, and she says that’s not true. The Global Science Council agrees. But the AI companies—the ones who offer the upgrades—think the GSC is wrong. They say it’s another era of human evolution. There’s a lot of debate on the topic.”
As others have mentioned, the characterizations in FIRST STATE OF BEING are well done, and the way Michael, Ridge, and Libby interact and develop through the events is convincing. I like the construction of the plot, how the time travel mistake got things going and what it finally caused in the end. But never really felt much tension or suspense, especially since from the future characters’ point of view, the consequences of Ridge’s actions could have been catastrophic. The plot worked well as a framework for the character development, and the premise is pretty engaging. Comparing the plot to books like MAX IN THE HOUSE OF SPIES, THE WRONG WAY HOME, or NOT QUITE A GHOST, though, I fell like FIRST STATE doesn’t engage readers and bring them into the world of the novel quite as strongly.
I actually have to disagree with you, Steven, about the feeling of tension or suspense in the future timeline. I felt like Ridge’s mother and siblings were well aware of the potential consequences of Ridge’s actions and worked feverishly to get him back. I also think that the book presented multiple ideas for how time travel might work including one where the timeline in which Ridge’s family lived would not have been affected by anything Ridge did in the past since it would have resulted in the creation of an alternate timeline.
I really liked this book and I am a sucker for a time travel book but I especially liked how it set forth a number of ideas for how time travel might work which allowed the reader to suspend their disbelief a little while we, as the audience, wait to see what the consequences of Ridge’s actions were.
Rereading some of those sections about Ridge’s family, I can see that you may be right, Courtney. The use of the transcript form for those parts means we don’t really get into the heads of Ridge’s family, just learn what they say. And you’re right, they’re desperate to get him back. I guess my sense of a lack of urgency was actually based on the family’s focus on saving Ridge vs. saving the world. Maria’s insistence that they figure out how to bring Ridge back before letting others (the GSC) know about the situation. That decision makes sense for Maria the mother, but maybe not for Maria the scientist. And it probably makes sense for most readers too, since we know Ridge is okay and can see a path for him to return.
I think Quade and I are on the same wave-length with this book. What he said in the middle of his review “Overall, I just felt meh. Liked the book, could see it in Newbery and National Book Award contention but just wasn’t wow-ed by it in comparison to THE SECRET LIBRARY, the other time-traveling stand out of 2024.” I liked a lot about this book, but I think that’s where it stops and ends. I liked it. Gibby, Michael, Ridge, Mr Morsley all wonderful likable characters. Did any of them stun me? No. I usually LOVE a book with a lot of academic excerpts (for adults but Emily Wilde comes to mind), and I liked the context from the future, but did it wow me? Still no. The twist at the end that Gibby ends up being what the EGG is named after and the little tidbit that Michael and Paige get married and save all the otters was very sweet, but there wasn’t enough investment in Paige or Paige/Michael’s relationship for me to think anything other than “that’s sweet.”
A good book, I think there are some time travelling loving book readers that will be very pleased by this novel, but I wasn’t wow-ed and I don’t know if the Newbery committee will be either.
And I know, I know that the Newbery committee is only supposed to think of books in 2024, but I couldn’t help but read this book and have HELLO, UNIVERSE echoing around in my brain. Is this book better than that one? The actual Newbery winner? No. Not for me.
I had high expectations for THE FIRST STATE OF BEING (Erin Entrada Kelly! Time travel! Y2K!) and I really enjoyed it as I was reading it, but it simply didn’t stick with me the way some of this year’s other books did.
Many others have mentioned the Conklin Principle and “the first state of being,” living in the present; I’ll add this quote from page 94:
“I know it doesn’t seem glamorous or interesting to you right now,” Ridge said. “But that’s because no one realizes they’re living history every minute of every day….Every breath we take, we’re contributing to history.”
I loved that quote too!