The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly

Today's Featured Book: 

The First State of Being

by Erin Entrada Kelly

Genre: Children's Science Fiction

Published: March 5, 2024

Page Count: 272 pages

Summary: 

It's August 1999. For twelve-year-old Michael Rosario, life at Fox Run Apartments in Red Knot, Delaware, is as ordinary as ever—except for the looming Y2K crisis and his overwhelming crush on his sixteen-year-old babysitter, Gibby. But when a disoriented teenage boy named Ridge appears out of nowhere, Michael discovers there is more to life than stockpiling supplies and pining over Gibby.

It turns out that Ridge is carefree, confident, and bold, things Michael wishes he could be. Unlike Michael, however, Ridge isn’t where he belongs. When Ridge reveals that he’s the world’s first time traveler, Michael and Gibby are stunned but curious. As Ridge immerses himself in 1999—fascinated by microwaves, basketballs, and malls—Michael discovers that his new friend has a book that outlines the events of the next twenty years, and his curiosity morphs into something else: focused determination. Michael wants—no, needs—to get his hands on that book. How else can he prepare for the future? But how far is he willing to go to get it?

 

BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY is hosted by Rose City Reader. What book are you happy about reading this week? Please share the opening sentence (or so) on BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY! Add the link to your blog or social media post and visit other blogs to see what others are reading.

Happy Friday and welcome to the FIRST LINE FRIDAY, hosted by Reading is My Superpower! It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line.

Peaches, Michael Rosario thought. That's what we need.

THE FRIDAY 56 is hosted by Anne of Head Full of Books. To play, open a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% on your e-reader). Find a sentence or two and post them, along with the book title and author. Then link up on Head Full of Books and visit others in the linky. 

SABIO, IAN:

Ridge, get out of there! You don't know what you're doing! What if you rematerialize inside a building or a tree?

A strange new kid shows up at Michael's apartment complex. Michael has enough to worry about---his mom is working three jobs...he has a crush on his babysitter, Gibby...Michael's got bulleying problems at his new school...and will he and his mom be ready for Y2K---and now he has to help Ridge, who, if he is to be believed, has traveled to 1999 from the future and needs to get back.

A fascinating story of the small but wonderful ways in which people help people and make the world better.

Winner of the 2025 Newbery Award.

Quotes:

“‘Who knows why people do the things they do. […] It’s not your job to figure out why walnut-brained people do walnut-brained things. It’s your job to make sure you don’t become one of those people.’ [Mosley] pointed the book at Michael. ‘You know what my mama used to say? “Before you go to sleep at night, ask yourself: was I the best person I could be today? If the answer is no, do better tomorrow.” I have a feeling Leonard Gibson has never asked himself that question a day in his life. But that’s not your concern.’”

“‘Trust me, you’re better off not worrying about the future. Focus on the here and now. That’s what I’m doing,’ Ridge said. He was still looking out the window. He hadn’t stopped. ‘The first state of being.’

“‘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. Sure, there are big moments, like the first Black president or the first trip to Mars and Jupiter, or the first STM. But the truth is, we’re making history at this very moment, sitting on this couch together, looking at this EGG in these unfortunate living quarters. Every breath we take, we’re contributing to history.’”

“[Mr. Mosley’s] eyes softened. ‘I was lucky, though. I had a good mama, like you. She’d take out money from every paycheck and drop it in a big jar with my name on it. When I left home for good, she gave the jar to me, and told me I’d been a good boy.’”

“It was what she [Ms. Rosario] always said. I took every breath. In other words: if she was still here, still breathing, it was a good day, and she was thankful for it.”

“That's third-state thinking. You'll never get anywhere if you what-if everything. You've got to live in the now. The first state.”

The purpose of THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, and befriend other bloggers. THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.    

January 28th - February 6th - How much time does blogging take out of your life weekly? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

Blogging doesn't take time out of my life...blogging gives me additional life, including a sense of meaning and a feeling of happiness.