WINNER OF THE NEWBERY MEDAL A FINALIST FOR THE 2024 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER INDIE BESTSELLER Chicago Public Library Best Fiction for Older Readers of 2024 Shelf Awareness Best Books of 2024 for Kids and Teens BookPage Best Middle Grade of 2024 Common Sense Media Best Books of 2024 2025 Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable List When twelve-year-old Michael Rosario meets a mysterious boy from the future,his life is changed forever. From bestselling author Erin Entrada Kellyalso the winner of the Newbery Medal for HelloUniverse and a Newbery Honor for We Dream of Spacethis novel explores themes of familyfriendshiptrustand forgiveness. The First State of Being is for fans of Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me. It’s August 1999. For twelve-year-old Michael Rosariolife at Fox Run Apartments in Red KnotDelawareis as ordinary as ever–except for the looming Y2K crisis and his overwhelming crush on his sixteen-year-old babysitterGibby. But when a disoriented teenage boy named Ridge appears out of nowhereMichael discovers there is more to life than stockpiling supplies and pining over Gibby. It turns out that Ridge is carefreeconfidentand boldthings Michael wishes he could be. Unlike MichaelhoweverRidge isn’t where he belongs. When Ridge reveals that he’s the world’s first time travelerMichael and Gibby are stunned but curious. As Ridge immerses himself in 1999–fascinated by microwavesbasketballsand malls–Michael discovers that his new friend has a book that outlines the events of the next twenty yearsand his curiosity morphs into something else: focused determination. Michael wants–noneeds–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? A story of time travelfriendshipfound familyand first lovesthis thematically rich novel is distinguished by its voicecharacter developmentsettingand exploration of the issues that resonate with middle grade readers. Finalist for the National Book Award and Winner of the Newbery Medal.