The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly

The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly (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?

Opinion: This is the Newberry Award Winner for 2025 and it definitely deserves it. The way it merges genres is so fun as it contains dystopian and historical elements that sends home a more realistic genre book message just in a more fun way. I also really liked that the reader gets a glimpse into the future and those characters with the sporadic logs included in the book. Additionally, Michael has great character development and portrays anxiety well. Would definitely recommend.