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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSIt is August 1999, and twelve-year-old Michael Rosario lives with his hardworking mother at Fox Run Apartments in Delaware, quietly stockpiling canned goods under his bed for the Y2K disaster he is convinced is coming. On his birthday, Michael and his sixteen-year-old babysitter Gibby encounter a strangely dressed teenager named Ridge wandering the apartment complex, asking what year it is. Ridge is evasive and odd, but when he predicts a major earthquake in Turkey down to the exact hour, Michael and Gibby start to wonder if his impossible claim might actually be true.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The First State of Being
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about The First State of Being. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a teenager announce, "I'm from the future"?
✓ Answer
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
After much hesitation, Ridge closes his eyes as if bracing for the news and tells Michael and Gibby the truth about where he came from. Neither of them believes him at first. Ridge says his mother is a scientist and he traveled through a machine called the STM.
- First half
In what book does a man who hasn't read in fifty years start a mystery novel because a teenager insists?
✓ Answer
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
When Mr. Mosley calls in sick from painting, Gibby runs home and brings him her finished Christopher Pike novel, promising he will love it. To Michael's surprise, Mosley actually starts reading it. By page 30, he notes that someone better get murdered soon.
- First half
In what book does a boy fill out a toy store contest entry using his babysitter's information?
✓ Answer
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
When Gibby tells Michael he should enter a contest for a LEGO MindStorms Robotics Discovery Set, he fills it out with her name and information instead of his. He's annoyed at her suggestion that he needs a hobby, even though she means well.
- Second half
In what book does a boy worry that putting gummy bears in the microwave would make them explode?
✓ Answer
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
After watching a Hot Pocket heat up, Ridge wants to microwave everything in sight, including gummy bears. Michael tells him those belong to his mom and they would probably explode. Ridge moves on to a packet of Kool-Aid next.
- Second half
In what book does a character worry his family deliberately deactivated a machine because they do not want him back?
✓ Answer
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
When Ridge lists the worst-case scenarios for why the EGG is not working, one possibility is that his family deliberately shut down the STM. He quietly admits the reason would be that they do not want him to come back.
- Near the end
In what book does a time traveler falsely confess, "It was me! I stole your stuff"?
✓ Answer
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
When Beejee finds his stolen tools and advances on Michael, Ridge moves in front of Michael and takes the blame. He tries to name the tools but gets them wrong, calling the pliers and hammer a screwdriver and wrench.
