THE FIRST STATE OF BEING written by Erin Entrada Kelly, read by Ramon de Ocampo

Erin Entrada Kelly’s THE FIRST STATE OF BEING, winner of this year’s Newberry award, may be my favorite of this author’s books. The fascinating construct finds Michael and Gibby on the edge of Y2K and worried. Into their lives comes Ridge, a strange kid, who turns out to be a visitor from the future. Yes, time travel has existed before, but the roundness of the characters and the conflict as each faces uncertainty makes for strong development of both characters and their relationships. Ramon de Ocampo’s narration works in terms of sound characterization and easy transitions between present and future. You can find out more about this book and the audio in the purchase link below.