Two-time Newbery Medal winner Erin Entrada Kelly will present The First State of Being, at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on Saturday, May 17. She joins more than 130 other featured authors at the event.
Set in August 1999, The First State of Being follows 12-year-old Michael Rosario as he meets Ridge, a confused teenager who suddenly appears out of nowhere. Michael soon discovers that Ridge is the world’s first time traveler. The story explores themes of time travel, friendship, found family, and first love.
Kelly won the Newbery Medal for both The First State of Being and Hello, Universe and received a Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space. She grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and now lives in Delaware. A professor of children’s literature, she teaches in the graduate fiction and publishing programs at Rosemont College and also serves on the faculty at Hamline University.
Gaithersburg Mayor and Book Festival founder Jud Ashman offers a brief review of First State of Being.
Kelly will speak about First State of Being at 1:15 p.m. in the Willa Cather Pavilion, followed by a book signing at 2:15 p.m.
The Gaithersburg Book Festival runs Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Avenue. Admission and parking are free.
For a full schedule of author presentations, workshops, and book signings—as well as a printable festival map—visit the Gaithersburg Book Festival website.
