Dickens & Rumi
Cover of THE FIRST STATE OF BEING

book

THE FIRST STATE OF BEING

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Erin Entrada Kelly

Is THE FIRST STATE OF BEING appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

In 1999, a 12-year-old meets a time traveler from 2199. (Ages 8 to 12)

Ages 10+Source checked

Why this age? Best suited to middle-grade readers: the story involves time-travel danger, Y2K anxiety, family concerns, and questions of identity, but appears low in violence and sexual content. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Where to get it

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceAges 10+
Strongest cautionsFrightening scenes 2/5 · LGBTQIA characters 2/5 · Alcohol or drugs 1/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Creativity & curiosity 4/5
Recommendation4/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: frightening scenes.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Best suited to middle-grade readers: the story involves time-travel danger, Y2K anxiety, family concerns, and questions of identity, but appears low in violence and sexual content. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ. Courage & resilience; strongest caution: frightening scenes.

Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 10+Main watch-out: Frightening scenes 2/5
Recommendation 4/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
15Scored categories
15Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Oct 22, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings workReport a rating or series issue
Review depth15 scored categories15 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended age10+

Strongest cautions

  • Frightening scenes2/5
  • LGBTQIA characters2/5
  • Alcohol or drugs1/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Good role models4/5

Keep going

What should you do next?

One review should lead naturally to the next useful choice.

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Similar, with lighter cautions

Want something gentler?

These reviewed titles have overlapping age guidance and a lower total caution score than THE FIRST STATE OF BEING. Open each review for the details.

BOOKThe Extra DayAlgernon Blackwood · 1915Ages 8+7 points lighter on published cautionsTHE BAD GUYSAaron BlabeyAges 7+3 points lighter on published cautionsBOOKA Prisoner in FairylandAlgernon Blackwood · 1913Ages 10+3 points lighter on published cautionsBOOKLittle Maid of Old MaineAlice Turner Curtis · 2008Ages 8+3 points lighter on published cautions

What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

Historical period-specific branding is minimal and incidental.

Death of a character1/5
Why this rating?

Themes of mortality and loss are present in the context of family history.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Mild language consistent with middle-grade fiction.

LGBTQIA characters2/5
Why this rating?

Subtle mentions or attributes regarding a character's presentation.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

Age-appropriate friendships and emotional connections.

Frightening scenes2/5
Why this rating?

Mild suspense related to the time-travel mission and Y2K fears.

Alcohol or drugs1/5
Why this rating?

Brief/incidental references to adult behaviors of the time period.

Violence1/5
Why this rating?

Minor, non-graphic conflict and the inherent tension of the time-travel narrative.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

Characters show courage in facing unknown futures and personal growth.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

Time travel, a future society, a time machine, and solving how to return home strongly encourage imaginative thinking and problem-solving.

Diverse representation3/5
Why this rating?

Features a diverse cast of characters with unique backgrounds.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

Provides insight into the Y2K era and technological history.

Kindness & empathy4/5
Why this rating?

Empathy and friendship are core drivers of the plot.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

Explores themes of empathy, individual choice, and responsibility.

Good role models4/5
Why this rating?

Characters demonstrate growth, persistence, and kindness.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
  3. Which choice in THE FIRST STATE OF BEING would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in THE FIRST STATE OF BEING, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.

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These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

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