Your Task
You will write one focused paragraph that reviews the book Free State of Being. This is not a summary of everything that happens. Your goal is to prove that you understood the book, can think about its ideas, and can explain them in your own words.
Paragraph Requirements
Your paragraph must be 5–7 complete sentences and include all of the following:
1. Brief Overview
- Identify the main character or central focus of the book
- Describe the main situation or conflict
- Do not retell the entire story or list events
2. Central Message or Theme
- Explain what the book is really about, not just what happens
- Focus on ideas such as identity, choices, freedom, independence, or belonging
3. Specific Text Evidence
- Reference one clear scene or moment from the book
- Explain that moment in your own words
- Do not copy text or use vague phrases like “throughout the book”
4. Personal Connection
- Use at least one I statement
- Explain how you personally connected to a character, idea, or moment
- Generic or vague responses will not receive credit
Academic Honesty & Accountability
This assignment must reflect your own thinking. To ensure honesty:
- Your paragraph must include a personal connection
- Your paragraph must reference a specific scene
- Writing should sound like your normal voice, not overly formal or robotic
- You may be asked to explain or paraphrase your response out loud in class
If you cannot explain your own writing, the assignment will receive a zero and must be redone.
Final Reflection Question
After your paragraph, answer this question in one complete sentence:
What was the hardest part of writing this review, and why?
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15 Responses
The main focus of this book is abot time traveling or going back in time, the situation is in between Ridge and him having to go back to his land in the future before the end of the world; The book is really about what Y2K actually was instead of it being a bug, * which is now turned into a type of style * and there was the main person named Micheal who was an Allie of Ridge because he had saw Ridge way before Gibby had came over the thought of him. Ridge really wanted to belong in the year of 1999, but he couldn’t because he was different from the others; There was a moment in the book where Ridge was starting to crack, he had been stressing out about a certain item that he would need to go back home and it was stuck at Gibbys house ( as I remember…) and then he had cracked, the stress has expanded towards Micheal and Gibby over this situation, as I digress I feel I had a connection with Micheal where he only gets a few days or a few hours to spend time with some of his family, because with me, I barely spend time with my mom but that’s because she doesn’t hang out with me as much. The hardest part of writing this book review was when we had to state the central idea but I could remember most of the book but it wasn’t memorable so I had to use my books.
The main characters are Ridge, Gibby, and Michael. The conflict is that Ridge went back to the past, being careful not to be seen. Ridge’s parents are desperately trying to bring Ridge back. The book is about Y2K, a bug that caused stress and anxiety. Ridge has a difficult time understanding how the past works. I can connect to this because sometimes we try new things, and it may not be easy to adjust. I personally connect with Ridge because it’s sometimes difficult for me to get used to new things.
The main focus of this book is on how there is time traveling. the main thing in the book is when Ridge and him having to go back to his land in the future before the end of the world; The book is based about Y2K and the main person named Micheal he had saw Ridge before he seen Gibby. Ridge really wanted to belong in the year of 1999, but he didn’t fit in because he is different from all of them. In my opinion I think I connected with Michael, who is stockpiling Y2K crisis.
The focus on this book or main idea is the idea of time travel. Basically what’s going on in this story is a guy named, Micheal, that goes time traveling with a girl named ,Gibby, that was Micheal sitter. Ridge was the one who came in the past. I remember this scene where Ridge was sick and had to go back to the future and, Gibby went to go get him supplies to feel better. A quote from the book is, ” Living in the present moment, appreciating life as it is.” Micheal’s mom was broke, and his dad left them when he was young. When his mom would go to work sometimes he would have to have a babysitter, and its Gibby. Micheal likes Gibby, he says that she smells like strawberry’s. The hardest thing about writing this review is trying to remember everything we read.
The main characters are Ridge, Gibby, and Michael. The conflict is that Ridge went back to the past, being careful not to be seen. Ridge’s parents are desperately trying to bring Ridge back. The book is about Y2K, a bug that caused stress and anxiety. Ridge has a difficult time understanding how the past works. I can connect to this because sometimes we try new things, and it may not be easy to adjust. I personally connect with Ridge because it’s sometimes difficult for me to get used to new things.
The main character is a guy named Micheal, a girl named Gibby, and a guy named Ridge. Micheal is a wounder kid and a kind, Gibby is little mean but kind and wants to help everyone she knows, and Ridge is like a smart kid and still wants to know the past and the world. The book is about ridge went to the past and Micheal and Gibby are trying to help the Ridge to get back to his timeline. In the Ridge timeline his mom is also trying to find a way to get him back. In the book, Ridge came to the past to see things that are not in the future anymore.
The focus on the book is about time traveling. The main character’s are ridge, Micheal, and gibby. In the story ridge goes in the past trying not to get caught. while ridge is traveling into the past his parents are trying to get him back. one thing that happened in the book is when ridge was sick Gibby went ahead and grabbed supplies so ridge could feel better.
The Free State of Being is about a boy named Michael who found a boy named Ridge, who was from the future. The focus of the book was to send Ridge back to the future. The book is about belonging and being independent. One moment from the book I remember is that when they tried to send Ridge back to the future but failed, or when they went to the mall. I think I’m personally connected to Michael since we both like basketball. The hardest part in this writing review is remembering things from the book. All in all, The book “The Free State of Being” is a great book.
In The First State of Being, the main character Michael is anxious about the Y2K glitch, a widespread panic across the world. People thought computers couldn’t read past the year 1999. While Michael is concerned about the glitch, he meets Ridge, a time traveler from 2199, who develops a friendship with Michael and guides him through his worries and stress. The book isn’t just about a boy worrying about a glitch and meets some guy where he becomes friends with, but rather, the book is a heartfelt story where Michael learns from Ridge that he shouldn’t be worrying about an uncontrollable future, and start living in the now. In chapter 20, page 223-224, Ridge says, “You’ll never get anywhere if you what-if everything. You’ve got to live in the now. The first state.” This is a powerful quote, a reminder that you shouldn’t ask yourself what-if, but rather “what now?” This specific phrase really sticks with me, as I often overthink to myself about endless possibilities, but with this quote, it helps me to remind myself that instead of worrying about the future, I should shape the way I want it to result in.
The focus on this book or the main idea is about time traveling. The main character is a kid name Michal and Gibby, his babysitter, met a tall and handsome boy named ridge, at least Gibby thinks so. I remember this scene where Ridge was sick and had to go back to the future and, Gibby went to go get him supplies to feel better. A quote from the book is, ” Living in the present moment, appreciating life as it is.” Micheal’s mom was broke, and his dad left them when he was young. When his mom would go to work sometimes he would have to have a babysitter, and its Gibby. Micheal likes Gibby, he says that she smells like strawberry’s. The hardest thing about writing this review is trying to remember everything we read.
The main characters are Ridge, Gibby, and Michael. The conflict is that Ridge went back to the past, being careful not to be seen. Ridge’s parents are desperately trying to bring Ridge back. The book is about Y2K, a bug that caused stress and anxiety. Ridge has a difficult time understanding how the past works. I can connect to this because sometimes doing things we are not use to doing , may not be easy to adjust. I personally connect with Ridge because it’s sometimes difficult for me to get used to new things.
The main focus of the book is about time traveling. The main characters are Michael, and Gibby. Michale’s mom was poor and his dad left him when he was little. The main conflict in the book is when Ridge arrives because of the book he has. The book that Ridge has, Michale wants it because he wants to see what is in that book but Ridge is not letting him. The book is about Y2K, a bug that can cause stress and anxiety. Ridge has a hard time getting to know how the past is. I can connect with this because not all the time I can get used to new things easily.
The main characters are ridge, Gibby, and Micheal. In the beginning of the story, The First State of Being, anxious Michael obsesses over the Y2K glitch until he meets Ridge, a time traveler from 2199. Ridge teaches Michael to quit fixating on an uncontrollable future. The novel’s message is perhaps best summed up by Ridge, who says “You’ll never get anywhere if you what if everything. You’ve got to live in the now. The first state.” This strong phrase captures that one shouldn’t think of “what if?” scenarios but, rather, one should ask in order to take active steps in creating their future.
The focus of the book is time traveling. The main characters are Ridge, Gibby and Michael. The book is about Y2K, a bug that can cause stress and anxiety. Ridge wanted to go to the past and he was not trying to get caught. When Ridge was in the past his parents were trying to make him come back in time. The main conflict is when Ridge does not tell Michale the book of the future. Ridge had a hard time getting used to the past. I connect with this because I can also have a hard time getting used to things.
I think that this book was pretty good but I don’t think it was one of my favorites. One of the main characters was Ridge, Gibby, and Michael. This book was about the future, 12-year-old who is Michael, who worries about the Y2K bug in 1999, but finds his life upended when a confident teen time-traveler, Ridge, from the future. Ridge has a difficult time understanding the past.