The First State of Being Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
The First State of Being has 48 chapters · Grades 3–5 · 263 pages
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Inside the journal: 48 chapter pages, one question each · 3 example answers · a cover for your reader’s name
Open-ended Thought-provoking questions for any chapter book.
After this chapter, what do you understand about Michael Rosario's life in Delaware, and which detail helped you see it?See all 48 questions ↓
A printable reading journal for The First State of Being: one question per chapter, with example answers.
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The First State of Being questions by chapter
We don’t know this book well enough to ask about its story, so these are open-ended prompts that get a reader thinking about the chapter they just finished: what happened, who changed, what they would do. One question per chapter, across all 48 chapters, and every one is editable before you print. The example answers under 3 of the chapters are the ones printed at the front of the booklet.
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Chapter 1
After this chapter, what do you understand about Michael Rosario's life in Delaware, and which detail helped you see it?
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Chapter 2
What small clue in this chapter shows the time period, the place, or the kind of world Michael lives in?
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Chapter 3
Which moment from this chapter makes Michael seem worried, curious, hopeful, or unsure, and why?
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Chapter 4
How does this chapter build a question or mystery you want answered later?
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Chapter 5
What is one choice a character makes in this chapter, and what might that choice show about the person?
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Chapter 6
How does Erin Entrada Kelly make an ordinary moment feel interesting or important in this chapter?
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Chapter 7
What do you notice about Michael's relationship with his mom, Gibby, Ridge, or another character so far?
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Chapter 8
If Ridge appears or is discussed in this chapter, what new question do you have about him; if not, what question do you still have about Michael's world?
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Chapter 9
What is the most important thing Michael learns, notices, or feels in this chapter?
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Chapter 10
Which word or phrase from this chapter seems important to the mood, and what feeling does it create?
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Chapter 11
How does this chapter show that people can be afraid of things they do not fully understand?
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Chapter 12
What prediction can you make from the hints in this chapter, and what evidence supports it?
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Chapter 13
What part of this chapter felt most realistic to you, even if the book includes time-travel ideas?
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Chapter 14
What does this chapter suggest about being brave when you are confused or scared?
Example answer: I think this chapter shows that bravery does not mean Michael has no fear. He worries about things he cannot fully understand, like the future and what might happen next. But he still pays attention and tries to make careful choices. To me, that makes his bravery quiet but real.
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Chapter 15
How does the setting of Delaware or Michael's neighborhood affect what happens or how characters feel?
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Chapter 16
Which character do you understand better after this chapter, and what changed your thinking?
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Chapter 17
What is one problem in this chapter that seems small on the outside but feels big to a character?
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Chapter 18
How does this chapter connect to the idea that the future can feel exciting and frightening at the same time?
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Chapter 19
What would you ask Michael if you could talk to him right after this chapter, and why?
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Chapter 20
What would you ask Ridge, or ask about Ridge, based on what you know so far?
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Chapter 21
How does Gibby or another supporting character help you see a different side of Michael?
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Chapter 22
What detail in this chapter made you wonder about time, memory, or change?
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Chapter 23
Which sentence, scene, or description would you reread because it seems meaningful, and what makes it stand out?
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Chapter 24
How do the characters in this chapter show trust or mistrust?
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Chapter 25
What is one thing Michael wants right now, and how can you tell?
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Chapter 26
How does this chapter show the difference between what adults understand and what kids understand?
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Chapter 27
What surprised you in this chapter, and how did it change your expectations?
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Chapter 28
Which action in this chapter seems kind, selfish, careful, or risky, and why?
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Chapter 29
Find a word in this chapter that was new, strong, or interesting; what do you think it means from context?
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Chapter 30
How does the author use humor, awkwardness, or quiet moments to make the characters feel real?
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Chapter 31
What is one connection you can make between Michael's worries and worries kids might have today?
Example answer: Michael's worries remind me of how kids today can feel nervous about big things in the world, even when adults say everything will be fine. Sometimes news, technology, or rumors can make the future seem scary. I connect with Michael because he wants answers, not just someone telling him not to worry. That feels very realistic.
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Chapter 32
How does this chapter make you think about the value of friendship?
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Chapter 33
What information does this chapter give you without explaining everything at once?
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Chapter 34
How do you feel about Michael's decisions in this chapter, and what would you have done differently or the same?
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Chapter 35
What does this chapter make you think about preparing for the future?
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Chapter 36
Which character seems to be hiding, protecting, or holding back information, and what makes you think so?
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Chapter 37
How does this chapter use suspense to keep you reading?
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Chapter 38
What important difference do you notice between Michael's time and Ridge's possible time, if Ridge's future is part of this chapter?
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Chapter 39
What message about family, safety, or belonging appears in this chapter?
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Chapter 40
Which part of the chapter shows a character changing their mind, seeing something new, or learning a lesson?
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Chapter 41
What image or sensory detail from this chapter helped you picture the scene?
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Chapter 42
How does the chapter show that one person's actions can affect other people?
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Chapter 43
What question about identity, time, or being does this chapter raise for you?
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Chapter 44
How does Michael handle uncertainty in this chapter, and what does that reveal about him?
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Chapter 45
What lesson might a reader take from this chapter without the author saying it directly?
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Chapter 46
Which relationship seems most important in this chapter, and how is it tested or strengthened?
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Chapter 47
What do you think the title The First State of Being makes you notice about this chapter?
Example answer: The title makes me think about Delaware being called the First State, but also about Michael's state of mind. In this chapter, I noticed how much the characters are trying to figure out who they are and where they belong. The title helps me look for more than just events. It makes me pay attention to feelings, choices, and change.
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Chapter 48
After finishing this chapter, what do you think the story wants you to remember about living in the present?
Discussion questions for after The First State of Being
Bigger questions for when the book is finished, each printed on its own ruled page at the end of the booklet.
- After finishing the whole book, how does Michael Rosario change in the way he thinks about fear, friendship, and the future? Write about a few moments from the story that show what he is like near the beginning, what challenges him, and what he understands more deeply by the end.
- The First State of Being mixes realistic life in 1999 Delaware with time travel, Y2K worries, family, friendship, and questions about belonging. What do you think the book is really saying about how people face uncertainty? Explain your ideas with examples from across the story, and include whether you would recommend the book and to what kind of reader.
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How to use this The First State of Being reading journal
At home, as a discussion guide
After each chapter your reader writes a few lines on that chapter’s question. Read the answer together at bedtime: it shows what they understood and gives you something real to talk about, without a quiz.
In class, as a novel study
Print a class set (booklets fold from plain letter paper) and use one question per chapter as the reading-response or literature-circle prompt. The example answers at the front show what a full answer looks like.
Homeschool
One booklet covers the whole book, 48 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for The First State of Being. Reword any question before printing to match your reader.
Printing
The booklet PDF prints on ordinary 8.5 × 11 paper: print double-sided (flip on the short edge) at 100%, fold the stack in half and staple on the fold. There is also a one-page-per-sheet PDF and A5 binder pages.
Where the questions come from
Thought-provoking questions for any chapter book. We don’t know this book well enough to ask about its story, so these are open-ended prompts that get a reader thinking about the chapter they just finished: what happened, who changed, what they would do. The questions were drafted with AI from what is known about the book and checked before publishing; every one is editable before you print.
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