Synopses & Reviews
A andlt;Iandgt;New York Timesandlt;/Iandgt; Notable Book of the Year, a andlt;Iandgt;Publishers' Weeklyandlt;/Iandgt; Best Book of the Year, and a andlt;Iandgt;Slateandlt;/Iandgt; Favorite Book of the Year. A small-town boy hops a bus to New York City to crash an audition for andlt;Iandgt;E.T.: The Musicalandlt;/Iandgt;.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Nate Foster has big dreams. His whole life, heand#8217;s wanted to star in a Broadway show. (Heck, heand#8217;d settle for andlt;Iandgt;seeingandlt;/Iandgt; a Broadway show.) But how is Nate supposed to make his dreams come true when heand#8217;s stuck in Jankburg, Pennsylvania, where no one (except his best pal Libby) appreciates a good show tune? With Libbyand#8217;s help, Nate plans a daring overnight escape to New York. Thereand#8217;s an open casting call for andlt;Iandgt;E.T.: The Musicalandlt;/Iandgt;, and Nate knows this could be the difference between small-town blues and big-time stardom.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Tim Federleand#8217;s and#8220;hilarious and heartwarming debut noveland#8221; (andlt;I andgt;Publishers Weeklyandlt;/Iandgt;) is full of broken curfews, second chances, and the adventure of growing upand#8212;because sometimes you have to get four hundred miles from your backyard to finally feel at home.
Review
andlt;divandgt;"Critics are raving about Nate."andlt;/divandgt;
Review
"The book I needed--and would have adored--when I was a kid. Federle writes from the heart and hits you in the gut--not to mention your funny bone."
Review
"A smash hit! If there were a Tony Award for books, it would go to andlt;iandgt;Better Nate Than Everandlt;/iandgt;."
Review
and#8220;No one captures Broadway or the kids who want to be part of it with the humor, insight and heart of Tim Federle. This hysterical and heartwarming story is for everyone who dreams of going out there a middle-schooler and coming back a star.and#8221;andlt;bandgt;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;/bandgt;
Review
"I canand#8217;t stop reading this book! Nate Fosterand#8217;s hilarious and touching adventures en route to making it big on Broadway just kill meand#8212;Iand#8217;m falling in love with New York City all over again, and with Nate for the first time. Please, Tim Federle, take a break before writing your next book, so I'll have time to write mine. I can only hope it's half as much fun as andlt;iandgt;Better Nate Than Everandlt;/iandgt;!"
Review
"The funny, awkward, vulnerable Nate is an insightful and entertaining narrator for this adventurous tale about an ugly duckling learning to experience and embrace his inner swan."
Review
and#8220;[A] charming debut by a rising theater star.and#8221;
Review
andlt;img width="24" height="19" alt="" src="http://publishersweekly.com/images/reviews-star-19b.png" /andgt;"Hilarious and heartwarming...this book soars."
Review
"From his obsession with the first franchise restaurant he sees in New York to his infectious enthusiasm for city-life, Nate is the quintessential starry-eyed small-town boy in the Big Apple...Between the hijinks and the humor, however, Nate reveals himself to be a kid who accepts that he is a disappointment to his conventional family and yet still remains solidly himself, optimistically certain that there is a place for guys like him somewhere in the world. Thereand#8217;s plenty of substance to go along with the razzle-dazzle here, so sit back and enjoy the show."
Review
"A story of Broadway dreams tailor-made for the younger side of the Glee audience...Nate is a quirky and endearing leading man from the start, and anyone who has ever felt out of place will easily identify with him. Itand#8217;s a joy to watch him fall head over heels for a city that couldnand#8217;t care less about himand#8212;in the best possible way...Federleand#8217;s debut addressesand#8212;deftlyand#8212;big and solemn issues in the second half of the novel, particularly with regard to family, sexuality and religion. Bravo, Nate!"
Review
"Funny and insightful...This talented first-time author has made the classic andlt;iandgt;Chorus Line andlt;/iandgt;theme modern and bright for the andlt;iandgt;Glee andlt;/iandgt;generation."
Review
"Explores weighty issues such as sibling rivalry, bullying, religious parents, and gay or questioning teens with a remarkably lighthearted and humorous touch totally appropriate for young audiences."
Review
"Filled with adventure, suspense, plenty of humor, and incredibly unique characters, andlt;Iandgt;Better Nate than Everandlt;/Iandgt; will be enjoyed by anyone who has ever decided to stop waiting, and make their own dreams come true."
Review
"Hilarious and heartwarming...this book soars."
Review
"Critics are raving about Nate."
Review
"The book I needed--and would have adored--when I was a kid. Federle writes from the heart and hits you in the gut--not to mention your funny bone." Jesse Tyler Ferguson, star of Modern Family
Review
"A smash hit! If there were a Tony Award for books, it would go to Better Nate Than Ever." Alan Menken, Tony and Oscar-winning composer of Newsies and Beauty and the Beast
Review
“No one captures Broadway or the kids who want to be part of it with the humor, insight and heart of Tim Federle. This hysterical and heartwarming story is for everyone who dreams of going out there a middle-schooler and coming back a star.”
Thomas Schumacher, Tony Award-winning producer of The Lion King
Review
"I can’t stop reading this book! Nate Foster’s hilarious and touching adventures en route to making it big on Broadway just kill me—I’m falling in love with New York City all over again, and with Nate for the first time. Please, Tim Federle, take a break before writing your next book, so I'll have time to write mine. I can only hope it's half as much fun as Better Nate Than Ever!" James Howe, author of The Misfits
Review
"The funny, awkward, vulnerable Nate is an insightful and entertaining narrator for this adventurous tale about an ugly duckling learning to experience and embrace his inner swan." < -="" i="" -=""> - The New York Times Book Review - < -="" -="">
Review
“[A] charming debut by a rising theater star.” Entertainment Weekly
Review
"Hilarious and heartwarming...this book soars."
< -="" i="" -=""> - Publishers Weekly - < -="" -=""> - , starred review Review
"From his obsession with the first franchise restaurant he sees in New York to his infectious enthusiasm for city-life, Nate is the quintessential starry-eyed small-town boy in the Big Apple...Between the hijinks and the humor, however, Nate reveals himself to be a kid who accepts that he is a disappointment to his conventional family and yet still remains solidly himself, optimistically certain that there is a place for guys like him somewhere in the world. There’s plenty of substance to go along with the razzle-dazzle here, so sit back and enjoy the show." < -="" i="" -=""> - BCCB - < -="" -=""> - < -="" b="" -=""> - , Recommended - < -="" -="">
Review
"A story of Broadway dreams tailor-made for the younger side of the Glee audience...Nate is a quirky and endearing leading man from the start, and anyone who has ever felt out of place will easily identify with him. It’s a joy to watch him fall head over heels for a city that couldn’t care less about him—in the best possible way...Federle’s debut addresses—deftly—big and solemn issues in the second half of the novel, particularly with regard to family, sexuality and religion. Bravo, Nate!" < -="" i="" -=""> - Kirkus Reviews - < -="" -="">
Review
and#8220;[A] twinkling adventure tale for the musical theater set.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;Judy Blume as seen through a Stephen Sondheim lens -- with a dash of Lewis Carroll whimsy. As long as Federle wants to tell stories, a new generation of Broadway-loving theater fans has a voice in young adult literature.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;[A] little book with big star quality.and#8221;
Synopsis
The Nate series by Tim Federle is a wonderful evocation of what it s like to be a theater kid. Highly recommended. Lin-Manuel Miranda, star and creator of the musical, Hamilton
A New York Times Notable Book of the Year, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, and a Slate Favorite Book of the Year. A small-town boy hops a bus to New York City to crash an audition for E.T.: The Musical.
Nate Foster has big dreams. His whole life, he s wanted to star in a Broadway show. (Heck, he d settle for seeing a Broadway show.) But how is Nate supposed to make his dreams come true when he s stuck in Jankburg, Pennsylvania, where no one (except his best pal Libby) appreciates a good show tune? With Libby s help, Nate plans a daring overnight escape to New York. There s an open casting call for E.T.: The Musical, and Nate knows this could be the difference between small-town blues and big-time stardom.
Tim Federle s hilarious and heartwarming debut novel (Publishers Weekly) is full of broken curfews, second chances, and the adventure of growing up because sometimes you have to get four hundred miles from your backyard to finally feel at home."
About the Author
Tim Federle is the award-winning author of the autobiographical novels andlt;iandgt;Better Nate Than Ever andlt;/iandgt;and its sequel andlt;iandgt;Five, Six, Seven, Nate!andlt;/iandgt;, which were named best books of the year by the andlt;iandgt;New York Timesandlt;/iandgt; and the American Booksellers Association, respectively, and called andldquo;one of the best new middle grade seriesandrdquo; by andlt;iandgt;School Library Journalandlt;/iandgt;. andlt;iandgt;The Great American Whatever andlt;/iandgt;was inspired by an accident near Timandrsquo;s high school in Pittsburgh that changed the community forever. It is his first novel for young adults. Connect with the author on Instagram and Twitter at @TimFederle, and at TimFederle.com.