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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
This is the conclusion to Nate's series, and we cried a bit at the end, especially how it all wraps up, with the tie to the first book. It was quite poetic.
Nate's run on Broadway's E.T.: The Musical is over. The show fails to get even a Tony nomination so it's back to Janksburg, PA. Where no one gets Nate.
Except...maybe now they do? He's a bit of a celebrity, due to Libby, his best friend (and it was great to finally see her in action!) and indefatiguable marketing machine. And when he decides, for an English project, to stage his own musical -- Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, set to modern day music (without getting the rights to use the music, of course and unfortunately) -- he becomes Nate the Director, sought out by Gym teachers looking out for their neices and a really cute boy named Ben.
I won't spoil the twists and turns, and it is a bit of a romance, but all very innocent and uplifting (I can't say what happens; that would ruin it, so just trust me on this, it's a great ending!).
This series was such a gem. You'll have to read it for yourself and enjoy Nate's antics, his wonderful sense of humor and unique way of interpreting the world around him. It'll make a great gift for the holidays.
Enjoy!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Nate's run on Broadway's E.T.: The Musical is over. The show fails to get even a Tony nomination so it's back to Janksburg, PA. Where no one gets Nate.
Except...maybe now they do? He's a bit of a celebrity, due to Libby, his best friend (and it was great to finally see her in action!) and indefatiguable marketing machine. And when he decides, for an English project, to stage his own musical -- Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, set to modern day music (without getting the rights to use the music, of course and unfortunately) -- he becomes Nate the Director, sought out by Gym teachers looking out for their neices and a really cute boy named Ben.
I won't spoil the twists and turns, and it is a bit of a romance, but all very innocent and uplifting (I can't say what happens; that would ruin it, so just trust me on this, it's a great ending!).
This series was such a gem. You'll have to read it for yourself and enjoy Nate's antics, his wonderful sense of humor and unique way of interpreting the world around him. It'll make a great gift for the holidays.
Enjoy!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Just when Nate is getting comfortable in his role in the Broadway musical "E.T", and exploring his new relationship with the handsome but conceited star of the show, Jordan, the curtain falls on his Broadway experience: E.T. closes and Nate has to return to his small Pennsylvania hometown. There, he once again doesn't fit in, and now he's also famous as the boy who made it to Broadway. He decides to stage a musical version of Dickens' "Great Expectations" for his English class, and learns that he might have director talents too--if he can hold the cast together and find props and pick songs and everything else he needs to get done! One of the things that I love about this series is the relationship between Nate and his best friend Libby; they're very supportive of each other, and also funny: they 'swear' using the titles of Broadway flops! ("Merrily!" for Merrily We Roll Along, etc.)
I loved this trilogy, and this book has a beautiful ending to a series that was a lot of fun. If you're a fan of musical theatre, I really recommend this trilogy.
Sometimes I feel like I’m three life choices away from having a signature wig line.
One of my favorite characters in kid lit. This is one of my go-to series when I'm feeling lousy -- Nate always cheers me up. I just love Tim Federle's voice as a writer, and am so excited to see what he does next.
One of my favorite characters in kid lit. This is one of my go-to series when I'm feeling lousy -- Nate always cheers me up. I just love Tim Federle's voice as a writer, and am so excited to see what he does next.
So after running away from home to audition for E.T.: The Musical in NYC and landing a part in it, the sad news that the show is closing because it didn't get even a single Tony nomination has Nate Foster, now 14, saying goodbye to Broadway, his kinda sorta boyfriend Jordan, and his NYC guardian Aunt Heidi, and heading back to Jankburg, PA and a new high school.
But at least best friend Libby is there and happy to have Nate home again. And to his surprise, Nate isn't the target for bullies that he had been in middle school. Being on Broadway has given him some notoriety and, except for one homophobic name calling, the kids are pretty open and curious about his experience. Too bad the school has cancelled all "arts" classes, tearing down the auditorium to make a lacrosse field.
But that doesn't stop Nate from deciding to be creative for his English teacher, Mr. English, and planning a musical based on Charles Dickens' Great Expectations for his big English project (LOL - I read this my freshman year, too). With Libby's help, posters are made for auditions and lots of kids actually show up. The part of Miss Havisham is promised to shy Paige, the gym coach's niece in exchange for using the gym for the only performance of the Nate's musical.
Nate really throws himself into his production, while trying to keep up a long distance relationship with Jordan, who is part of the cast of a television show. At the same time, Nate meet Ben Mendoza, Mr. English's secret star student. Ben shows up at Nate's auditions, but doesn't want a part, just hangs around, filming stuff on his phone.
To make a musical requires music, so Nate and Libby decide to use some of Mr. English's favorite songs for the cast to lip-sync, song by people like Joni Mitchell, Elvis, Simon and Garfunkel. And it looks like Nate's musical version of Great Expectations is going to happen. And when Ben films the final dress rehearsal and posts it online, it gets so many hits, even Jordan in NYC watches it. Unfortunately, so do some lawyers representing the music Nate plans to use - and sure, he can continue to use those songs by those famous musicians for a mere $25,000 per song. Why? Because a ticket to the musical version of Great Expectations in the gym costs $5.00 and as any blogger knows, if you are making money, you gotta pay for what you use if it belongs to someone else.
It looks like Nate's show won't go on - or will it?
I was actually hoping Federle would write a third Nate book because between Better Nate than Ever and Five, Six, Seven, Nate! I just didn't feel as though Nate's story was over. So I was really happy to see Nate Expectations. Sure, he had a crush on Jordan and there was some kissing backstage, but Nate hadn't officially come out as gay by the time he returns home to Jankburg (well, except to Libby). But that part of Nate's journey is part of the focus in Nate Expectations and Federle does a great job of presenting it. And even though the tackles Nate's coming out, and even though he's a freshman in high school, this is still very much an upper middle grade fiction.
Nate again narrates his story, told in usual first person stream of consciousness that has all the energy, humor and snarkiness of a 14 year old, which can be a lot. I really liked the inclusion of Ben in this book because he's a much nicer kid and a lot more funk than self-centered Jordan. Nate and Ben both come from homes with some parental problems and hit it off almost immediately. I almost wish there were a book about Ben, too, cause I would love to know his whole story.
I don't usually comment on book covers but I was really disappointed by the cover of this book compared to the first two. They were so bright, colorful, and theatrical and this one is really kind of dull.
I love theater and I've been going to see shows on and off broadway since I was in elementary school, so I really enjoyed reading this whole series, even when some of it was funny but a little far-fetched. And I could accept that - after all, Broadway is magical. So if your middle grade readers are looking for an entertaining trilogy this summer, you can't go wrong with the Nate books, especially if they are theater-struck the way Nate and Libby are.
This book is recommended for readers age 11+
This book was an EARC received from EdelweissPlus
But at least best friend Libby is there and happy to have Nate home again. And to his surprise, Nate isn't the target for bullies that he had been in middle school. Being on Broadway has given him some notoriety and, except for one homophobic name calling, the kids are pretty open and curious about his experience. Too bad the school has cancelled all "arts" classes, tearing down the auditorium to make a lacrosse field.
But that doesn't stop Nate from deciding to be creative for his English teacher, Mr. English, and planning a musical based on Charles Dickens' Great Expectations for his big English project (LOL - I read this my freshman year, too). With Libby's help, posters are made for auditions and lots of kids actually show up. The part of Miss Havisham is promised to shy Paige, the gym coach's niece in exchange for using the gym for the only performance of the Nate's musical.
Nate really throws himself into his production, while trying to keep up a long distance relationship with Jordan, who is part of the cast of a television show. At the same time, Nate meet Ben Mendoza, Mr. English's secret star student. Ben shows up at Nate's auditions, but doesn't want a part, just hangs around, filming stuff on his phone.
To make a musical requires music, so Nate and Libby decide to use some of Mr. English's favorite songs for the cast to lip-sync, song by people like Joni Mitchell, Elvis, Simon and Garfunkel. And it looks like Nate's musical version of Great Expectations is going to happen. And when Ben films the final dress rehearsal and posts it online, it gets so many hits, even Jordan in NYC watches it. Unfortunately, so do some lawyers representing the music Nate plans to use - and sure, he can continue to use those songs by those famous musicians for a mere $25,000 per song. Why? Because a ticket to the musical version of Great Expectations in the gym costs $5.00 and as any blogger knows, if you are making money, you gotta pay for what you use if it belongs to someone else.
It looks like Nate's show won't go on - or will it?
I was actually hoping Federle would write a third Nate book because between Better Nate than Ever and Five, Six, Seven, Nate! I just didn't feel as though Nate's story was over. So I was really happy to see Nate Expectations. Sure, he had a crush on Jordan and there was some kissing backstage, but Nate hadn't officially come out as gay by the time he returns home to Jankburg (well, except to Libby). But that part of Nate's journey is part of the focus in Nate Expectations and Federle does a great job of presenting it. And even though the tackles Nate's coming out, and even though he's a freshman in high school, this is still very much an upper middle grade fiction.
Nate again narrates his story, told in usual first person stream of consciousness that has all the energy, humor and snarkiness of a 14 year old, which can be a lot. I really liked the inclusion of Ben in this book because he's a much nicer kid and a lot more funk than self-centered Jordan. Nate and Ben both come from homes with some parental problems and hit it off almost immediately. I almost wish there were a book about Ben, too, cause I would love to know his whole story.
I don't usually comment on book covers but I was really disappointed by the cover of this book compared to the first two. They were so bright, colorful, and theatrical and this one is really kind of dull.
I love theater and I've been going to see shows on and off broadway since I was in elementary school, so I really enjoyed reading this whole series, even when some of it was funny but a little far-fetched. And I could accept that - after all, Broadway is magical. So if your middle grade readers are looking for an entertaining trilogy this summer, you can't go wrong with the Nate books, especially if they are theater-struck the way Nate and Libby are.
This book is recommended for readers age 11+
This book was an EARC received from EdelweissPlus
Mr. English is the teacher I alway wish to have. He especially reminds me of my College Writing II professor at Kent State. His assignment for Nate at the end of Nate Expectations was a perfect way to round out this trilogy, at the same time it was thought provoking and poignant. This series has made my smile more often than not, and is important as a representation not only for young LGBTQ kids, but for those who are different from the norm. Those who know what their interests are, and act upon them no matter how they are perceived. This is my fourth of Federle’s books, he hasn’t disappointed me yet!
I truly enjoyed Nate Expectations. This was an excellent conclusion to the trilogy.