Better Nate Than Ever

Thirteen-year-old Nate knows he's destined for better things than tiny Jankburg, Pennsylvania can give him. So he sneaks away while his parents are on an anniversary trip (with the help of his best friend Libby) and goes to New York City to audition for the role of Elliott in E.T. the

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Musical.

Everything that can go wrong does, and Nate finds himself dressed in comically oversized clothing, lying on his application, and nearly thrown out of the audition altogether before help arrives. And when he gets a callback, the adventure starts all over again.

Nate's a wonderful character, and the story is funny, engaging, and fast-paced. There are hints of drama around the edges--his parents' marriage is in shambles, his brother has beer hidden in his room, and his mom and his Aunt Heidi haven't spoken in years--but the drama never overwhelms Nate's own story. Highly recommended.

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This book was delightful! Nate's funny and sweet narrative voice captured me from the beginning. This is a hilarious story with a lot of heart, perfect for sharing with middle school Broadway aficionados. Hand it to kids who aren't quite ready for DRAMARAMA. I loved Nate and I hope this isn't the

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last we hear from him! Nate is sweeter than Carter, but I'd try this on fans of CARTER FINALLY GETS IT.

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Nate is a short, chubby thirteen year old with a pronounced underbite who thrives on show tunes and constantly fears school bullies who make fun of his perceived sexuality. His best friend, Libby, shares his theatrical passion and finds out about an audition in NY for "E.T.: The Musical." Libby

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masterminds Nate's escape from their rural Pittsburgh area home to NY so that he can audition. A lot of what happens to Nate in NYC defies reality for those who know anything about auditioning and NY. However, the description of the heartless process of auditioning for professional theatre will be an eye-opener for those who think that they will be welcomed on Broadway with open arms. as Nate's Aunt Heidi says, "Astoria is where all failed actors end up," and Astoria is very well populated! However, what is in important in this book is Nate coming to terms with his potential sexuality and the realization that in the bigger world there will be a place for him even if he prefers boys. The fact that Nate books the lead in a Broadway play with no resume, no headshot, and no audition experience is a real fantasy, but a young teen boy figuring out how to deal with his emerging sexual identity is worth the read.

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Better Nate Than Ever was absolutely terrible for my reading schedule. It totally made me not want to read . . . anything else, that is. Seriously, it's a good thing this was a short audiobook or I would probably still have put off my other books to finish this one. I just kept inventing reasons

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that I needed to listen to more, tasks to do so I could listen rather than read my print books, which is a good sign.

Why Did I Read This Book?
Well, Better Nate Than Ever was already on my radar, because I do love stories with glbtq themes. However, the wanting turned to needing because my friend MG read it, and said it was completely wondrous. Thus, when I had the chance to get the audio, I went for it the way Nate Foster goes for donuts.

What's the Story Here?
Nate Foster is a kid with big dreams. He's flamboyant, hungry all the time, and possessed of a fantastic best friend who will egg him on to try his hardest in everything. Libby, his bestie, tells him about an audition for the Broadway musical of E.T., and helps him plan a day trip to New York City, so that he can try out for the show. Bad idea bears, right, guys? A thirteen year old off to the city by himself, and it's not like Nate's possessed of a lot of street smarts. Anyway, shenanigans and tomfoolery will be had. Snooty mothers and pompous smirkers will be faced. Hopes and dreams will be attempted with everything Nate's got.

How are the Characters?
Nate and Libby are sympathetic, because they're the outcasts (and because they use flopped Broadway plays as epithets, which is hilarious and clever). However, they're definitely not idealized or anything, because they can be just as mean as the others. Well, okay, not just as mean, but they are pretty judgmental too. Both of them are teased really severely, for being fat and, in Nate's case, for being gay. I liked that Nate is very obviously flawed, but that you cannot help but root for this crazy kid. I cringed for him when he committed egregious errors, and rooted for him to go home without his aspirations smashed into little pieces along the New York City sidewalk. Also, Federle does dive into some larger family issues on top of the overarching comedic plot, which I thought was pretty fantastic, since the tone remains light but serious issues are covered.

And the GLBTQ Themes?
What I love here is that romance really isn't a plot line. In fact, Nate isn't gay. He probably is, based on a couple of hints, but he's still in the questioning stage of life. He hasn't reached a firm decision about who he is yet. Better Nate Than Ever is written in a style that addresses the reader, like Nate has just sat down to enact this whole scenario for you in a one man show, which he would TOTALLY do, and Nate straight out says that he's undecided, because he's just thirteen. I love that, because, sure, some people know right away, but just because he loves musicals and fits the stereotype of a gay guy, that doesn't mean he is. There were also some undercurrents of shame in his thoughts, though, so I hope that if he is gay, he can find strength with himself to see that as the positive thing it is, and not something shameful and secretive. All of his feelings felt very real to him, and conveyed how confused he is overall and not ready for all the romance stuff.

How was the Narration?
Tim Federle was the perfect choice to narrate this. I mean, I do love when authors narrate their own work, because there's something so personal and touching in that. Of course, not every author has a voice for narration, but Federle is fantastic. He does Nate so well, and reads with scads of emotion. Basically, I loved everything about the way he narrated this, and everything about Better Nate Than Ever just made me smile and compulsively keep listening.

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The hilarious story of a hopeful 13 year old boy who worships theater and wants to make it big on Broadway.

Better Nate Than Ever takes many aspects of auditioning in New York and dramatizes them to make them bigger and scarier than in reality. They way that Nate views New York City adds to the

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humor of the story.

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I wanted to like this book. It has gotten so many good reviews, and there were parts that were very well done. And Nate is a strong character. But the gay slurs bothered me, as did many of the stereotypes. I guess I sort of understand their purpose from Nate's perspective, but they diminished my

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enjoyment of this book.

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This is a first novel by Federle and it is a lot of fun. Thirteen year-old Nate heads from Jankburg (near Pittsburgh, PA) to New York City to audition for a role in the new musical E.T., The Musical. The problem is, he didn't bother telling anyone except close friend Libby what he is about to do!

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While his parents are on a weekend trip to celebrate their anniversary and older brother is charged with watching him, Nate takes a Greyhound bus to NYC. He does get an audition and he also meets up with his aunt, whom he hasn't seen since he was very young.

What follows are the trials and tribulations of being alone in New York, being broke in New York and what it is really like to audition for a play.

I loved a lot of this book, Nate is a good character who has a dream and while he is afraid on some level he doesn't let that stop him from trying.

The only thing I have to say bad about the book is the rather disjointed narrative when Nate is both talking to people and thinking inside his head. I had to go back a couple of times to check to see which conversation was about which thread. Once I got more used to the narrative I was able to follow better.

I will read more from this author if there are more coming.

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This is a solid middle school level book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

In the first book, Nate and his best friend Libby hatch a plan to get Nate on a bus to New York City to audition for a Broadway show—ET, the Musical! As the novel progresses, Nate tells about his family and his life at school.

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His life leaves much to be desired at home and school. His father doesn’t understand him and demonstrates very little love. His mother is under the thumb of Nate’s father. Nate’s brother is an athlete and, therefore, is more important and loveable. Nate is not an athlete, but he is a talented theatre person. Libby has taught him everything she knows. After auditioning, Nate gets a call-back. No way is he getting on the bus to go home. He’s staying in a place that already feels like home.

Follow the ups and downs of auditioning and being homeless in New York City for one night as Nate is determined to be a star!

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Kim's Bookstack
Liked · about a minute ago

Better Nate Than Ever is Glee for the younger set. Nate is a quirky kid whose love of Broadway musicals and ambition to star in those musicals is often misunderstood. His brother picks on him, his classmates pick on him and his parents berate him. If it

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wasn't for his best friend Libby (think of the little girl whose mom is a travel agent in Sleepless in Seattle) than Nate would not get through life at all. When he decides to cash it all in and travel from his podunk town in Pennsylvania to the big apple to audition for the lead in ET any number of bad things could happen. What follows is a wonderful witty account of a young guy lost in the big city where, with the help of one quirky aunt and phone connection to Libby anything is possible. This book does deal with bullying and sexual uncertainty so I would recommend it for an older audience. Better Nate Than Ever is Tim Federle's debut and you will want to run away to Broadway after reading it!

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I loved this book and the audio reading by the author. I fell in love with Nate and couldn’t stop rooting for him from page one. He is funny and his skewed sense of the world outside of his small town will entertain the small town resident that can’t wait to leave and be anywhere else but their

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town. The story is fast chronicling Nate’s escape to NY to audition for ET, a soon to be Broadway play. His best friend helps him with her real world knowledge. Although somewhat realistic I think this book is for dreamer in your midst. It was an ALA Odyssey Honor Book.

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Note: I listened to this book in audio (CD) format.

Read by author Tim Federle, Better Nate Than Ever tells the story of a restless boy who dreams of becoming a star on Broadway. When he learns that there will be open auditions for a musical adaptation of E.T., he and his friend Libby hatch a scheme

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to travel to New York City. Many readers will share Nate's passion for musical theater and his itch to escape suburban life.

Additionally, I think it is great that the author was able to record the audio book himself. At first it was a little confusing to hear a grown man's voice for a child narrator, but many audiobooks for children are narrated by adults. I know that not all authors feel comfortable with recording their voices, but I am sure he knows the story best himself, and is therefore well-equipped to share the intricacies of Nate's journey.

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A rare find of a book. Nate Foster is nearly fourteen, and as an eighth grader he just can't catch a break. He's only 4'8", has a high voice, has shown no attraction to girls yet, and he is obsessed with Broadway musicals. So he is often bullied at school and even a seventh-grader shoved him into a

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locker. Being called a "fag" is nothing new, even though he hasn't even thought about his own sexuality; it's not important to him yet, but he definitely doesn't know if he's gay or straight and he doesn't want to think about it.

His only friend Libby helps him hatch his escape plan to run away to New York to audition for the new E.T.: THE MUSICAL. But Nate has no idea what to expect when he arrives in New York by himself and tries to audition for a real Broadway musical. He's much less prepared than he originally thought, and hilarity ensues. Nate's naivety is the best part of the book as he takes us along for his crazy ride. A great debut novel.

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Much more young adult themes than the cover suggests, this book is Glee-lite for aspiring Broadway bound thespians.

Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle is 42nd street reimagined for the younger set. Nate Foster lives Jankburg, PA, which might as well be the middle the of nowhere. Nate and his friend Libby, adore all things Broadway. They know Broadway's history and trivia in the same way that my father knows

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American film history from the 1930s-1950s. When there's a casting call for an upcoming E.T. the Musical (can you imagine such a monster?), Libby helps Nate run away from home long enough to try out.

Nate isn't the typical stage brat. He hasn't been taking lessons all his life. He's not especially physically fit. He's actually the age of the lead character (and they tend to cast younger). He's an overweight, mensch of teen who is gaga for Broadway and he hopes he can win a spot in the production on his enthusiasm alone.

Following Nate through his grueling adventures in Manhattan helped me remember how much I adore the American musical. As a kid, my parents took me and my brother to local productions of the classics on a semi-regular basis. As an adult, I haven't kept up. Part of that is a lack of disposable income and a lack of time. But there's still the old movie versions, and those I've been watching. Turns out my son is rather fond of 42nd Street too.

The trip to New York is also a bit of an awakening to Nate. Although Manhattan is a huge culture shock, it's also a welcoming place. It's also a place where Nate begins to realize he might be gay. But as Nate reminds everyone in first chapter or so of the book, his sexuality isn't up for discussion and is basically his business alone.

Reading this book as a parent of a boy about Nate's age, I love the message of letting children (specially newly minted teens) take risks. Yes, Nate's parents don't know at first what he's doing. And yes, he has consequences for his actions, but they do warm to his plan as he's clearly got potential and he's clearly passionate about his future in musical theater.

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Loved it! Great voice, great characters, funny and heartbreaking and heartwarming.

Oh, to be young and so full of dreams like our Nate. Thanks to his friend and co-conspirator, Libby, he leaves his Pennsylvania home and goes off to New York City to try out for a musical version of ET - alone. He steals his brother's fake ID and his mother's ATM card, packs a few snacks and extra

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clothes and heads to the city by bus. He plans to be home before it is noticed he is missing. But there would be no story if everything went as planned.

The one thing that disturbed me about the book was the stereotype that a person who loved the theater and acting must be gay. What bothered me is that it was not either argued against or embraced by anyone in the story.

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At first I had trouble getting into this book, but as the story goes along Nate is just such a loveable guy. He's smart and funny and manages to keep a very positive outlook considering he's having a hard time with everything. The story is crazy, funny, heartwarming and gut wrenching and you really

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feel for Nate's hard time and you want to tell him it will all get better.

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Sometimes you read a book for escape. Sometimes you read it for what you can learn. Sometimes you read it to experience the writing talents of the author. But there come along very special times when you read a book and time stands still, the words disappear and you're there with the characters.

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You ARE the characters. I experienced that very thing when I read BETTER NATE THAN NEVER in two sittings. Nate is an eighth grader with a dream. He wants to become a Broadway star. Dream big, kid, is what I say. And don't let those dreams get sidetracked...whatever you do. Nate makes it to New York City with the help of his BFF Libby hoping to audition for the next big musical ET:THE BROADWAY MUSICAL VERSION. I've never cheered for a character as much as I cheered for Nate...through the cattle call and the singing and the dancing and the script reading. What I wouldn't have given for that chance when I was a kid. To get away from the jeers of the bullies at school and find a place where people accept you for what you are and for what talent you have. You go, Nate! You keep loving theatre (especially musicals) and never let anyone tell you that you're not good enough. And don't let those bullies rule and ruin your life. Go Nate! Go Nate! Go Nate!

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Oh my god, what an adorable book.

One thing that I love about middle grade is the larger-than-life characters. I mean, not that you can't have them in other age groupings/genres, but... think about Ramona Quimby or Junie B Jones, and tell me you don't feel something for how perfectly dramatic and

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intense and REAL their childhoods were.

Same goes with Nate. With his big dreams, his love of musical theatre, and a heck of a lot of nerve, he's one of those unforgettable characters.

The kind that makes you think about when YOU were a kid and you lived and breathed the Phantom of the Opera for like a year and thought you were going to play the Phantom on Broadway even though you were a girl and couldn't sing that well. (...oh wait, is that just me? Okay then.)

This is one of those books I wish I'd had back then, for so many reasons.

And plus, because I'd be remiss if I didn't mention this, the fact that this is LGBT middle grade fiction is basically the best thing ever. There's not a lot of LGBT MG out there, so the fact that we get such a positive story, and such a brilliant character is... well, it's awesome.

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Fun and funny book about Nate who runs away from home to audition for ET, The Musical, on Broadway. He is only to be gone overnight but it seems the team for ET is not done with him.

I chuckled throughout this book. Nate has such a dry sense of humor and has a delivery that makes him one of the

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funniest characters I have read. I loved him. I also liked how he gives us glimpses into his life without pulling us out of the immediate story in which he is involved. I enjoyed Libby, his best friend. She was his straight sidekick. She watched out for him. His glimpses into life in New York was so refreshing. It was nothing like Jankburg, his home town.

I look forward to reading the rest of the series. There are a few questions left open and I want answers.

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At first I had trouble getting into this book, but as the story goes along Nate is just such a loveable guy. He's smart and funny and manages to keep a very positive outlook considering he's having a hard time with everything. The story is crazy, funny, heartwarming and gut wrenching and you really

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feel for Nate's hard time and you want to tell him it will all get better.

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Dreaming of singing and dancing? Love Broadway musicals. If yes, then this is the book for you.

This is for all the forward-thinking misfits looking to find their places in the world. This is aimed at older elementary to middle school but its biting humor and breathless references to Broadway shows and New York City will require a higher level of sophistication to appreciate. For those kids

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who have it, they will love this. But even less-sophisticated kids may enjoy Nate's ebullient voice.

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Nate and his best friend Libby conceive of a plan for Nate to head to New York City to try out for ET the musical. The adventure takes him on an amazing road trip as a 13 year old on his own. He gets to meet his estranged aunt who is also a struggling actress and her best friend Freckles.
While his

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friend covers for him for awhile, eventually the rouse runs out when Nate gets a series of call backs and doesn't come home as planned. Nate is awkward, likable, really tough on himself, and doing the work to try to figure out just who he is. Life in his small Pennsylvania town is tough and he feels like he might just find his place in the world if he could be somewhere like New York.

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