They act out Broadway musicals in Libby’s basement. Instead of swearing, they name the biggest Broadway flops. He and his best friend Libby are Broadway musical fans. Readers who prefer non-stop action might overlook this book, but Federle's easy-going writing style is quick-paced and easy to fall into, and the humor will be a big plus with kids.Four foot eight inches, almost 14, not athletic, bullied at school, overshadowed by his sports star brother, that’s Nate Foster.

He also shares past memories at times to get you up to speed on his emotional journey. Federle makes you think about the world in new ways and expands your heart and mind.īETTER NATE THAN EVER is narrated by Nate as though he's standing in front of you, telling you his story, so you get a lot of introspection and reflection. There were several times I went back to read them over just because I thought they were so brilliantly spot on. He captured a middle grader's voice perfectly, and his humorous metaphors were insightful and original. To not hide your true self, but rather let it shine, unabashedly.įederle has a beautiful, first person narrative that truly spoke to my inner 13-year-old. What I loved most was that a huge part of BETTER NATE THAN EVER is about finding your 'tribe,' finding where you belong and surrounding yourself with people who encourage you to be who you truly are.

the Musical, he finds an entire city of people just like him - a place where freaks and geeks alike can be themselves without fear of a beating or becoming a social outcast. But when he steals away for a weekend to New York City to audition for E.T.

In a typical all-American town, where boys are expected to like sports, be tough, and do *manly* things, Nate's love of singing and broadway sets him up for countless jabs at school, and even a few jabs to his face and gut. Nate is a square peg trying to fit into the round hole society - and his family - have thrust upon him. I thought I was in for a light-hearted romp that took the reader backstage for a peek at broadway culture, but I came away with so much more than that. As a kid, I'd gone through the wringer during auditions numerous times, so I knew I'd be able to relate to the protagonist, Nate. I was so excited to read BETTER NATE THAN EVER because I'm a huge fan of musical theater.

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