Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle

Hello, everyone!  To the newer readers of the blog, I'm "the guy" from the title of the blog.  To the more long-term readers, I still exist.  I've spent the last 20ish months in a rigorous Ph.D. program, and I can happily say I'm over halfway finished!  For the past few days, I've been lucky to enjoy a much-needed Spring Break, during which I actually got to read a book with characters and plot and humor.  And because it was so great, I had to share my review of it with you all.


Title: Better Nate Than Ever
Author: Tim Federle
Pages: 275
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781442446915 
Publication Date: February 5, 2013
AR Levels: Book Level - 5.9, Interest Level - 4th-8th grades, Points - 9.0
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13414183-better-nate-than-ever


In a nutshell:  Nate Foster, a 13-year old misfit from unexciting Jankburg, PA, decides to leave behind his lackluster bully-filled life and run away to The Big Apple in search of stardom.  With his best friend Libby covering for him, Nate takes his passion for Broadway to the Great White Way itself, where he plans to try out for E.T.: The Musical.  Along the way, he learns about the realities of showbiz, reconnects with a long lost relative, makes some new friends, and has an adventure that changes his life.  But...Will he get the role he's waited a lifetime for, or is he destined for the role he's played for a lifetime?  Is E.T.: The Musical his ticket to fame or his ticket back to Jankburg?  Read to find out!

I'd recommend it to grades:  This book was written with middle school students in mind, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, as well (and I haven't been a middle school student for quite some time).

I'd recommend it to:  First and foremost, I'd recommend this book to all the Nate Fosters out there--the young guys and gals struggling to fit in where you are because you're obviously destined for bigger things.  Secondly, the book features a main character who's still coming to terms with whether he's gay, straight, or somewhere in between (and even what those really mean); as such, this book might be refreshing to those tweens and teens in the same boat, wishing that young adult literature featured more characters like you.  Thirdly, Broadway nerds will love this book.

What I liked most about this book:  This. Book. Is. Hilarious.  If there was a Tony category for "Funniest YA Novel About Broadway," Tim Federle would be a shoo-in.   

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): Nate and his best friend Libby rehearsed a monologue to deliver any time someone questions whether he is traveling alone.  Let's just say it involves a hypothetical mother and digestive issues, and it comes in handy quite a few unexpected times.

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 5++!  I'm looking forward to reading the sequel Five, Six, Seven, Nate!

Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-Garcia

Title: Gone Crazy in Alabama
Author: Rita Williams-Garcia
Pages: 304
Publisher: Amistad
ISBN: 9780062215901
Publication Date: April 21, 2015*
AR Levels: TBA
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22836574-gone-crazy-in-alabama

In a nutshell: In this final installment of the trilogy, the Gaither sisters travel south to visit their daddy's family in Alabama, and, as per usual, hijinks ensue. Join Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern one last time as they learn all about milking cows, stir up a decades-long feud between sisters, discover family secrets, and more. 

I'd recommend it to grades: 5th to 8th

I'd recommend it to: teachers looking for a great Black History Month read-aloud, those who like comedy and family drama, and anyone with a sister

What I liked most about this book: I have loved this sassy trio of sisters from the first pages of One Crazy Summer, and this third book did not disappoint. Set in the South in the summer of 1969, it tackles historically significant topics such as the Apollo 11 moon landing, the Ku Klux Klan, the relationship between African Americans and Native Americans, and more...all with equal doses of gravity and comedy. This heartfelt and laugh-out-loud funny finale is sure to satisfy fans of the first two books and find new fans as well. I'm surely going to miss the Gaither sisters. Surely am! ;)

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y): The Southern-isms in this one are dead on. My favorite one is how Delphine describes how Southern goodbyes go on forever and ever with plenty of hugs. So true.

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 5 stars, yes ma'am

*I read a digital ARC of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss.

As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth by Lynne Rae Perkins

I'll admit that I was browsing through the bookstore and picked this one up because the cover looked interesting.  I guess sometimes you can judge a book by its cover.  AEAFOTFOTE (the title is even long when abbreviated!) started off slow and seemed like it was going to be utterly boring, but it turned out to be a great book.  To be honest, it's not for everyone--it's not an action-packed adventure or vampire romance or middle school collective of awkward moments and fart jokes.  This book is more of a comedy of errors in which everything that can go wrong can go wrong; the cast of characters is a quirky band of misfits that helps the main character find his way back home.  

Title:  As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth

Author:  Lynne Rae Perkins

Pages: 368

Publisher:  Greenwillow Books

ISBN:  9780061870903

Publication Date:  April 27, 2010
AR Levels:  Interest Level--6th+; Book Level--5.0; Points--9.0

Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7045236-as-easy-as-falling-off-the-face-of-the-earth

In a nutshell: Sixteen-year old Ry is making the journey from Wisconsin by train to his summer camp destination on the west coast.  He finds out around Montana that camp is cancelled, and when he leaves the train to make a phone call, the train leaves without him.  After wandering around Montana for a while, he meets Del and they embark on a journey to get him back to Wisconsin and ultimately to find his parents in the Caribbean.  Along the way, they meet a random assortment of people who "help" them reach their destination and learn about themselves.  It's not laugh-out-loud or slapstick funny, but it's funny in its own special way.

I'd recommend it for grades: 7-12+ (adults would love this book, too!)

I'd recommend it to:  anyone who likes a good book about a journey and anyone who appreciates finding the humor in normal life situations.

What I liked most about this book:  It's not very likely that all of these events would happen to one person, but the book doesn't read too far fetched.  I also appreciated that it's not crude or obnoxious.  

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y):  At one point on the journey, Ry and Del catch a ride from an elderly man who doesn't see well or have feeling in his legs; he's a terrible driver who can't see out the window of the car, causing him to drive like Mr. Magoo.

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): 4 stars.  This would make a great movie.