Big Nate Lives It Up: Big Nate, Book 7
By Darienne Stewart,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Nate at his best, showing empathy for geeky new kid.
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What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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Based on 2 parent reviews
What
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cud of been better but gud
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What's the Story?
Nate is flattered and excited to be the buddy for a new student at PS 38. After all, that's how he and his best friend Teddy met when Teddy was new. But Breckenridge Puffington III turns out to be "dweeby" -- and he's stuck to Nate like glue. Nate doesn't like him much but dutifully tries to shield him from the school bully, and, when he's chided by the principal for excluding Breckenridge from a game, he makes a genuine effort to be more considerate. Meanwhile, the school is preparing for its 100th birthday celebration, and Nate is tickled to find comic strips in a 100-year-old journal by a student. He and his friends are looking forward to the centennial scavenger hunt -- until Nate makes a terrible realization about Breckenridge.
Is It Any Good?
This entertaining story shows Nate at his best: actively supported by friends and adults, engaged in something intellectually absorbing, and trying hard to do the right thing in tough circumstances. This time around he's saddled with the new kid no one wants to befriend. Nate grudgingly sacrifices his own interests to help his classmate feel welcome and struggles mightily to get over a deeply upsetting discovery about Breckenridge's past. Confronted with behavior he doesn't like, Nate takes a long, hard look in the mirror and realizes he's the one who needs to change.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Nate's realization that "everybody's a nerd about something." What do you feel nerdy about, and does it make you feel lonely or part of a group of like-minded kids?
How does Nate benefit and grow from being empathetic toward Breckenridge?
Do some research at the library or online to learn more about old comic strips and how they compare with modern styles.
Book Details
- Author: Lincoln Peirce
- Illustrator: Lincoln Peirce
- Genre: Friendship
- Topics: Friendship, Great Boy Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Balzer + Bray
- Publication date: March 10, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 224
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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