Common Sense Media Review
By Darienne Stewart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Theater kid blossoms in new role in sweet homecoming tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
NATE EXPECTATIONS opens with crushing disappointment for 14-year-old Nate Foster. E.T.: The Musical closes abruptly and puts him out of work. He has to trade his dream life on Broadway for high school in Pennsylvania -- and make do with FaceTime instead of behind-the-scenes kisses with his boyfriend. Nate dreads going home, but he's surprised to find he's admired as a minor celebrity. Even better, he gets to work with his best friend, Libby, turning Great Expectations into a musical for an English project. Nate starts to feel he's finding his place in school. Then his boyfriend ghosts him, and Nate feels stuck in a role that makes him painfully unhappy.
Is It Any Good?
Nate Foster takes his final bow with a flourish in this hugely satisfying end to Tim Federle's sweet and funny trilogy, featuring a musical-loving teen as he's coming out and coming into his own. In Nate Expectations, Nate's grown more confident and self-assured. He's less buffeted by ups and downs, learning that even the bleakest situations aren't forever -- things get better. The shiny optimism may be more hopeful than realistic: The bullies who tormented Nate are pretty much gone, his parents make clear how much they love him, he moves smoothly from one crush to the next. But it's hard to find much fault with such an endearing character, shining especially brightly in the company of his loyal, smart friend Libby. Federle keeps the quips coming a mile a minute and draws on his own career highs and lows -- including a musical Tuck Everlasting -- for a story that theater kids can cherish.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how hard it is for Nate to let go of his crush in Nate Expectations. Have you tried to salvage a failing relationship? Why do you think it's hard to let go?
What does Mr. English mean when he talks about picking your own birthday? What would you choose as your birthday?
What makes Nate successful as a director?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : September 18, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 18
- Number of pages : 256
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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