Big Nate: In a Class by Himself

Big Nate Novels #1

by Lincoln Peirce

Nate knows he's meant for big things. REALLY big things.

But life doesn't always go your way just because you're awesome.

Trouble always seems to find him, but Nate keeps his cool no matter what.

He knows he's great. A fortune cookie told him so.

For fans of the hilarious Diary of a Wimpy Kid series: Here comes BIG NATE, accidental mischief maker and definitely NOT the teacher's pet.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Humor, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Comics

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Lincoln Peirce is a cartoon artist from Portland, Maine. He lives with his wife and two children, and occasionally gives lectures to students about cartoon creating. Peirce writes the comic strip "Big Nate". Peirce's comic strip, Big Nate, is featured as an island on the famous children's website, Poptropica. Big Nate appears as the first cartoon on The Maine Sunday Telegram in the comics section.

He studied art at Colby College in Maine were he began cartooning. He also studied at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture before teaching art and coaching basketball at a New York highschool for 3 years. He currently plays hockey with "an old men's league" and describes it as his best sport as a child. In an interview with the Washington Post, Peirce stated that his last name is pronounced "purse" and is not a misspelling of "pierce."

Lincoln Peirce was a member of the "Surviving as a Print Cartoonist" Panel at the Maine Comics Art Festival with fellow cartoonists Corey Pandolph (Barkeater Lake, Toby: Robot Satan, The Elderberries), Norm Feuri (Retail, Gill) and with Mike Lynch moderating. On the panel Lincoln revealed he is currently working with some animation and licensing projects including the addition of a Big Nate island to the online game Poptropica.

Reviews

[The Reading Countess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Multiple Choice:
A) Big Nate is a comic strip appearing in more than 200 newspapers and online daily.
B) Big Nate is the nickname my middle son earned from his football coach
C) Big Nate reminds me of my oldest son, who also doodles and lacks focus (but who is ultimately a likable and smart guy)
D) Big Nate will be hard to keep in my classroom library once it is booktalked
E) All of the above

Answer: E

[Brenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nate Wright is actually rather a cruel character. I was tremendously disappointed in the kid. Reading him saying that "Mrs. Godfrey is fat!" and then thinking to myself, "Well, this is supposed to elicit a laugh from children," really disturbed me.

I felt bad for Mrs. Godfrey. I felt that Nate deserved his punishments, but als felt that - as an adult - he's not the kind of kid I'd want my child playing with. He's not one I'd trust alone with a young reader because of his rudeness. A parent should really opt to sit in with a child reading this story, asking the young reader how he/she thinks the abused characters feel with regards to Nate's constant insults and put-downs.

(Isn't that a bit extreme? I don't know... Although, it is clear that kids have enough bullying instincts as it is without promoting it through the actions of a book's "hero." To make such obvious, hurtful comments into a makeshift joke... well, it just isn't nice.)

[Katja · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will never understand the anti-intellectual agenda a lot of Americans have. Nate is essentially anti-school, anti-education and he constantly makes fun of "geeks" and "nerds". My kids love the book, but I omitted a lot of the judgemental labels Ned applied to his fellow students. Shouldn't kids in books be role models up to a certain point? What is wrong with enjoying learning and school? On top of that Nate is not a very good or kind person. He is pretty selfish, self-centered and he gloats a lot.
I don't know, I guess I shouldn't over-analyze this, but I just wish that sometimes fun, comic book / children's book characters from American authors would be a bit more pro learning. I have the same issues with Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Captain Underpants (although I'm a huge fan of the latter, just the depiction of Melvin Sneedly annoyed me a little, although you could argue that he is kinda a nasty kid). Still, as a nerd myself I do take depictions like that personally - and just as a short side note: Every person worth knowing in my opinion has a geeky side to them and the people I am friends with now were more like the nerdy characters from those books everyone makes fun of. Just saying.

[Aisyah ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up reading the big nate comic strips, and this book made me feel like this



All fuzzy and warm inside :)

Still not over Sir Andy Dwyer/Agent Burt Macklin, F.B.I/Johnny Karate. I'll miss you and April always...

[Jeff Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a subgenre of children's books I derisively call the "cash grabs." They're your celebrity books, your knockoffs, your derivative stuff. I know Big Nate has been a daily comic for some time, so it's not so much a "cash grab" type book like so many Wimpy Kid clones, but the chapter books...well, they sure feel like it.

This is the first chapter book installment of Big Nate. Nate's a bit disorganized, a bit of a troublemaker, a bit of a clown. This book follows him through one school day as he does something no one else has done before him. It's a pretty standard story, no real twists or surprises, nothing too scandalous.

I think that might be what bothers me the most. Where Wimpy Kid felt new and fresh, this feels like a bit of a retread, and one that stays well within the margins to boot. It's serviceable, and I can see quite clearly why it's as popular as it is, but it doesn't give me that good feeling inside about it. Maybe the comic is more subversive? Maybe this really is a cash grab and my cynicism isn't really doing what it's supposed to.

There are two more out with one more getting published shortly. These are very quick reads, so I'll probably at least give the next one a shot and see if it finds its own legs. Considering the hype, though, this was a disappointment.

[J.T. Dutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dislike that there are so many great books for children. My frustration is a result of having a daughter who now handles most of her reading choices for herself, and a son who is well on his way. Neither kid is coming to me for my help, or even my opinions or suggestions anymore. Big Nate in Class by Himself arrived in a package addressed to me, so I grabbed it and fled to the bathtub so I could have firsrsies.
When my family asked me what was making me laugh, I said that I was cutting my toenails. When they asked what was taking so long, I said I would be out in a little while. I finally emerged and handed Big Nate off to my eight year old daughter. She disappeared. Snickers could be heard through her bedroom door. An hour later she reappeared and told me her favorite parts of the story.
Nate is a boy who has a lot in common with my son Cass. He has a wayward way of viewing life, an attention grabbing sister and a couple of screwball friends. I think Zoe and I enjoyed getting a little peek at Cass's interior life through Nate. Meanwhile, Cass caught sight of the copy of the book his sister and I had been keeping from him. The interesting drawings made him turn one page then another. I don't know when I'll see him again. Too bad. Like Nate, he is a really entertaining kid.

[Ana-Maria Negrilă · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amuzantă, un amestec de bandă desenată și text, Marele Nate este o carte scrisă lejer și plină de farse. Fără mari pretenții și învățături morale, este varianta pentru copii a cărților de citit în tren, deci destul de potrivită pentru cei care acum prind gustul lecturii.

[Ms Threlkeld · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series was extremely popular at the elementary school where I worked, so I thought I'd check it out. I was really disappointed. Nate isn't very likable and he's constantly complaining about school and his teachers. At one point he says "Teachers are such dopes sometimes. And by "sometimes," I mean "always." As someone who has worked in education for 10 years, I found this offensive. I was expecting more from this book and won't be recommending it to my students.

[Alex_E1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Big Nate book I've ever read. It is about Big Nate himself as a middle schooler, getting into trouble and thinking on the positive side of problems. I think this is a great book because it perfectly summarized a middle school students' life and it made me thought that this was something that's true, Big Nate was real! I can connect this book to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the setting is the same, their family situation is the same and surprisingly they even got the same grade, D. In Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Greg complained about his family: his brother and his mother. Greg also complained about school work and daily things. Such as complaining about his best friend "betraying" him, getting the wrong present for Christmas. In this book, Nate was better than Greg, he only complained, acted aggressively to the teachers and his sister. He complained about the difference between him and his sister. He complained about how all of his teachers are bad, he is just like a 7th grader. A fake but real one.

[Drew B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big Nate is Hilarious. He finds out he's Destined for Greatness in the most Detention Slips.

[Raafi · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Teachers always say they'll be happy if you just do your best. But when you TRY to do your best, they don't LET you. Something about that just doesn't add up."

Mwahaha. Gambarnya bagus. Ceritanya sederhana. Berakhir menyenangkan. Paling tidak, Nate merasa senang. Terhibur. Sangat.

Ulasan ala-ala: http://bibliough.blogspot.co.id/2016/...

[♛ Garima ♛ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually a re-read. While my beloved paperback copies are stored somewhere in India, KU has made (only #1) available so I was just taking advantage of that :)

[Chantelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 8 year old son begged to read this & I was hesitant. All I can say now is that we are BOTH very glad I took a chance and read it to him (and the rest of the series) before bed every night (he read on his own at other times).

Surprisingly, this was the first book (in a REALLY long time) that literally made me laugh out loud - repeatedly!! I WILL admit that Nate - the way he thinks, acts, and his imagination - is extremely similar to my son so, I'm sure that influenced how often I laughed.

Although Nate is disrespectful to his father and has a general disdain for school & education, the "tongue in cheek" writing style communicated that his attitude wasn't really ideal for yourself. Also, I didn't find anything in the books that was unrealistic for a school-aged child to think, feel, do, and experience. In fact, it reminded me of my own elementary and middle school "life".

Even though I didn't approve of Nate's attitude toward his dad, school, and adults in general, because my son my son identified with this character, I seized the opportunity to have discussions about the importance of education, respect, appropriate behavior, bullying, friendship, and a host of other topics.

If your child is in this stage of life and appreciates a good story and a good laugh - I confidently recommend these books. (BTW, my son is now 11 and STILL reads these books!)

[Louis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read two books of Big Nate, and I like him. In this book, Nate tries to make his fortune come true. And the fortune says, "Today, you will surprise all others." He tries to do his best in his classes. He got a detention report on a pink slip. That's how his fortune came true by getting seven detention reports. The school was surprised.

I liked it because there was suspense because...and how he got the detention reports was a little funny. Well, in English class, he got it by insulting one of his classmates and also he got it by interrupting the class. I like this one more than the first Big Nate I read.

This is Louie, over and out!

[Maddison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really funny book. It's a very quick read but a great read. I would recommend this book for all ages as it is a very simple read.

[Tyler Vennard · Rating 4 out of 5]

i think this book is a four because Nate is very funny but is not very realistic like that part where nate is looking at baby picture on the school wall.

[Precious Boahen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this book was just like a jokebook,with a story behind it.Nate Wright is a sixth grader with a lot of spunk.He is also the classroom rebel and the commisioner of teacher nicknames.He knows he is destined for greatness,but he just doesen't know what great thing he will do.So when he gets a fortune cookie from his best friend Teddy,he is afraid of what the cookie will say.Because Nate has a history of crappy fortunes ,he reluctantly opens the fortune.but he is happy at what he reads. It says he will surpass all others that very day. Through the day Nate tries to surpass all others by setting world records,trying to be the best drawer,and even trying to make Mr.Galvin laugh!!!!But all he gains is multiple detentions.At the end of the day as he walks down the hall to the detention room, he counts all his detentions.1,2,3,4,5,6,7. 7 detentions. When he shows them to Mrs.Czerwicki,she tells him that he has established a school record for most detentions.All in all,nate did surpass all others

[Lars Guthrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lincoln Peirce has been penning the 'Big Nate' comic strip since the early 90s, so you can't accuse him of ripping off 'Wimpy Kid'--completely. Clearly, Peirce saw an opportunity and took it. More power to him.

Despite an addiction to junk food, a propensity to get into trouble, a fear of locker rooms, and a generally cynical outlook on adult behavior, Nate is not a carbon copy of Greg Heffley. His hair is thicker. Refreshingly, his two best friends are brighter than he is. They poke fun at Nate, unlike Heffley's hapless confederate, the low-wattage Rowley.

Like 'Wimpy Kid,' 'Nate' uses all the elements that draw a certain audience: risque humor, lots of illustrations and white space, and an ear for how kids actually think and talk. But Kinney was there first, so 'Nate' won't be quite the blockbuster 'Wimpy' has proved to be. For kids who can't wait until the November release of 'The Ugly Truth,' though, here's something that might keep them reading.

[Tate Rytky · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was Tate's first "longer" book that he read himself. It's good because there are short, chunky paragraphs and plenty of comic-strip-type pictures throughout the book -- so it's more manageable for beginning readers. But the content is not exactly something to brag about. Nate is a mischievous kid who gets in trouble, plans to ditch school to get out of a test, lies to his teacher about being sick, uses language like "shut up" and "stupid". It's not a book I would let my 1st grader read by himself without also discussing the content and the consequences of Nate's actions and decisions. (But then again I am admittedly an overprotective parental snob -- I don't even like Sponge Bob!) But I can see why this book would be great to motivate hesitant readers to start loving to read longer books. It took Tate about 3-4 days to read this book. He originally started out saying he loved it, but by the end he said he would give it 1 or 2 stars.

[David H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that Big Nate was amazing. This book had multiple reasons why. If you liked comedy and laughter then this book would be just for you. This book is about a middle schooler who hangs out with his friends named Teddy and Francis. Almost every age that I read Made me laugh it was seriously hilarious! Theres also a lot of roadblocks and antagonists like his teacher, Ms. Godfrey or his bully, Chester. I you don't like romance then, I don't think you would like this book. This book also has a lot of romantic scenes, with multiple scenes with romantic drama. Overall this book is a 5/5 for me.

[Nicholas Papavero · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it its just it was kind of boring because basically every time all Nate does is get pink detention slips. But his fortune was right and he ended up setting a record for most detention slip which was the amount of 7 slips of detention.

[Suraia Munia · Rating 5 out of 5]

i only started reading the book because it is suggested for diary of wimpy kid fans and jeff kinney said "Big Nate is funny, big time."
Honestly Nate is not as funny as Greg but he is not so bad either. I see myself grabbing the other books in the series.

[Jacob Razer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it when nate got a lot of detentions in almost every chapter.Nate was not a good kid in that book.He should be a better kid.He is in sixth grade and he should know how to behave.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to start this series with my 8-year-old son, but then, within a few chapters, found myself disappointed in the narrative that was being spun with each new chapter. To summarize my thoughts, I couldn't agree more with this review.

I have to add, though, that my son laughed at a lot of the scenes in the book, and so we kept reading. I ended up trying to spin elements of the character that bothered me most (the fact Nate was anti-school, judgmental, and prone to getting into trouble) into a "Let's Not Be Like Nate" campaign. I think it worked because by the end of the book, Dean confessed he could never imagine getting 1 detention in a single day, let alone 7. Ha!

[Loren M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

6th Grader Nate Wright is dreaming when he wakes up to another ordinary morning of his life: breakfast, his annoying sister Ellen, and school. Believing that there will be a test that day, Nate becomes afraid of failing and having to attend summer school. Nate attempts to forge an excuse note, only to be caught by one of his friends. Nate confesses to the forgery, to which Francis replies that there was no test scheduled for that day. At home Nate's friend Teddy gives Nate a fortune cookie, which tells him "TODAY YOU WILL SURPASS ALL OTHERS". Despite previously not believing in fortune cookies, Nate chooses to believe what the fortune claims. During the school day Nate gains detention slips for making up insulting names about his least favorite teacher Mrs. Godfrey, as well as yelling at his nemesis Gina for publicly humiliating him for writing a love letter to his crush. During Mr. Rosa's art class Nate sees that his rival Artur's picture has received the spotlight instead of his own picture, causing Nate to attempt to convince his teacher to place his (Nate's) picture in the spotlight instead. When Mr. Rosa refuses, Nate attempts to swap the pictures out himself, only to get caught and get his third detention slip of the day. After that Nate attempts to gain attention by eating 45 slices of pizza in ten minutes, only to discover that pizza is not being served in the cafeteria that day. Instead Nate is encouraged to eat 148 servings of green beans, one of Nate's least favorite foods. The record setting is cut short when the school principal notices the commotion and yells at Nate to clean the mess. Principal Nichols ends up slipping in a puddle of juice, causing Nichols to give Nate both a lecture and his fourth detention slip of the day. As a result Nate ends up being late for PE. Nate attempts to wash the bean taste out of his mouth, only for water to spill onto his gym clothes, making it appear as if he'd wet himself. Unable to find any other gym shorts, Nate grabs a pair of large shorts, which ends up belonging to the substitute gym teacher. Nate is forced to run sprints and is given yet another detention slip. In math a pop quiz is assigned, which Nate appears to just barely have finished in time. After the time is up, Nate discovers that the quiz was double sided and that he'd only done the front side. Nate attempts to finish the quiz, only to get caught by the math teacher. Both parties tug on the quiz paper, only for it to rip and cause Nate to receive another detention slip. During science class Nate attempts to get the teacher to laugh via several pranks, only for his pen to get confiscated by the teacher. When the pen stains the teacher's shirt, Nate ends up laughing hysterically, prompting the teacher to give Nate another detention slip. At the end of the day Nate has to report to detention, only for the supervisor Ms. Czerwicki to inform Nate that he has "surpassed all others" in having the most detention slips. Upon realizing that his fortune had "come true" he had set record at his school for most detentions ever.I think this book should be read by lots more of kids. It teaches life lessons to kids and adults. THE END.

[MisterFweem · Rating 1 out of 5]

Probably when you have to have a quote from Jeff Kinney on your front cover, and have comparisons to your book on the back cover, you should wonder if the book ought to be published or not. And while I realize that Lincoln Pierce is the author of the Big Nate comic strip, I've just gotta say that Kinney's "Wimpy Kid" books are more artfully drawn, wittier, and coherent as books, compared to Pierce's. Again, I don't make it a habit of reading and reviewing kids' books, but I also want to stay apace of what's out there in a genre I might want to write in. I'm of the opinion now that the funny comic book format right now is Kinney's world, and others had best stay out unless they can be better than him. Big Nate isn't. Big Nate as a character is even less lovable than Greg Heffley, but at least Heffley and company are rounded out a bit more as characters, whereas the denizens of Big Nate's world are as flat as the comics page.

[Guguk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tadinya sempet ngerasa eneg dengan kesotoyan si Nate (^ ^;)>

Beda dengan Tom Gates yang terkesan culun atau Greg Heffley yang semua tindakannya (termasuk yang bego sekalipun) mengesankan 'kesinisan-yang-anggun' (^...^), si Nate ini terlihat "kasar" dan maksa pengen ngasih kesan "keren" dengan jalan menjelek-jelekkan semua yang ada di sekelilingnya.

Untungnya mendekati akhir makin menghibur (^.^) dan aku ngakak pas dia pake celana olahraga gurunya + diganjel handuk ｡ﾟ( ﾟ^∀^ﾟ)ﾟ｡

[Gracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great I loved it!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pearce L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious!

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was quite humorous. I felt myself laughing quite often. I read one of the books in this series before I read the first one. It was probably a good idea to read the first one first. Now that I have read the first one the one that I read before makes more sense. It is sort of like Diary of a Wimpy kid but I prefer this. I would recommend this to people that like Diary of a Wimpy Kid books.