(Poll Ballot Tally) Nate Expectation by Tim Federle - 4 stars

[annapi]

When Nate's Broadway show E.T.: The Musical does not garner a single Tony nomination, it closes, ending the most exciting chapter of his life. So he goes back home to the little town of Jankburg, PA to enter high school, where he braces himself for a repeat of the bullying and teasing he experienced in middle school. But his celebrity makes things easier for him, and encourages him to tackle a big project for English class - to turn Great Expectations into a musical in five weeks.

I love this series - it has been really cute, very sweet, and revealed unexpected depths. The gay themes are presented very matter-of-factly, showing a young boy's struggle to find his identity without fanfare or drama. It also avoids the cliches of a big "save the day" ending as a solution to the protagonists' problems but still manages to give the reader a very satisfying resolution. It's a nice, light story that touches on teenage angst but doesn't dwell on them, making for a relaxing read.