Better Nate Than Ever

By: Tim Federle

Narrated by: Tim Federle

Soon to be a Disney+ Original movie!

“The Nate series by Tim Federle is a wonderful evocation of what it’s like to be a theater kid. Highly recommended.” —Lin-Manuel Miranda, star and creator of the musical, Hamilton

A New York Times Notable Book of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A Slate Favorite Book of the Year

A small-town boy hops a bus to New York City to crash an audition for E.T.: The Musical in this winning middle grade novel that The New York Times called “inspired and inspiring.”

Nate Foster has big dreams. His whole life, he’s wanted to star in a Broadway show. (Heck, he’d settle for seeing a Broadway show.) But how is Nate supposed to make his dreams come true when he’s stuck in Jankburg, Pennsylvania, where no one (except his best pal Libby) appreciates a good show tune? With Libby’s help, Nate plans a daring overnight escape to New York. There’s an open casting call for E.T.: The Musical, and Nate knows this could be the difference between small-town blues and big-time stardom.

Tim Federle’s “hilarious and heartwarming debut novel” (Publishers Weekly) is full of broken curfews, second chances, and the adventure of growing up—because sometimes you have to get four hundred miles from your backyard to finally feel at home.

NATE IS AWESOMENESS IN PERSON

Loved it! In this entire novel I was hoping everything turned okay for Nate. He's just the best.

The best book ever

I loved this book mostly because I love to read it was just the way the author told it he really felt Nate so props to you Tim Federle I would recommend this to anyone who likes a book that's gets you on the edge of your seat

great story & great storytelling

Tim Federle does not READ us his book like so many authors do when they narrate their own work. He performs it. It's his book and he knows it inside and out and can really tell it beautifully.

I found myself halfway through the book before I knew I was caught up in it.

BEST BOOK EVER!!!

This book is SO GOOD!! I am the same age as Nate so I get his pain but I am also a therater nerd myself! Out of my friends I am the one who is obsessed with musicals. I am so glad I found a book that gets me. TIM IF YOU ARE READING THIS PLEASE MAKE MORE BOOKS LIKE THIS!!!!! Totally a good book for therater kids, people need a laugh out loud or you have good taste in books! Bye!

Wonderful, funny, campy

While my suspension of disbelief was (very) minorly strained, this was a quirky, unexpected, wonderful, funny story about growing up different, family, and courage to be yourself. I was not a hardcore theater kid, and am not a big theater gay, but I still very much identified with Nate's difficult, stressful, and seemingly inescapable childhood journey. I also laughed out loud quite a lot while listening. This story has a good balance of both humor and drama. The author's narration was authentic, expressive, and engaging. The parts that maybe hit close to home for him emotionally came through in his performance. I would recommend to adults, or to 13-year olds struggling with fitting in and sexual identity. I wish I had this to read or listen to when I was that age.