A funny, wacky adventure about a boy who loves Broadway musicals. Nate and his best friend Libby cook up a plan to get him from small-town Pennsylvania to NYC to audition for E.T. The Musical while his parents are on vacation. Nate's amusing and self-deprecating narration make this a fun, heartwarming read. You really root for bumbling, lovable Nate as he miraculously makes his way through NYC and the Broadway audition process. My favorite scene had theater newbie Nate making a hilarious mistake when he was asked to read sides from the play. I was cracking up!

I put this book on my "LGBTQ" shelf because Nate is bullied in his hometown for being perceived as gay. Nate himself says he's "undecided" (he actually wants to say, "Hey, jerks, I'm thirteen, leave me alone. Macaroni and cheese is still my favorite food--how would I know who I want to hook up with?"). As the book progresses, it's clear that Nate is drawn to New York not just because of Broadway, but also because he sees out gay people and it's normal.

For musical theater lovers (and probably fans of the TV show Glee) this is a great pick. And even the author bio is funny: "Tim Federle is the author of over seven hundred emails." Ha! ( )

Charming middle grade novel about a small town boy with Broadway dreams. ( )

Book on CD read by the author
3.5***

Thirteen-year-old Nate Foster doesn’t seem to fit into his family. His big brother is a star athlete and gets all the attention from his parents. While Nate just wants to sing and dance and be a Broadway star. Thank heavens for his best friend, Libby. And it’s Libby who notices that there will be auditions for a brand-new musical adaptation of E.T. and helps Nate concoct a scheme so that he can go to New York for the audition.

This was a wonderful coming-of-age story with a great big heart. Nate is a great kid – funny, intelligent, resourceful, brave. He has a chance at his dream, and he is going to go after it with all he’s got. Of course, he also gets a little help from his Aunt Heidi, his mother’s estranged sister, who happens to live in Manhattan, and her roommate “Freckles” who also works in the same restaurant as she does. They know a thing or two about dreams, and about acting.

Nate’s road to stardom is not without roadblocks, starting with the downpour that drenches the only clothes he has. He’s pretty naïve and spends what little money he has on the wrong things; he has no way to call anyone as his cell phone battery has died; more than one kid (and his/her parent) also vying for a role are quite mean to Nate, cutting what little confidence he has. But he has dealt with bullies before and he will not to be denied his chance. He might not have a headshot, or have attended special dance classes, but he’s here, isn’t he?

The scenes are sometimes tender and sometimes a bit frightening, but there is also plenty of humor, and a sense of hope. Nate is so easy to cheer for. The book ends on a cliffhanger, setting up a sequel. Normally, I hate this device, but it was really the perfect ending for the book.

Tim Federle narrates the audiobook himself. I can’t imagine anyone doing a better job of it. ( )

I like this book but unless you can really relate to Nate or the dreams and aspirations he is pursuing in NY, it will kind of leave you wanting more. I think this book would be great to read before or during a music or theater class to maybe inspire children. ( )

You will want to cheer for Nate! This book is lovely and should be read by every theater kid (young and old). ( )