Five, Six, Seven, Nate!

Nate Foster’s dreams of Broadway have paid-off and now he is back in New York as the understudy to E.T.’s understudy in E.T.: The Musical.

There are so many colorful characters in this book, including a few that carry over from Better Nate Than Ever. We get to know these characters a little bit better and see that there’s more to some of them than you might have guessed. My favorite of the new characters is Ansella, the E.T. understudy who takes Nate to the Korean spa.

Nate's friendship with best friend Libby is a still major highlight for me. They are loyal to each other and share an almost encyclopedic knowledge about musicals (and like to use legendary Broadway flops as cursing words: “Holy Dance of the Vampires, no!”). show more Another extremely important aspect of these books and part of Nate’s developing sense of self is his struggle to fit in with traditional ideas of “masculinity” and his understanding of his own sexuality.

Nate is so funny because the people and situations feel real. The author shows us Nate discovering himself and his adult life with subtlety and sensitivity. If you loved the first book, you'll love this one even more. show less

Five, Six, Seven, Nate! by Tim Federle is the sequel to Better Nate Than Ever. While it's a satisfying conclusion, I really, really, really hope to see more of Nate's adventures on Broadway.

When last we saw our hero, he was called back at the very last minute. Now he's living in Manhattan with his aunt (who reminds me of a modern day Auntie Mame, with less means, but just as much of an off-beat attitude).

So Nate, like Peggy Sawyer of 42nd Street, ends up getting more and more important roles to play in the E.T. musical. Also like Peggy, Nate has to work his butt off to keep up. Unlike Peggy, though, Nate's been spending his entire life preparing for this moment.

It's wonderful seeing Nate find himself in the madness of this E.T. musical. show more Nate as an E.T. understudy, makes friends with the woman cast to play the alien. It was nice seeing him grow through the mentorship process. There's also a subplot involving a secret admirer which is charming and cute and delightfully sappy.

I really don't know if there are any more Nate books planned. If there are, I will read them. I will pre order them. I will camp out by local bookshop waiting for them to come in. If there aren't, then I am eagerly awaiting whatever the author is working on. show less

In this second book, Nate is an understudy for ET. He’s living in New York with his aunt and rehearsing every day. It’s the life! Of course, he still corresponds with Libby who still tries to get Nate to admit that he is probably gay. He’s thirteen and says he doesn’t know anything except that he loves New York and Broadway. Being backstage and learning what rehearsals are like is insightful. The directors and parents are all caricatures, so they are fun and amusing. The author works on Broadway, so he puts an entertaining spin on what, I’m sure, he witnesses every day!

Book two begins with the first rehearsal and ends the night after the first preview. You will laugh and enjoy Nate’s innocence and joy at performing. He cares show more about people and treats people well. There’s even a small romance as a side story. The other actors treat him well, which surprises Nate because he’s been mercilessly teased and bullied his entire life. Even if he is in the background and being cut from several scenes, Nate is happy to be somewhere where he’s accepted and treated well.

I don’t want to say much because I feel like I’m giving too much away, but I thoroughly enjoyed these two books because they were funny and genuine. We also have these books on Overdrive as audiobooks with the author reading them. show less

Nate Foster may not be the world's best singer or dancer or actor or...anything, but he's taking Broadway by storm with his enthusiasm. This charming follow-up to [b:Better Nate Than Ever|13414183|Better Nate Than Ever|Tim Federle|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1391970255s/13414183.jpg|18707527] finds Nate understudying the title role in the new musical E.T. alongside his nemesis, the perfect Jordan Rylance who's starring as Elliot. Nate is funny and charming as a bumbling success. He relies on his BFF Libby via Skype and texting. He makes friends and enemies. He does some serious growing up and becomes an even more lovable character.

One important detail is that this story, unlike the first, lets Nate explore his romantic interests a show more bit towards the end of the book. If Tim Federle wants to write a third installment in the Nate saga, I'll surely read it! (Or probably listen to it, as Federle does a fantastic job narrating the audiobook.) show less

Nate Foster's Broadway dreams have been realized -- sort of. He's in New York, rehearsing for his role in E.T.: The Musical. And, okay, that role is an understudy part, but still! Nate has a lot to learn about the city, Broadway, and himself as opening night draws near. When an accident threatens to doom the show before it even opens, can Nate save the day?

This book is just as charming, funny, and heartwarming as its predecessor. Read that book first, then move right on to this one! I also recommend the audio version, which is read by the author. Federle does a great job of conveying Nate's youthful enthusiasm.

Narrated by the author. As the understudy for E.T. in the Broadway musical of the movie, Nate is as close to realizing his Broadway dreams as he ever could be. Nate's story is likely Federle's story, and he writes and performs with an intimate awareness of the theater scene and its personalities. I felt the book goes about two chapters too long, but Nate's personal evolution is satisfying to witness.

middlegrade fiction/stage kid drama/secret admirers. Continues the story begun in Better Nate than Ever (read that one FIRST). I missed Heidi's roommate Freckles a LOT! but there are some important developments in 13-year-old Nate's story here (and those of Libby and his aunt Heidi). Nate is still pretty innocent (no swearing, one mild kiss scene) but the feel of the book is different. Gone is the wonder of the small-town kid in the big city for the first time; gone are almost all of the bullying issues (except those briefly shown in some intolerant parents). Now we have Nate in a relatively friendly environment (WHERE IS FRECKLES?) in which he is free to explore his inner feelings, but he only does it a wee bit at the very end.

So I show more didn't feel entirely satisfied, but I would definitely read another sequel. show less