Better Nate Than Ever

Billy Elliot meets Glee! Tim Federle’s warm and witty debut is the story of small-town boy Nate as he follows his dreams and learns to be his own best self. “Judy Blume as seen through a Stephen Sondheim lens.” Huffington Post

Billy Elliot meets Glee! in this award-winning book about a small-town boy with big ambitions. Thirteen-year-old Nate Foster has always wanted to star in a Broadway show. (In fact, he’d settle for seeing a Broadway show.) With best pal 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 touching debut is full of broken curfews, second chances and the adventure of growing up – because sometimes you have to get four hundred miles from your back garden to finally feel at home.

Review

“I can’t stop reading this book! Nate Foster’s hilarious and touching adventures en route to making it big on Broadway just kill me–I’m falling in love with New York City all over again, and with Nate for the first time. Please, Tim Federle, take a break before writing your next book, so I’ll have time to write mine. I can only hope it’s half as much fun as “Better Nate Than Ever”!” –James Howe, author of The Misfits

“Nate Foster is another endlessly lovable underdog, a Broadway-obsessed outsider in his (perfectly-named) town of Jankburg, Pennsylvania who takes a secret journey to New York City to audition for ET: The Musical. Nate’s genuine wit sparkles on every page […] and it’s beyond heart-warming to experience his discovery of a world where he finally feels like he belongs.” –The Guardian

“Nate is an endearing and determined character, and Federle creates a voice that is both witty and na├»ve […] this is a book that is sure to appeal to any reader with an interest in musical theatre or Broadway.” –Inis Reading Guide

About the Author

Tim Federle began crashing New York auditions as a teenager, landing in five Broadway shows, from Gypsy to The Little Mermaid (starring Tim in a catfish costume). Tim has penned columns for Apartment Therapy and Huffington Post, choreographed routines for Sting and James Taylor at Carnegie Hall, and coached the child stars of Billy Elliot on Broadway – Tim’s inspiration for his debut novel, Better Nate Than Ever, which was named a Stonewall Honor Book. Tim lives in New York City, USA

Find him at TimFederle.com, on Twitter @TimFederle and on YouTube – Tim Federle Reading and many more. #BetterNate