For kids who love school antics and a good laugh, this graphic novel collection features Big Nate's hilarious adventures and master plans, perfect for independent readers.
If your child finds school a bit of a drag or loves a good laugh, 'Big Nate: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?' is a perfect fit. This book is a collection of comic strips centered on Nate Wright, a spirited and comically overconfident sixth-grader who sees himself as a genius and a prank master. The story captures the everyday frustrations and triumphs of middle school, from dealing with nemesis teachers and annoying classmates to navigating friendships and crushes. It’s ideal for readers aged 8 to 12. The graphic novel format and constant humor make it highly engaging, especially for reluctant readers, offering a fun way to explore themes of friendship, creativity, and self-confidence, even when things don't go as planned.
Includes light insults and name-calling like 'teacher's pet' and nicknames for a teacher.
Mature ThemesMild
Protagonist is disrespectful to teachers and engages in mild bullying (e.g., name-calling).
Sensitive Topics
The book features the protagonist, Nate, frequently insulting a teacher, Mrs. Godfrey, with nicknames related to her weight (e.g., 'Godzilla'). This behavior is presented for comedic effect from Nate's immature point of view and is not explicitly condemned. It serves as a good opportunity for a caregiver to discuss respect, bullying, and body-shaming. The approach is entirely secular and rooted in a realistic school environment.
Ideal Reader
This book is perfect for an 8 to 12-year-old, especially a reluctant reader who is drawn to humor and illustrations. The ideal reader enjoys stories about school, feels misunderstood by adults sometimes, and appreciates a character who is creative, funny, and a bit of a troublemaker. It's a fantastic next step for fans of 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' or 'Captain Underpants'.
Parent Prep
A parent should be prepared to discuss Nate's attitude and behavior, particularly the name-calling directed at Mrs. Godfrey. A good conversation starter could be: 'Nate thinks it's funny to call his teacher names, but how do you think it would feel to be Mrs. Godfrey?'. The book is safe to read cold, but this context-setting can make it a more productive reading experience. A parent might seek this book after their child expresses frustration with school, complains about a 'boring' or 'mean' teacher, or gets a note home for doodling in class. The trigger is seeing a child who needs an outlet for their school-related angst and would benefit from a funny, validating perspective.
Age Experience
Younger readers (8-9) will primarily enjoy the slapstick humor, the visual gags in the illustrations, and the clear-cut conflicts. Older readers (10-12) will better appreciate the sarcastic dialogue, the social satire of middle school life (like crushes and teacher's pets), and Nate's comically inflated sense of self.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many illustrated novels, this book is a pure comic strip collection, making it a very fast-paced and visually-driven read. The humor is directly informed by author Lincoln Peirce's past as a teacher, giving the school environment a ring of authenticity. Nate himself is a unique protagonist: less anxious than Greg Heffley and more of an actively scheming, comically arrogant character, which many kids find hilarious.
Read plot summary
This book is a collection of over 300 comic strips from the Big Nate series. It follows the daily life of Nate Wright, a rebellious, creative, and self-proclaimed genius in the sixth grade. The strips focus on his misadventures at P.S. 38, including his constant schemes to avoid work, his battles of wits with his social studies teacher and nemesis, Mrs. Godfrey, his rivalries with the studious Gina and his crush's boyfriend Artur, and his loyal friendships with Francis and Teddy. The humor is character-driven, focusing on Nate's inflated ego, his relatable school-day frustrations, and the funny outcomes of his poorly-laid plans.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Nate calls his teacher, Mrs. Godfrey, his 'nemesis' and makes fun of her. Do you think Mrs. Godfrey is really as mean as Nate says, or are we only seeing Nate's side of the story? Why?
2
Nate thinks of himself as a genius, but his plans often go wrong. Can you think of a time a plan failed? What could he have done differently?
3
Friendship is important to Nate. How do his friends Francis and Teddy help him, and how do they sometimes get into trouble with him? What makes them good friends to each other?
4
Nate loves to draw cartoons, especially about his life. How does he use his art to deal with things that frustrate him, like schoolwork or annoying people?
5
Nate has a big rivalry with Gina, the 'teacher's pet'. Why do you think they dislike each other so much? Do you think they could ever be friends?
