Families who loved Big Nate Goes for Broke by Lincoln Peirce often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.

Reach for this book when your middle grader is feeling the sting of a losing streak or struggling with a lopsided school rivalry. It is an ideal pick for children who feel like underdogs and need to see that persistence, even when messy, eventually pays off. The story follows Nate Wright as he leads his school in a high stakes snow sculpture competition against their perennial rivals, Jefferson Middle School. Through humor and high energy illustrations, the book explores how to handle defeat and the importance of sticking by your friends when things go south. It is perfectly pitched for ages 8 to 12, offering a relatable look at the frustrations of school life, the annoyance of siblings, and the drive to finally be number one. Parents will appreciate how it validates a child's competitive spirit while keeping the tone light and laugh out loud funny.