Absolutely Nat: A Graphic Novel

Nat Enough #3

by Maria Scrivan

Companion to the New York Times bestseller Nat Enough!

You can stay stuck or go forward, but you can't go back.



Natalie has just arrived at summer camp and soon realizes it isn't anything like the brochure. Instead of spending the summer with her best friends, Zoe and Flo, Natalie is stuck with her ex-BFF, Lily, and someone even more annoying than the endless mosquitoes: Millie Flatbottom. Even worse, she's constantly pushed out of her comfort zone and forced to come face-to-face with some of her greatest fears. Although summer camp isn't at all what Natalie expected, could it be exactly what she needs?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Friendship, Childrens, Comics

240 pages, Paperback

Published September 21, 2021

Reviews

[Darla]

Love, love, love this series. Nat is back and on her way to her very first summer camp. Yikes! What will Cat & Treat do without her? They try to hitch a ride in her trunk, but it's a no go. Once Nat is at camp she feels conflicted. Lake Surprise seems to be menacing and is there really a sea monster in its depths? Activities that don't involve the lake can also be questionable. Slug races, anyone? When Nat decides to try the wall climbing activity she learns a valuable lesson: You can stay stuck or go forward, but you can't go back. If she can conquer the wall, could she also be brave enough to swim in the lake? One thing I missed in this third book was the many conversations with her mirror. Hope see that in Book 4. Hand this one to fans of the Invisible Emmie series by Terri Libensen and Jennifer L. Holms' Sunny series.

[Michelle Lambert]

Let me preface by saying I don't prefer graphic novels. But, my daughter loves this series and so I decided to try. I love this character. She is so real and relatable to elementary girls. I loved how she solved her problems and went through her camp adventures. I definitely want to read the first two.

[Sasha]

I am trying to read every book my daughter reads. She loves this series and is moving on to another one.

[Tamsyn]

3.5 stars. A typical friendship/camp story, but held my interest and was a good installment in this series.

[Hayden]

Going to camp so afraid of everything but then facing your fears. This book was so wholesome.

[Danielle]

"It's amazing what you can do if you don't let fear get in your way."

I love this graphic novel series so much. Nat is such a relatable character and she often brings back memories of what my life was like as a kid. In this graphic novel, Nat is off to summer camp. She is so excited to spend some time with her friends, but once she gets to camp she realizes that most of her friends want to spend time in the lake and there is no way Nat is going to swim in the lake when there's probably a sea monster lurking below the surface. When Nat jumps on the opportunity to go rock climbing, she realizes that she can either stay where she is or move forward but she can't go backwards. Will Nat ever be brave enough to try swimming in the lake?

It was fun to see Nat in a different setting: at camp. She is out of her normal zone and she doesn't have her pets to keep her company. I was glad to see they still made their usual appearance at the beginning of each chapter. Summer camp seems like such a pivotal experience for young protagonists to go through and it was no different for Nat. I enjoyed seeing her go through her camp experience but I'll also be excited to see her back at home in her regular habitat in her next adventure. At least, I hope there's a next adventure... :)

[Hollie]

I’ve started picking up children’s books that I think my students would enjoy. I recently stumbled across Absolutely Nat, and after flipping through the illustrations, I decided to purchase it.

Although this is the third entry in the series, the story gives you enough context to understand the relationship dynamics, making the transition into the third book feel natural rather than jarring.

I personally really loved the story. It felt grounded, yet still offered plenty of humorous exchanges. There are also pages dedicated to mini‑comics that relate to the main plot, which provide a nice break amid the central narrative.

With children’s graphic novels, I’ve found this series—at least so far—to be a refreshing change from the more chaotic, comedic, and slightly nonsensical narratives common in other series. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that style, but it’s nice to teach and recommend graphic novels that offer some concrete themes to discuss.

Let's hope my students like it!

3.5/5

[Amelia]

Maria Scrivan brings another cute, awesome, relatable book!!! 💗 Just like the other two books, there is so much good advice and fun puns scattered across the pages. I just love the thought put into this and how skillfully Scrivan develops the characters!

AND beautiful illustrations! (as always!) 🤩

Absolutely Nat (and the rest of the series) are those books where you can stay up at night reading and finish in one sitting. (that's what I did 😆)

[Natalie]

“A grudge is like having poison ivy and expecting someone else to itch.” ~~ Flo ~~

4.5 out of 5 stars! I loved this one! The message was excellent and the art was so cute!

[La Biblio Geek]

4,8*

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind)]

A fun summer camp story with lots of fun adventures.

[Rachel]

It's fine, not my favourite.

[Joyce Bain]

I

[Betty Chatzisavvidou]

Η κόρη μου βάζει 5 αστεράκια

[Kimber]

I picked this up while bored wandering in a library because the illustrations felt nostalgic, and I was surprised to see this was published just a few years back. It makes me happy that we still have artists drawing in this style today :)

[Mary-Jane]

Love these books. Always a good message. This one is about not letting your fears hold you back from living your life. And there are always friendship lessons in them too. This one was no different.

[Miranda]

She hangs out with Flo and Zoe at Camp Mosquito. At the camp, you can do lots of stuff like rock climbing. She also makes some new friends. Flo has a crush on an insect that'll let you find out. I love all her Nat Enough books she made so far and if she makes a new one I'll get it.

[Peoria Public Library]

Katy rated it 3 stars

[Ashley]

Quick read, great story about a middle schooler. Important life lessons to be learned. Super easy read, good paced story line, great character development. I love how this story takes you full circle back to the issues of the first book. I love watching the girls grow up during the school. year and having the on who learned a lesson get to teach that lesson. Leaves you ready for the next book which doesn't come out until 2023 :( I inadvertently read books 2 and 3 today...

[Aaliyahhh]

Nat was scared to go to camp she was told there was a lake monster legend you had to take a swimming test to play the lake games and most of the games are lake games in camp also she wanted to see her best friend more at camp but she was scared.

[✨Veruca✨]

These punny titles are amazing🤣 This book felt like every other middle grade book I’ve read that takes place at a summer camp. Even though I did enjoy it(Flo is the absolute best), that’s probably why I rated it 4/5.

[Chris]

I wasn't aware that going to camp was such a common experience in childhood that two children's graphic novel series, Maria Scriven's Nat Enough series and Kayla Miller's Click series, would both cover it in just a couple years from each other. Yes, kids know of sleepaway camps, but I don't know how common and relatable the experience is. I'm being sincere. I really don't know how common it is.

Setting aside, this was another enjoyable Nat book. It actually feels like the final book in the series. The original Nat story focused on her friend Lily's dropping their friendship to be friends with another girl and Nat's dealing with the loneliness and isolation a friendship void leaves. In this story, Lily experiences that herself and, by the end, gains some perspective about the effect she had on her ex best friend. Meanwhile, annoying character Millie also opens up about why she is the way she is. These ongoing character interactions have been given some sort of closure.

Those were the best parts, and they're strong. The rest is just Nat's fear of swimming in the lake, which goes the way you would expect, and general silly stuff. I could do without showing the pets at home at the beginning of every chapter, functioning as something like commercial bumpers. But it's overall just fine.

I'll be curious to see where Scriven goes from here. Another Nat or a brand new project? I'll be here for it.

[Jennifer Noonan]

Natalie's story continues in this third installment of Maria Scrivan's Nat Enough series. It's time for summer camp! A time for any tween/teen that is filled with both excitement for new measures of independence, and cringe-worthy experiences brought on by both the natural environment and social pressures. This book delivers all of that with heartfelt realism. I enjoyed it, as I did the first two books. My absolutely favorite thing about this book though, was the inclusion of an amputee character - Kaia, who Scrivan uses to help Natalie overcome her fears of swimming in the camp's lake, and to reassure another character about her appearances. Because how people see you "has nothing to do with who you are." "I can be afraid," she says, "but it doesn't have to stop me."

While diversity and inclusion has improved in youth literature in the last few years, we still have plenty of room to grow in that area, and I would love to see a character like Kaia as the main character of a book - especially a graphic novel, where the visual format can make such a strong and clear impact on the reader.

Scrivan's illustration style is clear, and bold, which appeals to so many middle grade graphic novel readers who are fans of The Baby-Sitters Club, Raina Telgemeier, Victoria Jamieson, Svetlana Chmakova, Kayla Miller, Lucy Knisley, Vera Brosgol, etc.. I look forward to book 4!

[Cris]

Absolutely Nat

Nat is off to Camp Mosquito for the summer with her friends and classmates. Nat learns a valuable lesson while at camp, and so do some other kids.

[James]

I think this is a great book that helps to show people that it doesn't take that much to be brave. You don't have to not be scared, courage is being scared and doing it anyways. I recommend this book to all ages and is fun to read and gives a good message.

[Sakuna]

Cute book

[Sheila Bracken]

Nat is off to Camp Mosquito for the summer with her friends and classmates. Anyone who’s ever gone to summer camp will appreciate Natalie’s struggles as she heads off into the woods for the first time. Upon arriving, she soon realizes it isn't anything like the brochure. Instead of spending the summer with her best friends, Zoe and Flo, Natalie is stuck with her ex-BFF, Lily, and someone even more annoying than the endless mosquitoes: Millie Flatbottom. Even worse, she's constantly pushed out of her comfort zone and forced to come face-to-face with some of her greatest fears–demons of her own making, mostly.
Although summer camp isn't at all what Natalie expected, it could be exactly what she needs because she learns a valuable lesson while there: you can stay stuck or go forward, but you can't go back. It’s a lesson other kids benefit from as well.
Like many graphic novels, this one displays extraordinary artwork along with funny, relatable subject matter for students aged 8-12 as well as older students who prefer clean, light-hearted humor. It’s been a very long time since I went to summer camp, but I remember having strong feelings about not having enough time to spend with the friend who’d gone with me, having bunkmates with sleep apnea, suffering through every awful meal, and fighting off the constant onslaught of mosquitoes. It seems the best and worst things about summer camp haven’t changed. 3.5

[Christina]

Nat’s first time at summer camp is not at all what she expected, which has her feeling alone, anxious, and afraid. Her intense fear keeps her from fully joining in the camp experience like (mostly) everyone else and making the most of it.

Summer camps aim to maximize fun and create meaningful experiences and memories in a safe, inclusive environment. It’s a great place to try new things and make new friends. Since I’ve never done sleep-away/overnight camp, I was interested in seeing how Nat would navigate such an experience. It’s a struggle for sure and the threat of a “lake monster” and mosquitoes don’t help. But that huge step it takes sometimes to face fears changes everything for Nat.

Once more, Nat grows even more in this third book, along with other past characters. She’s really coming into her own and gaining confidence throughout an unforgettable summer.

Another terrific tale from Maria Scrivan. As always I loved the art and enjoyed the story. I liked that all the kids from the previous book were at the camp as well because it made Nat’s progress more of an impact.

[Lisa]

Natalie is spending the summer at Camp Mosquito with her best friend Zoe, but they didn't get the same cabin - and Nat has to share with Lily - her ex-BFF. The camp has a zillion mosquitos, AND there's probably a lake monster, and Natalie has to stretch herself to try some new things. Hiking, climbing, crafts - even getting into the lake (despite the monster). Maybe this camp situation is just what Natalie needs.

Oh this series is so much fun. I love the camp mishaps - so typical, the cabinmate that is too excited, the activities that aren't what you expected, counselors that are a little much, and making new friends. And the chapter openers, with what the cat and dog are doing at home were so funny! A great summer (or anytime) read.

Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com

[Mallory Wilson]

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