Big Nate: Nailed It!

Big Nate: Comics #28

by Lincoln Peirce

The newest pranks, adventures, and school drama from Big Nate, now an animated series on Paramount+ and Nickelodeon!

Big Nate is a legend at P.S. 38, where he and friends Francis, Teddy, Dee Dee, Chad, and others manage to make sixth grade interesting with all kinds of pranks, drama, sports, and good times. The all-time leader in detentions, Nate is never far from the spotlight, whether it's for a freak injury on the soccer field, Halloween costume fail, or stirring up a new episode in his long-running rivalry with grade-grubbing Gina or his teacher nemesis, Mrs. Godfrey. This new collection of Big Nate comics from Lincoln Peirce includes over 170 full-color comics and abundant laughs for the whole family, especially young readers ages 8 to 12.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Childrens, Comics, Humor, Juvenile, Fiction, Middle Grade

176 pages, Paperback

Published February 28, 2023

About the author

Lincoln Peirce is a cartoon artist from Portland, Maine. He lives with his wife and two children, and occasionally gives lectures to students about cartoon creating. Peirce writes the comic strip "Big Nate". Peirce's comic strip, Big Nate, is featured as an island on the famous children's website, Poptropica. Big Nate appears as the first cartoon on The Maine Sunday Telegram in the comics section.

He studied art at Colby College in Maine were he began cartooning. He also studied at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture before teaching art and coaching basketball at a New York highschool for 3 years. He currently plays hockey with "an old men's league" and describes it as his best sport as a child. In an interview with the Washington Post, Peirce stated that his last name is pronounced "purse" and is not a misspelling of "pierce."

Lincoln Peirce was a member of the "Surviving as a Print Cartoonist" Panel at the Maine Comics Art Festival with fellow cartoonists Corey Pandolph (Barkeater Lake, Toby: Robot Satan, The Elderberries), Norm Feuri (Retail, Gill) and with Mike Lynch moderating. On the panel Lincoln revealed he is currently working with some animation and licensing projects including the addition of a Big Nate island to the online game Poptropica.

Reviews

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big Nate graphic novels are very popular in my elementary school library. Nate and friends continue in their antics of playing pranks, drawing comics, going to detention, and trying to get out of school work. The art work is always colorful and consistently good. Big Nate is a perpetual 6th grader and the books are geared for ages 8-12. A couple of the storylines or jokes don’t fit for that young of readers. I don’t want to explain to a 3rd grader what erotica means. This would be more appropriate for a middle schooler than a younger elementary age reader. Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for a temporary ARC in exchange for a review.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peanuts 2.0 which is great praise coming from me. For me, Big Nate just about nails that spare art, silliness, and self-deprecation for which Charles Schulz was known. Always a party to read.

[Ema · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember when the last time I'd read about Nate Wright. Reminds me a lot of Calvin. I give 5 ⭐️ to entertain my evening✌️😁. Love his environment around friends and family. About Spitsy, Gina, Dee Dee, Mrs. Godfrey, Mrs. Czerwicki, Chad, Francis. Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher, Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing an earc.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Wow, it is SO FUNNY and I would like you to buy some Big Nate books for me!" Kieron, age 8

From a parents perspective, I had perused the pages and it seemed appropriate based on the age rating and what I read, and that there are so many other Big Nate books.. but when my son asked what erotica was I knew this missed the mark. We're an open conversation household and I explained at an age appropriate level but.. I wasn't expecting a children's book to bring that conversation up. Also a bit young of an audience for worrying about girlfriends/boyfriends.

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Laura Ge]

peak literature

[Amber Hayes Roessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Nate is a popular series in my house. My son reads it all the time and loves to share all the funny situations that Nate finds himself in, especially those involving Mrs. Godfrey.

In this book, Nate finds a lucky pencil and he finds his luck starts improving. He gets a better grade on a test, he makes friends with a popular crowd, and instead of a pop quiz, Mrs. Godfrey gives a "popcorn" party. There are several funny parts, but the funniest was probably Prank Day. This is a part that would interest kids like my son, The kids play pranks on teachers, such as six inches of tomato sauce on the floor of the teachers' lounge, helium pumped in the principal's office before he makes announcements, and a family of skunks locked in Mrs. Godfrey's minivan.

As always, the jokes and dialogue are funny and definitely aimed at the intended audience. I will be purchasing this for my son and I am glad that Peirce continues to keep this series going.

Thanks to NetGalley and Andrew McMeel Publishing for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the Big Nate series is the kind of story that will appeal to middle grade readers, and especially to fans of Peirce's other books. It's packed with humor and the school setting lends itself to the problems that Nate tends to find himself in. There are short story arcs of Nate playing mud football, lounging on the couch with a friend, and longer ones where Nate is in search of a good luck charm and landing himself in detention. The full color artwork and little black and white illustrations that Nate draws follow Peirce's original style. I even like the speech bubbles, they're fun and silly. There's a little sly adult humor thrown in (the Erotic book comment, and the not being able to have grandchildren joke) but nothing too over the top. So, this will be a perfect fit for a reluctant reader looking for something humorous to read. Something in the vein of The Terrible Two series by Mac Barnett.

**A huge thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review. **

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for my eARC of BIG NATE: NAILED IT!

I read this book with my 8-year-old and, while the graphic illustrations were very well-done, the story just fell a little flat for us.

Nate spends most of his time getting into trouble, drawing comics, and playing pranks on others. Some of these were entertaining and we did enjoy the side characters. Unfortunately, Nate wasn't our favorite. This book struggled to hold my son's attention but we finished it to see how everything played out.

If you're a fan of Big Nate, I'm sure you'll enjoy this one! If not, you'll probably pass like we did.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Big Nate books have always been extremely popular with my 4th and 5th grade library patrons and while this particular title is very funny and well-illustrated, the relatable 6th grade characters and situations should not include the words “erotica,” “lust,” nor have references to making out and lips meeting sweet lips. Not when the target audience is grades 3-6. I’m very surprised at this change from what has always been a purely funny graphic novel with a likeable, albeit not popular, prankster kid with funny hair who plays baseball and seems to be content with his niche in family and at school.

Thanks for the finished copy, Andrews McMeel Publishing.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Andrews McMeel Publishing, for the advance reading copy.

For Big Nate’s series fan like myself, it is a fun read! I cannot believe they are in sixth grade now. So much is going on in their lives. Nate, Teddy, Chad are all having a crazy time in this one.

I like the story and it’s the way it’s always been but they are growing up so fast! I was a bit uncomfortable reading the last few pages as I feel the art sequence is a bit congested. I hope it turns out better in the physical copy.

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book in the Big Nate series. We get to see all of our favorites as they have new adventures. Spitsy has some hiccups in his path to love with Pickles (who turns out to be a decent chess player.) Francis and Teddy continue to be his best friends. Sherman has a little time outside of his cage. Mrs. Czerwicki continues to monitor the detention room.
Nate struggles with love when Todd Dunfy has a girlfriend. He also looks for a good luck charm but it quickly goes away. We also get a series of strips where Nate discusses his rather unique hair-style.

[Jack Donohue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, for the ARC!
~~~

It’s been a very long time since I’ve read any of these books, and they’re still how I remember them! Funny in a clever way, entertaining and tiny story arcs, and surprisingly very inappropriate jokes that will NOT fly over kids heads. Still funny though, just a warning for any parents looking for kids books. Still recommend.

[Jennyfer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Nate is back again in another fun-filled book. This year Nate navigates the minefield of relationships and middleschool in his own unique fashion,

A little bit Peanuts, a little bit Calvin and Hobbes and a whole lot of unique Big Nate style, my kiddo devoured it!


~Many thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review~

[Ag · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first Nate book we ever read. Somehow, we missed the fact that there is a whole Nate book series out there! My child says the book was fun and interesting! And now I will have to get her all the other Nate books to read also. What I noticed while she was reading the book: giggles. Lots of giggles. That alone says that the book is fun.

[Joy Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My daughter loves Lincoln Peirce's books. Her rankings are Max the knight series, and Big Nate graphic novels, and then the comics. The characters in this installment is 4 grades higher than her, so she found their humour a bit hard-to- get at times, but nevertheless still enjoyed reading the comic strips.

[Beth (what.beth.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I handed over this review to my 10 year old, who loves graphic novels! She said it was quick and easy read and she would read it again. She recommends it to other kids who like Big Nate books and similar graphic novels. Thank you to the publisher for the advanced graphic novel via Netgalley, receipt of which did not impact our review.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read a Big Nate book before so I decided to pick this one up from our summer reading list. What a fun time! It had humor in it that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults and the short storylines were easily consumable. I see the appeal now!

[Cooper Rush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes I really liked the comedy and I love everything about the whole series!😀

[Zaylee Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

It so fun to read and we love it!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun times. Fun times. And there were multiple Sherman the hamster sightings. Although he had a pretty long tail for a hamster.

Another addition to the Big Nate canon and so much fun.

[Zoe Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

good shit

[Abigail Young · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really? Not expecting my kid to ask me what "erotica" was when reading a book aimed at elementary school readers. No. Just no.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never a bad day for big nate

[Susan Versen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never disappoint

This book has a bunch of story's with still a bunch of good filler comics. Great author and always good book to have in your kindle library.

[Lilia Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing like a book written for 12 year old boys to make me crack up

[Naisha Jhunjhunwala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny book

[Ralph B · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone accustomed to reading history, political science, historical fiction and other morose genres that make you wonder if the human race will ever learn from its own mistakes, this Big Nate book of cartoons is a real palate cleanser. You don't have to be a retired middle school teacher to appreciate the laugh-out-loudity of this book or others in the Lincoln Peirce collection, but it does give one an edge.

Admittedly, I don't go a day without reading Big Nate's antics in the daily funnies. It can be a big lift if one pays too close attention to the latest election horse race. Following whatever theme the cartoonist is exploring with Nate Wright is much easier in these book collections: Nate as couples counselor, socks that reek, dog versus cat affinities and, of course, Kim's amorous pursuit of Nate. One just turns the page instead of waiting for the next day's newspaper.

Not the first Big Nate cartoon collection I've read, and not the last. It may be just the emotional break I need after 5-6 books of war, duplicity and political shenanigans.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nate's life is packed with clever moments, silly situations, and things which simply deserve a smirk or a smile.

Middle school is anything but boring or predictable with Nate, his family, and especially his friends. The situations range from cute to heart-touching (in a bitter-sweet, silly way) to simply hilarious. Nate is always on top of his game...at least, as far as he's concerned...and masters the weirdness that life throws at him with ridiculous finesse...more or less. The entire gang is fun to meet every single time and I always look forward to seeing what will come next because it's definitely not predictable.

The illustrations carry the expected quality and bring everything nicely across. The text is no problem to read and the speech bubbles are always well done. There is a joke or two, which are adult orientated (why thrown in things like 'erotica'?), but they are quick-overs and only hit in two spots. Still, some parents will want to know this before letting their middle-schooler dive in. Otherwise, it's a fun read and Nate doesn't disappoint.
I received a DRC from the publisher and enjoyed this one quite a bit (am still a Big Nate fan!)

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is generally a waste of time reviewing Big Nate books, for his huge range of fans won't care what anyone else says. Except, of course, for the fact that they are still strong fun, and not exclusively so for the under-tens they're aimed at. Here, Nate thinks he's found a good luck charm, gets his hair verbally abused, and gets trumped at the pitching machine by Artur, of all people. Still, at least it wasn't Gina – who gets to have other plans when spying Nate up to no good once again. A strong four stars, as always.