Better Nate Than Ever

Content Warning: Better Nate Than Ever contains sensitive material, such as bullying and LGBTQ-related slurs.

Better Nate Than Ever (2013) is the first book in a trilogy about Broadway hopeful Nate Foster; the next two titles in the series are Five, Six, Seven, Nate! (2014) and Nate Expectations (2018). The novel is intended for middle grade and young adult readers but may also appeal to adult fans of theater-related fiction. Author Tim Federle and the fictional Nate share a similar background, with the former having been a Broadway dancer who grew up in Pittsburgh—an environment similar to the latter’s town of Jankburg, Pennsylvania. In addition to the Nate Series, Federle has written several humorous cocktail recipe books. He was also the showrunner and producer for High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019) on Disney Plus. Better Nate Than Ever was adapted into a Disney Plus original movie in 2022.

In following Nate's tribulations and triumphs, the novel examines themes of Small Town Versus Big City, Standing Out in Context, and The Courage to Dream.

This study guide is based on the Kindle edition of the novel.

Plot Summary

13-year-old Nate Foster is considered an oddball in his small hometown of Jankburg, Pennsylvania. He’s short and slightly overweight, in addition to having a pronounced underbite. These physical traits and his love of singing make him the target of school bullies. Nate dreams of performing in a Broadway show. This dream causes those around Nate to assume he is gay, even though he hasn’t figured out his sexual orientation yet. Nate is treated as an embarrassment to his traditional parents and 16-year-old brother Anthony, a local sports star.

Only one person in Jankburg seems to relate to Nate—his best friend, Libby. The two share a passion for theater and stage many private performances in basements and backyards. One day, Libby learns that E.T.: The Musical is being cast in New York. Open auditions will be held on October 30th for child actors, and Libby convinces Nate to try out for the role of Elliott without his family knowing; the Fosters will be away celebrating their 17th wedding anniversary, and Anthony is focused on a track meet. Unseen, Nate slips away early that morning to board a Greyhound bus for New York.

Nate is thrilled by the sights, people, and food of the Big Apple (leading up to Halloween). Before he finds his way to the audition studio, he gets caught in a rainstorm and needs to buy a quick change of clothes; his new outfit makes him look like a rap singer. Nate realizes his mistake when he gets to the audition and sees over 100 children dressed appropriately for roles in the show. He is further demoralized by many of children being experienced, musically talented actors. He’s also worried when the audition application calls for the signature of an adult unless an applicant is over 18. Nate lies and says he’s 21. The casting assistant reads Nate’s form and gets ready to kick him out when his Aunt Heidi suddenly appears to vouch for him.

Heidi is Nate’s mother’s younger sister, but they are estranged and haven’t spoken for years. She arrived because a panicked Anthony called her once he discovered his brother missing, and Libby confessed to where he’d gone. Nate pleads with Heidi to let him complete the audition before sending him back. Because she was once an actress herself, Heidi softens and takes Nate shopping for a suitable outfit. When they return to the studio, Nate is sent before the casting team with 49 other children. Although he is inexperienced, Nate thinks he makes a good impression. The casting crew breaks for lunch and announces the finalists who will be called back in the afternoon. Nate isn’t among them.

Heartbroken, Nate lets Heidi drag him to the bus station. Before Nate boards, he is able to briefly charge his dead cell phone. He bids his aunt farewell and gets on a Greyhound. Turning on his phone, he receives a message that his name was left off the callback list in error. Nate immediately gets off the bus and races back to the studio.

Nate exhibits odd behavior during his callback. Despite his awkwardness, he garners a favorable reaction from his audience. At the end of the day, the casting crew asks him to stay in New York a few days longer. He agrees but needs to find a place to sleep. Nate tracks down Heidi at the restaurant where she works and asks to stay at her apartment.

While waiting for Heidi’s shift to end, Nate receives a message that he’s too old to play Elliott. He is devastated by the rejection, but Heidi is sympathetic. Heidi and her coworker Freckles take Nate to their apartment.

At three in the morning, Nate is awakened by Heidi and told to get dressed because his mother is on the way. Nate’s mother arrives tipsy after drinking and driving nonstop from Pennsylvania. She and Heidi have a confrontation, and Freckles takes Nate to a restaurant for breakfast. Later that morning, Nate gets an unexpected callback: He may be a perfect fit for the role of E.T.

Nate goes back for a final audition and returns to the apartment to await the verdict, resigning himself to rejection. Meanwhile, Nate’s mother and Heidi have talked through their differences and managed to reconcile. As Nate’s mother prepares to take her son home, the phone rings. Nate feels that he’s gotten the role of E.T., and his mother expresses her support.