Customer Reviews

I Smell a Pop Quiz!: A Big Nate Book

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I SMELL A POP QUIZ!, a compilation of "Big Nate" comic strips by Lincoln Peirce, starts with 11-year-old Nate Wright suffering through the waning days of summer vacation, dreading the start of another school year. By the end of his first day at P.S. 38, he's in detention. And that's the way the year goes: his genius and savoir-faire go unappreciated, except by Big Nate himself. At school, he's pitted against mean Mrs. Godfrey, bombastic Coach John, and Chester, the short-tempered pituitary case. At home, embarrassing Dad is handing out dried apricots at Halloween. But sometimes Nate can chalk up a victory. He's a pretty good chess player (though not as good as Artur) and a pretty good soccer goalie. He's a pretty good kid, too--in his own way.

Fans of "Big Nate" identify with the storylines and characters according to their own ages and tastes and life experiences. I have a soft spot in my heart for Mr. Rosa, the long-suffering art teacher and chess team adviser.

I SMELL A POP QUIZ! ends with Big Nate on summer vacation again, trying to get his beloved Jenny--finally!--to give him the time of day. "It's one-thirty," she says. "Time for you to get out of my face."

Reading this "Big Nate" book is--believe it or not--more fun than reading the daily comic strip because the book format gives us time to linger in Big Nate's world. Instead of a quick visit over the breakfast table, we get to spend as much time as we want with Nate, Francis, Teddy, Gina, Spitsy, School Picture Guy, and all the other funny "Big Nate" characters created by Lincoln Peirce. It's time well spent.

Brian Daly

My kids love Big Nate! Both kids (ages 8 and 10) think he's hilarious and I do too. There's lots of references to "Jenny" his love and other girls which the younger child doesn't relate to at all, but are very funny. Great comic.

For those of you who like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, but don't like its negativity, here's a fresh look at middle grades. The comics are well-drawn, the jokes age-appropriate, and there's almost no potty-humor! Plus, Nate doesn't make fun of the nice kids hanging around him. It's much less edgy, but just as funny, as Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

This is a great way to get to know the characters in Big Nate. If you haven't read this strip about an eccentric 11 year old self-described genius and all-time PS 38 school record-holder for detentions, you're missing one of the best strips currently available. Pierce has a good eye (and ear)and is worth every dollar for this book!

"Big Nate" is one of the funniest strips in print, consistently fresh and often downright hilarious. This book is a great collection of some fairly recent strips, but Big Nate has been around since 1991, why aren't there more books!?!?

My son is a HUGE Lincoln Peirce fan. He's read all the "Big Nate" books without setting them down. (He's a struggling reader). He wanted to have a "collection" of his books and thought he'd enjoy this one. I didn't want to pay the high price, but he earned enough money to pay for it himself. He didn't "get into it" like he did the other books. He told me he couldn't read many of the words, and I don't think it followed a story line. Maybe it's for older readers? I didn't read it myself, so I can't say.

I have not yet read this book - - it is a birthday or Christmas gift for my grandson, Nate, but I know he will love it. He also is a great fan of the "Nate The Great" books. Her thought they were written about him.