Big Nate: In a Class by Himself facts for kids
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| Author | Lincoln Peirce |
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| Series | Big Nate |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
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Publication date
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March 23, 2010 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback and Hardcover) |
| Pages | 214 |
| ISBN | 0061944343 |
| LC Class | PZ7.P361Bi 2010 |
| Followed by | Big Nate: Strikes Again |
Big Nate: In a Class by Himself is a super funny book for kids, based on the popular Big Nate comic strip! It was written and drawn by an American cartoonist named Lincoln Peirce. This book is the very first one in the Big Nate novel series. It came out on March 23, 2010, and was even nominated for a Children's Choice Book Award! In some countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia, it's called Big Nate: The Boy with the Biggest Head in the World.
Contents
Nate's Big Day
The story begins with Nate Wright waking up to a normal morning. He has lumpy oatmeal for breakfast and deals with his older sister, Ellen. Nate thinks there's a big test at school because his best friend, Francis, is studying. Nate worries about failing and having to go to summer school! He tries to write a fake excuse note, but Francis catches him. Francis tells Nate there's no test, he was just reading for fun.
At school, Nate realizes he forgot his lunch. His other best friend, Teddy, offers to share his food. Teddy gives Nate a fortune cookie. Nate opens it, and it says: "Today you will surpass all others."
A Day Full of Trouble
Nate doesn't usually believe fortune cookies, but he decides to believe this one! His school day starts in homeroom with Mrs. Godfrey, his social studies teacher. Nate is caught looking at a list of funny nicknames for Mrs. Godfrey. She gives him his first detention slip.
In English class, Nate yells at his rival, Gina, for making fun of a love poem he wrote for his crush, Jenny. Ms. Clarke, his English teacher, catches him and gives him another detention.
During art class with Mr. Rosa, Nate sees that his frenemy, Artur, has his picture in the spotlight. Nate tries to get Mr. Rosa to put his own picture there instead. When Mr. Rosa says no, Nate tries to switch the pictures himself. He ends up damaging the display case and gets his third detention slip!
Lunchtime Chaos
At lunch, Nate tries to break a world record for eating. He wants to eat 60 hot dogs or 45 slices of pizza very fast. But guess what? Neither hot dogs nor pizza are being served! Instead, Francis dares Nate to eat 148 servings of green beans, which Nate hates.
Nate starts eating the green beans, but Principal Nichols notices all the noise. He yells at Nate, who accidentally spits green beans onto the table. Principal Nichols declares lunch over and tells Nate to clean up the mess. Then, the principal slips in a puddle of bean juice! He takes Nate to his office and gives him his fourth detention slip.
More Detentions!
Because of the green bean mess, Nate is late for gym class. He tries to wash the green bean juice off his face in the locker room. But water spills on his gym shorts, making it look like he wet his pants! Nate can't find other shorts, so he grabs a big pair that belongs to the substitute gym teacher, Coach John. Coach John thinks Nate is making fun of him. So, Nate has to run extra laps and gets another detention slip.
In Math class, Mr. Staples gives a surprise quiz. Nate thinks there are only twelve questions and finishes super fast. But when time is up, Nate finds out the quiz has a back side with eight more questions! He only did the front. Nate tries to finish the back, but Mr. Staples catches him. Nate won't hand in the unfinished quiz, and they have a "tug of war." The quiz rips in half, and Nate gets another detention slip.
During Science class, Nate tries to make Mr. Galvin, his science teacher, laugh. Mr. Galvin is known for never smiling. Nate's jokes don't work, and Mr. Galvin takes Nate's pen. The pen stains Mr. Galvin's shirt, and Nate laughs. This makes Mr. Galvin give Nate his seventh and final detention slip of the day!
The Fortune Comes True
At the end of the day, Nate heads to detention. He remembers the last time he was in detention. He got five detentions for throwing a pie at a kid named Randy. Back in the present, Nate arrives at the detention room. The monitor, Mrs. Czerwicki, tells Nate that he got more detention slips in one day than anyone else in the school's history – seven!
Nate realizes his fortune cookie came true: he "surpassed all others" by getting the most detentions! Nate is happy about this and signs a drawing on his desk: "By NATE WRIGHT, SCHOOL RECORD HOLDER."
Meet the Characters
Here are some of the main characters you'll meet in Big Nate: In a Class by Himself:
- Nate Wright - The main character! He's a funny, sometimes a bit full of himself, sixth-grader who loves to draw cartoons.
- Teddy Ortiz - Nate's good friend. He's known for being a bit annoying but always there for Nate.
- Francis Pope - Nate's other best friend. He's super smart and often tries to keep Nate out of trouble.
- Marty Wright "Dad" - Nate's dad. He's a bit clueless and known for making really bad food.
- Ellen Wright - Nate's older sister. She's the opposite of Nate and is a favorite of Mrs. Godfrey.
- Mrs. Clara Godfrey - Nate's social studies teacher. Nate really dislikes her and has many nicknames for her. She gives Nate a lot of detentions!
- Gina Hemphill-Toms - Nate's rival and Mrs. Godfrey's favorite student.
- Jenny Jenkins - Nate's crush. She doesn't like Nate back and is dating Artur.
- Artur Pashkov - Jenny's boyfriend and Nate's frenemy. He's from Belarus and is very lucky, which annoys Nate. Artur thinks Nate is his friend.
- Principal Wesley Nichols - The school principal. He gives Nate detention for making a mess with green beans.
- Coach John - A substitute gym teacher. He gives Nate detention for wearing his shorts, thinking Nate was mocking him.
- Ms. Clarke - Nate's English teacher. She gives Nate detention for yelling at Gina.
- Mr. Staples - Nate's math teacher. He gives Nate detention for ripping his math quiz. He also tells corny jokes.
- Mr. Galvin - Nate's science teacher. He's known for being boring and never smiling. He gives Nate detention for laughing at him.
- Ken Rosa - Nate's art teacher. He gives Nate detention for damaging the art display case.
- Ms. Shipulski - Principal Nichols's secretary.
- Ms. Czerwicki - The detention monitor who tells Nate he broke the school record.
- Randy Betancourt - A kid who was Nate's rival in a flashback.
