Big Nate: In the Zone facts for kids
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| Author | Lincoln Peirce |
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| Illustrator | Lincoln Peirce |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Big Nate |
| Genre | Comedy Children's novel Comic strip |
| Publisher | HarperCollins Publishers |
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Publication date
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2014 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback and Hardcover) |
| Pages | 224 |
| ISBN | 9780061996658 |
| Preceded by | Big Nate: Flips Out |
| Followed by | Big Nate: Blasts Off |
Big Nate: In the Zone is an exciting book by American cartoonist Lincoln Peirce. It's the sixth book in the popular Big Nate series, based on his funny comic strip. Published in 2014 by HarperCollins Publishers, this story is all about Nate Wright and his wild adventures. It explores themes of luck, friendship, and finding your own "zone."
Contents
About Big Nate: In the Zone
This book follows Nate Wright, a sixth-grader who often finds himself in tricky situations. Nate is known for his love of comics and his big dreams. The story dives into what happens when Nate feels like everything is going wrong.
Nate's Bad Luck Streak
The book starts with Nate having a really tough time. His friend Teddy accidentally ruins his important school project. This leads to Nate getting into trouble with Principal Nichols. Nate feels like he's stuck in a streak of bad luck.
He's getting low grades, has to deal with cavities, and seems to be the target of jokes. Even his crush, Jenny, is dating Artur, which makes Nate feel even worse. He tries to cheer himself up by drawing a comic about "Ultra-Nate," a superhero version of himself.
The Fitness Zone and a New Song
Nate and his friend Chad get detention for an accident with a beanbag chair. While fixing it, they learn about a new "fitness zone" at school. This new program means all the snacks in the vending machines are now super healthy!
Principal Nichols then asks Nate to write a song for the fitness zone. Nate's band, Enslave The Mollusk (ETM), gets the job. This also means Nate and Chad's detentions are canceled. Artur, who is a good singer, is asked to help with the lyrics.
However, Nate's bad luck strikes again. Artur sees a list of funny nicknames Nate made for him and gets upset. Artur quits the band, leaving ETM without a lead singer. Nate, despite not being the best singer, steps up to take the lead.
The Lucky Foot Charm
Nate's first performance with ETM doesn't go well. He gets nervous and forgets the words, making the band a laughingstock. A seventh-grader named Marcus Goode especially teases Nate. After this, Nate gets his report card, which shows a D in Social Studies.
Feeling down, Nate's friend Chad gives him a "lucky foot" charm. Nate calls it "the Foot." Suddenly, Nate's luck changes completely! He makes an amazing basketball shot, a math test is postponed, and he even finds money.
Nate Gets "In the Zone"
With the lucky foot, Nate becomes incredibly popular. He starts drawing on his sneakers, and everyone wants a pair. He becomes the MVP in soccer games and gets perfect scores on his tests. Nate feels like he's "in the zone," where everything goes right.
However, Nate realizes he's becoming a bit like Artur, who he used to envy. He decides to ask Artur to rejoin ETM. Artur agrees, and things start looking up for the band again.
Field Day Challenges
Coach Calhoun announces Field Day, a day of sports and fun. Marcus Goode, the bully, makes a bet that the sixth-graders won't win any events. He also makes fun of Chad. Maya, who used to be with Marcus, stands up for Chad and breaks up with Marcus. Nate then gives the lucky foot to Chad, hoping it will help Chad and Maya get together.
But then, the lucky foot goes missing! It ends up in Mrs. Godfrey's desk. On Field Day, the sixth-graders are given sports they aren't good at. Nate has to do hurdles and trips, losing the race.
The last event is the three-legged race. Nate and Artur team up to make sure Chad and Maya are partners. Marcus and his partner don't work well together, but Chad and Maya do! This helps Nate win the bet against Marcus.
A Second Chance for ETM
The next week, an assembly is announced for ETM to have a second chance to perform. Nate reveals that if he had lost the bet, he would have had to act like Marcus for a week. He announces that Marcus is about to be embarrassed.
ETM's song is a huge success! Marcus is embarrassed in front of the whole school. Chad even accidentally hits Marcus with a bottle, all without the lucky foot. This shows Nate that he doesn't need a charm to be lucky or "in the zone."
Main Characters
- Nate Wright: The main character, a rebellious and funny sixth-grader.
- Chad Applewhite: One of Nate's good friends.
- Marcus Goode: A seventh-grade bully and Nate's rival.
- Teddy Ortiz: Nate's best friend.
- Maya: Chad's crush and later girlfriend.
- Artur Pashkov: Jenny's exchange student boyfriend and the singer of ETM.
- Francis Pope: Another one of Nate's best friends.
- Jenny Jenkins: Nate's crush, who finds Nate annoying.
