Big Nate: On a Roll

Big Nate: On a Roll is a realistic fiction novel by American cartoonist Lincoln Peirce, based on the comic strip Big Nate. It is the third book in the Big Nate novel series, followed by Big Nate Goes for Broke, released on August 16, 2011. It is aimed at children aged 8 to 12. It was published by HarperCollins Publishers.^[1]

Plot

Nate is in detention, as earlier his art teacher Mr. Rosa asks him to hold a ladder for his rival Artur, so that he can paint the scenery for the school play. However Artur accidentally drips paint on Nate, landing in his eye, and having him knock over the ladder. Rosa is angry at Nate, and gives him detention, continuing to the setting he is in right now. Detention is over, and Nate tries to get to the scout troop meeting in his best friend Teddy's house on his skateboard, which lands in oily water under a bridge (due to him landing into a woman's dog's stretched leash). This results in Nate having to walk and being late and ultimately missing the meeting. To make matters worse, his best friend Francis and Teddy tell him they have great news: Artur has joined their scout troop, much to Nate's horror. Nate is also angry because he would've gotten the whole attendance merit badge in addition to the ones he already has, because he has to attend all 26 meetings (six months), and missed the 25th meeting, meaning he has to start all over again. The meeting ends, and Artur offers to give Nate and Francis rides home in his mother's car, but they both agree to walk. As the two are walking home, Nate asks Francis what happened during the meeting. Francis tells Nate they talked about their fundraiser, where they have to sell Warm Fuzzies, wall hangings with little statements underneath (which Nate says are horrible), as they need money for their camping gear. Francis also mentions the prizes, which Nate wants to know about. After Francis tells about the prizes, he leaves Nate with the brochure. After Nate finds out what the grand prize is, it motivates Nate to sell warm fuzzies (despite what Nate said about them). When Nate meets Teddy and Francis at his mailbox, Nate tells them how he'll sell the warm fuzzies. Francis tells Nate that Artur's his competition. When Nate's at school, he sees Artur sucking up to Mr. Galvin, Nate's science teacher, and calls Artur the biggest suck-up in P.S. 38. After Nate sees Gina, Nate's arch enemy, sucking up to Mrs. Godfrey, Nate's social studies teacher, he (Nate) calls Artur the second biggest suck-up in P.S. 38 and also says that Gina's ahead. Nate also says that the teachers always falling for the sucking up bugs him and thinks that they're made for each other and calls them the perfect couple because they both get on the honor roll, they both annoy Nate, and they never get in trouble. The problem is that Artur goes out with Jenny, Nate's crush, and Nate thinks he's a better match for Jenny than Artur and says that he's known her longer. Nate thinks of a way to convince Artur to go out with Gina and dump Jenny so Nate can go out with Jenny. Nate opens his locker to "Sweep Jenny off her feet". Instead, Nate trashes himself in his own locker, which makes him a laughingstock. Jenny comes in and calls Nate a slob and Artur suggests that if Nate cleans his locker, it won't be messy.^[2]

Characters

These characters appear in the book:^[1]

• Nate Wright - The main protagonist.
• Francis Pope - Nate's highly intelligent best friend.
• Teddy Ortiz - Nate's comedic and jokester best friend.
• Artur Pashkov - Nate's nemesis and Jenny's boyfriend; a Belarusian exchange student, who is mild-mannered and unassuming, and unawaringly annoys Nate by his superiority at everything and his great luck. In the book, he is the "main antagonist" (on Nate's side, at least), as Nate is trying to win the grand prize (a new skateboard) on his scout troop and has to beat Artur (as he is sure Artur'll win), by selling Warm Fuzzies door-to-door. Nate tries to sabotage Artur, by using many attempts that backfire (such as his attempt to get Artur to be attracted to Gina, which results in Artur muffling it up into Nate is attracted to Gina). Though in the end, Artur wins the second place prize (a telescope), and congratulates Nate on winning the skateboard.
• Chad Applewhite - One of Nate's friends; a chubby, red-haired, freckled boy. Like the previous books, he plays a minor role in the book.
• Marty Wright - Nate's divorced, middle-aged father.
• Ellen Wright - Nate's older sister.
• Gordie - Ellen's boyfriend. He works at the comics store, Klassic Comix, where Nate tried to sell his comic book, Nate's Komix Krack-Up, but was unsuccessful.
• Don Eustis - Nate's middle-aged bachelor neighbour, who owns the idiotic and pathetic dog, Spitsy. In the book, he plays a minor role; asking Nate to walk Spitsy, ending Nate in horrible pain.
• Spitsy - The moronic and pathetic pet dog of Nate's next-door neighbour, Mr. Eustis. In the book, like his owner, he plays a minor role, where Nate agrees to walk him, causing him serious pain.
• Jenny Jenkins - Nate's love interest and Artur's girlfriend.

• Gina (forgot last name) - Is Nate's other nemisis who has a very high IQ and brags about it.Also Nate and Gina have had bad times together.

Reception

The book has received positive acclaim. School Library Journal praised the book that the main character Nate "delivers what fans come to expect", and Kirkus Reviews called the book the "slickest of the series".

References