# Big Nate: In a Class by Himself

**Author:** Lincoln Peirce
**Lexile:** 500L
**Grade range:** Grades 4–7
**Age range:** 9–12
**First published:** 2010
**Page count:** 224
**Genre:** Middle Grade Graphic Novel
**ISBN-13:** `9780061944345`
**ISBN-10:** `0061944343`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/big-nate-in-a-class-by-himself
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

Sixth-grader Nate Wright is sure a fortune cookie predicting he'll 'surpass all others' is finally his day to shine — but detentions, dodgeball, and his arch-rival keep getting in the way. The cartoon-packed first Big Nate novel by the comic-strip creator is a grades 4-7 favorite for reluctant readers.

## Themes

- humor
- school
- friendship

## Where this book is assigned

### Garden State Children's Book Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · New Jersey — [source: New Jersey Library Association — Garden State Children's Book Award selections (statewide children's-choice program; students vote, since 1977)](https://www.njla.org/garden-state-book-awards)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · New Jersey — [source: New Jersey Library Association — Garden State Children's Book Award selections (statewide children's-choice program; students vote, since 1977)](https://www.njla.org/garden-state-book-awards)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · New Jersey — [source: New Jersey Library Association — Garden State Children's Book Award selections (statewide children's-choice program; students vote, since 1977)](https://www.njla.org/garden-state-book-awards)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · New Jersey — [source: New Jersey Library Association — Garden State Children's Book Award selections (statewide children's-choice program; students vote, since 1977)](https://www.njla.org/garden-state-book-awards)

### Kentucky Bluegrass Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · Kentucky — [source: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)](https://www.kasl.us/kba/kba-winners-circle)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Kentucky — [source: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)](https://www.kasl.us/kba/kba-winners-circle)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Kentucky — [source: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)](https://www.kasl.us/kba/kba-winners-circle)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Kentucky — [source: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)](https://www.kasl.us/kba/kba-winners-circle)

## Banned / challenged record

Documented removals or formal challenges in at least one school district in 1 state: FL. Source: [PEN America's Index of School Book Bans](https://pen.org/banned-book-list/) 2022-2024.

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