34 pages • 1-hour read
Better Nate Than Ever
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Essay Topics
Nate Foster is perceived one way in Jankburg and another in New York. Describe these different perceptions. Why do they exist?
Food and clothing in New York fascinate Nate. What does he find so appealing about both in the big city?
How does Libby’s arrival in Jankburg change Nate’s life? What role does she play in helping Nate realize his dream?
Explain the meaning of the novel’s title. Is it simply a play on words, or does it imply something more?
How does Aunt Heidi’s life parallel Nate’s? How does it differ?
Nate spends a great deal of time describing the differences between Jankburg and New York. List three differences between the two places. What is Nate’s opinion of each place and why?
How do Broadway musicals function to drive the plot?
Describe Nate’s mother, Sherrie Foster. How is she different from her sister Heidi? How are they similar? What drove the sisters apart and why?
Does Nate’s perception of himself change over the course of the novel? How so? What drives such change?
Does Nate’s trip to New York change his family in any way? How so? What drives such change?
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