The third installment in Lincoln Peirce's Big Nate series finds Nate in detention, though he swears it's not his fault. Detention, unfortunately, means Nate doesn't get his attendance badge for his Timber Scout troop, since he's missing half of the meeting. On his way to the meeting, he loses his skateboard. When he finally arrives, Nate learns the troop has a new member: irritatingly perfect Artur. The day turns around when Nate hears that the troop is participating in a fund-raising competition; first prize is a customized skateboard. Nate tries to prove he's the best salesman--not an easy task when compared to the utterly charming and business-savvy Artur. Never one to shrink from a challenge, Nate uses various tactics and schemes to make sure he comes out on top. He tries everything from old-fashioned door-to-door sales to distracting Artur with a girl, Nate's archenemy Gina. Readers will laugh and cheer Nate on as his schemes bring him closer to his goal.
This latest book from Peirce is a gem: funny, relatable and highly engaging. Nate is an ordinary boy with extraordinary ambition. His voice draws in the reader, as though Nate is talking just to you, his old friend. Nate's comics appear throughout and often show flashbacks or imagined scenarios. Though third in a series, Big Nate on a Roll stands on its own as a perfect pick for reluctant and avid readers. --Kyla Paterno, retail coordinator, Garfield Book Company