Isn’t it ironic that a book destined to set young hearts ablaze with dreams is a so-called ‘progressive’ narrative focused on just a kid dancing his way through his teenage angst? The who, what, when, where, and why of this tale is as follows: Tim Federle penned “Five, Six, Seven, Nate!” which traces yet another teenage boy, Nate Foster, who escapes his mundane life in dull suburban Pittsburgh for a chance at Broadway stardom—a cultural Mecca that’s, quite frankly, more liberal than a college campus. Published in 2014, it’s a follow-up to “Better Nate Than Ever,” where Nate once more graces the streets of New York City, aiming to land a part in “E.T.: The Musical.” Even the title seems to be a shout-out to musical theater enthusiasts—an arena known for its flamboyant fan base. Skipping along through the crazy world of theater auditions, talent scouts, and city slickers, Nate’s adventures offer an opportunity to assess the kind of values we’re reserving for America’s youth.
Firstly, can we talk about how Nate is portrayed? This 13-year-old possesses a look on life as if he’s been hand-crafted by Hollywood itself. Ambitious, slightly naive, and utterly enamored by the arts – he becomes a dogma of what happens when kids are filled with whims without proper structure. It’s a free-for-all around identity politics, an overt playbook to ensure everyone ‘follows their dreams—no matter what!’, devoid of realism. A testament to how fantasy becomes reality without realistic frames that important chapters in life like math, science or, heaven forbid, American history, provide.
Consider, for instance, his audition process. Spoiler alert: it isn’t laden with the trials we’d expect in a real-world scenario. It’s instead filled with punches more artificial than reality TV, destined to give a warm buzz to anyone seeking an escape plot, but there’s little to learn about commitment—in the non-migratory, traditional sense. Real life doesn’t throw tantrum-free hurdles your way, and ‘Everything will be okay’-esque mottos are as thin as paper.
And where are parents in Federle’s pages? Oh, they’re there, but in spirit, lingering at the story’s peripheries as if modern kids need guides as they embark on great adventures. Does this reinforce parenting roles or subtly condition kids to tread the big times without support? Doesn’t responsible art entail balancing dreams with accountability? It might occur to Federle to narrate more family-centered, growth-focused tales where the Rodriguez house or the O’Malley home isn’t just background scenery in the child star’s life, and members hold their familial reserves lovingly while dreaming beyond it.
Next comes the famed stage of New York City, a city certainly grand and full of possibilities but misguided here as the Holy Grail of mere dreams. There’s no denying corporate conglomerates, power ballets, and hunt for success is on every street corner—but should they enrapture our youngsters in bubbles of stardom? This spectacle-oriented goal may leave many of our young bright minds susceptible to disappointment when it turns out Broadway isn’t for everyone. They need encouragement in pursuits beyond the stage, and a great tale would carefully instill the importance of life’s vast tableaux.
Tim Federle does deserve kudos for crafting Nate’s quirky endearment and capturing New York’s exciting pulse. There’s natural humor, kind friendship with Libby, promising dreams, and the story does justice to what it wants: a ride through confidence-building leaps, an authentic Broadway beat. However, when real-life’s cadence is as varied as in classical compositions, let’s educate tomorrow’s leaders on a more rounded symphony.
We should champion a world where a tale like Nate’s has details of familial connections granting strength, industry avenues leading beyond liberal N.Y.’s alluring auditions and life's purpose-driven act being tone-deaf to possible fleeting fantasies. Let’s write a new narrative portraying a broader stage, not necessarily one where dreams are robbed but where they coexist with substantial morals and skills worthy of citizens fine-tuning the American Dream.