5-7 5-8 6-8 Fiction Middle Grade

Best Nerds Forever by James Patterson & Chris Grabenstein

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Published: 2021
Authors: James Patterson & Chris Grabenstein
Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Paranormal
Audience: Grades 5–8
Number of Stars: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Goodreads Link: Best Nerds Forever
Content Warnings: Death of a child (protagonist), grief, and discussions of anxiety/fear.

Publisher’s Summary

Goodreads Choice Award: Nominee for Readers’ Favorite Middle Grade & Children’s (2021)
When a lifelong friendship just isn’t long enough, two friends connect from beyond the grave in this heartwarming ghost story from a New York Times bestselling author.

One minute, Finn was biking home from school, and the next, he was run off the road by a maniac in a big van. Now, he’s a ghost. He can do lots of fun things, like try every ice cream flavor in the store, sneak up on people, and play as many video games as he wants. Finn even has a new ghost friend, Isabella, to show him the ropes. But he also has a lot of BIG questions, like: who wanted him dead? And can he stop the maniac from striking again? Packed with hilarious moments, epic friendships, and fun art,  Best Nerds Forever  celebrates the nerd in each of us and the joy of living life to its fullest. 

Full Review

Best Nerds Forever is an engaging, action-packed story that uses a paranormal lens to teach a beautiful life lesson: life is short, and sometimes you need to stop being so cautious and just have fun. Finn, the protagonist, spent his life being incredibly careful, driven by anxiety and a desire to prevent anything terrible from happening. Ironically, despite his best efforts, he still meets a tragic end.

Through his out-of-body experience, Finn learns to let go of the fear that once paralyzed him. As a ghost, he finally finds the courage to do things every kid should do, like swimming at the beach. The plot thickens as Finn and his new friend Izzy try to solve the mystery of their deaths, uncovering layers of family history and heartache along the way.

I was particularly moved by how Finn learns to understand his father’s behavior and realizes the importance of not taking every day for granted. The book ends with a surprising plot twist that kept me thinking long after I turned the last page. For a reader who doesn’t typically reach for fantasy, I found this to be a perfect “comfort zone breaker”—it’s a heartwarming ghost story that focuses more on human connection than spooky tropes.

 

🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections

  • ELA (Plot Structure & Twists): Analyze the “Plot Twist” at the end.

    • Activity Idea: Discuss foreshadowing. Were there clues throughout the book that Finn might get a “second chance”? Have students find three quotes that hint at the ending.

  • Social-Emotional Learning (Managing Anxiety): Discuss Finn’s “safety-first” mindset.

    • Activity Idea: Talk about the difference between being “safe” and being “paralyzed by fear.” Have students create a “Bravery Bucket List” of small things they’d like to try but are currently nervous about.

  • Creative Writing (Perspective): Write a scene from the perspective of Finn’s father or his best friend. How does their view of Finn change once he is gone?
  • Art & Literacy: The book includes “fun art” (common in Grabenstein/Patterson collaborations).

    • Activity Idea: Have students draw a comic strip of a “Ghostly Perk”—something they would do if they could be invisible and weightless for a day.

  • Health (Safety and Risk): Use the book to talk about bike safety and road awareness, while balancing it with Finn’s realization that we cannot control everything.

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