Published: 2021
Series: Nat Enough, Book #3
Author: Maria Scrivan
Illustrator: Maria Scrivan
Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Friendship, Childrens, Comics, Juvenile, Contemporary, Young Adult
Audience (Grade Levels): Children’s / Middle Grades / Grades 3-8
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads Link: Absolutely Nat
Triggers: Navigating social anxiety, facing personal fears, dealing with broken past friendships, and camp-related discomforts
Review By: Diana Cashman
Publisher’s Summary:
Companion to the New York Times bestseller Nat Enough!
You can stay stuck or go forward, but you can’t go back. Natalie has just arrived at summer camp and soon realizes it isn’t anything like the brochure. Instead of spending the summer with her best friends, Zoe and Flo, Natalie is stuck with her ex-BFF, Lily, and someone even more annoying than the endless mosquitoes: Millie Flatbottom. Even worse, she’s constantly pushed out of her comfort zone and forced to come face-to-face with some of her greatest fears. Although summer camp isn’t at all what Natalie expected, could it be exactly what she needs?
Review:
For the third book in the series, Natalie goes to summer camp which is nice for the reader that the book takes place in a new setting. My initial thought was that it brought me right back to the times I went away to camp in the summer and was so excited to meet new people and try new things. The book does a nice job of showing how sometimes our experiences don’t always live up to our expectations at first, and that we need to figure out a way to make everything work. Even though I truly enjoyed the first two books in the series, it is always a surprise to me when I really enjoy a graphic novel because I typically don’t, but this book did not disappoint, and I have already had multiple students borrow it. Just like in the other books, my favorite part was Natalie’s pets making a cameo at the beginning of each chapter, and I was so happy that they were there even though she was away at camp. I really enjoyed their back and forth banter questioning if Nat missed them or not. This book is definitely an elementary/middle level classroom must have!
Scrivan’s exceptional writing style, structure, and pacing keep the story light and highly relatable while addressing real emotional challenges faced by elementary and junior high readers. The narrative skillfully unpacks the gap between our expectations and reality, tracking Natalie’s growth as she learns to problem-solve when things go awry. Visually, the illustrations are bright, incredibly expressive, and beautifully organized to enhance the comic timing of the story. The panels carrying the pet cameos add a delightfully creative structural touch that keeps the tone engaging and whimsical. This artwork allows the humor and vulnerabilities of the characters to jump straight off the page. The vibrant, high-energy cover design is remarkably eye-catching, perfectly calculated to grab the attention of middle-grade students scanning the library shelves.
I give this book a full 5 stars, giving it top marks for its unique creativity, engaging prose, and beautiful representation of childhood emotional resilience. It is a phenomenal recommendation for elementary and middle school librarians, classroom teachers, and young readers who enjoy character-driven graphic novels. This title provides excellent overall value to any school library or public youth collection seeking high-quality, modern, realistic graphic fiction that perfectly captures the adolescent experience.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- ELA / Visual Literacy: An excellent mentor text for instructing young readers on graphic novel structures, panel pacing, and analyzing how visual details expand character voice and subtext.
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Connects perfectly to guidance units regarding managing anxiety, setting realistic expectations, overcoming social fears, building resilience, and navigating complex peer dynamics.
- Extension Activity / Library Application: This title is an outstanding selection for upper elementary or junior high book clubs, literature circles, and independent reading programs. For a library extension activity, students can create their own “expectation vs. reality” comic panel reflecting a real-life scenario—such as their first day of school or a new sport tryout—using Scrivan’s signature format of humor and personal reflection.
- Diversity & Representation: Absolutely Nat supports equity, diversity, and inclusion by offering a highly authentic, accessible look at the universal struggles of fitting in and confronting personal vulnerabilities. It models meaningful social representation by showing a young protagonist learning to interact with a diverse mix of peers outside her usual comfort zone, demonstrating self-acceptance and emotional growth.
Readalikes:
- Real Friends by Shannon Hale
- Click by Kayla Miller
- All’s Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson
