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Lincoln Peirce Books in Order

This page covers Lincoln Peirce books in order, from Big Nate to Max and the Midknights, with series guides, summaries, and where-to-start help.

Last updated: July 2, 2026

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68 books

Big Nate Strikes Again

by Lincoln Peirce

2010

Nate is stuck balancing a Benjamin Franklin report with a fleeceball season that goes sideways fast. Team drama, Gina's interference, and Nate's giant ego make this one a sharp, funny school story.

From the Top

by Lincoln Peirce

2010

This opening comic collection introduces Nate Wright at full volume. Between detention, sarcasm, school elections, and daily disasters, it shows exactly why sixth grade is never quiet when Nate is around.

In a Class by Himself

by Lincoln Peirce

2010

A fortune cookie tells Nate he will surpass all others, and he decides this has to be his big day. Instead, every class turns into a fresh disaster as Nate talks, schemes, and blunders his way toward fame.

The Boy with the Biggest Head in the World

by Lincoln Peirce

2010

A fortune cookie tells Nate he is headed for greatness, so he charges into the day expecting glory. What he gets instead is a long string of school disasters that make a perfect introduction to his world.

Big Nate and Friends

by Lincoln Peirce

2011

Nate may think he is the star, but this collection reminds you how much Francis, Teddy, Artur, Gina, and the rest of the gang matter. Friendship, rivalry, and classroom chaos drive every page.

Big Nate Boredom Buster

by Lincoln Peirce

2011

This activity book packs Nate's world with puzzles, codes, comics, games, and drawing prompts. It is less about one story and more about letting readers joke, doodle, and mess around right alongside him.

Big Nate on a Roll

by Lincoln Peirce

2011

After losing his skateboard, Nate sets his sights on winning a custom board through his scout troop. The catch is that he has to beat Artur, the calm, talented rival who seems better at almost everything.

Out Loud

by Lincoln Peirce

2011

Nate charges through pranks, homework dodges, band chaos, and sports headaches in another fast-moving batch of strips. The jokes are quick, the reactions are huge, and the trouble starts almost immediately.

All Work and No Play: A Collection of Sundays

by Lincoln Peirce

2012

This Sunday-only collection gives Nate's adventures a larger visual stage. The jokes still center on school, family, friends, and sports, but the format lets Peirce stretch out the gags in fun ways.

Big Nate Fun Blaster

by Lincoln Peirce

2012

Another interactive Big Nate book full of puzzles, comics, doodles, and goofy challenges. It keeps the same smart-alecky tone as the series while giving readers plenty to solve, draw, and laugh at.

Big Nate Goes for Broke

by Lincoln Peirce

2012

When P.S. 38 is forced to share space with hated Jefferson Middle School, Nate's life gets even worse. A broken wrist, school rivalry, and a hard-won creative partnership push him far outside his comfort zone.

Big Nate Makes the Grade

by Lincoln Peirce

2012

Another full-color comics collection finds Nate trying to survive school with his pride mostly intact. Grades, teachers, bad ideas, and social disasters keep colliding in the way only Big Nate can make funny.

Here Goes Nothing

by Lincoln Peirce

2012

Nate launches himself into another run of schemes without much of a plan and even less patience. The result is a lively collection of school-day jokes, awkward moments, and self-inflicted comic damage.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

by Lincoln Peirce

2012

This comic collection follows Nate through the usual minefield of pop quizzes, detention, sports trouble, and bad ideas. As the title suggests, he keeps asking the wrong question and getting the funniest answer.

Big Nate Flips Out

by Lincoln Peirce

2013

Nate loses the school camera and ends up in the middle of a friendship meltdown with Francis. As the search drags on, clutter, blame, and humiliation pile up until Nate finally has to face his own part in it.

Big Nate Makes a Splash

by Lincoln Peirce

2013

This Sunday-strip collection gives Nate a little more room for visual chaos and big punch lines. Whether he is at school, on the field, or making things awkward at home, the trouble always lands hard.

Dibs on This Chair

by Lincoln Peirce

2013

A quick-hit collection of Big Nate comics packed with school skirmishes, wisecracks, and tiny battles that somehow become huge. Nate treats every seat, snack, and insult like something worth fighting over.

Doodlepalooza

by Lincoln Peirce

2013

This one leans hard into Nate's doodling side, with cartooning prompts, activities, and comic-inspired games. It is a good pick for kids who like the series and want to make some chaos of their own.

Game On!

by Lincoln Peirce

2013

Sports, pranks, band practice, and classroom trouble all collide in this energetic collection. Nate keeps moving, talking, and competing, even when every new plan seems custom-built to blow up in his face.

Genius Mode

by Lincoln Peirce

2013

Nate's faith in his own brilliance powers every strip here, even when the evidence keeps stacking up against him. Expect classroom trouble, social misses, and the kind of confidence that makes failure funnier.

I Can't Take It!

by Lincoln Peirce

2013

Mrs. Godfrey, Ellen, Dad, Gina, Artur, and plain old bad luck all seem determined to break Nate's spirit. He responds the only way he knows how, with sarcasm, stubbornness, and several terrible choices.

Pray for a Fire Drill

by Lincoln Peirce

2013

Nate faces the usual grind of classes, teachers, and embarrassment, and naturally wishes for any possible escape route. The strips are short, punchy, and built around his gift for making bad days even worse.

Great Minds Think Alike

by Lincoln Peirce

2014

Nate's cleverest ideas keep turning into his loudest failures in this lively collection. School projects, pranks, sports, and friendship drama all get filtered through a kid who thinks he is always two steps ahead.

In The Zone

by Lincoln Peirce

2014

A ruined history outline starts a terrible streak for Nate, just as school launches a new Fitness Zone craze. Then a lucky charm seems to change everything, until Field Day puts that luck to the test.

Laugh-O-Rama

by Lincoln Peirce

2014

A brisk Big Nate collection built for quick laughs, classroom trouble, and Nate's nonstop commentary. Even in short bursts, it delivers the same mix of school mishaps, sarcasm, and comic timing.

Mr. Popularity

by Lincoln Peirce

2014

Nate would love to be the most admired kid in school, but his plans rarely survive first contact with reality. This collection gets plenty of laughs out of his ego, his friends, and his many social misfires.

The Crowd Goes Wild!

by Lincoln Peirce

2014

Nate swings for big wins with class campaigns, entrepreneurial schemes, and sports hero dreams. Even when he misfires, his confidence never really wobbles, and that is what makes the crashes so funny.

Big Nate Lives It Up

by Lincoln Peirce

2015

A new kid named Breckenridge lands at P.S. 38 just as Nate gets pulled into the school's centennial celebration. What starts as a welcome assignment turns into a scavenger hunt, an old mystery, and a hidden mural.

Big Nate Super Scribbler

by Lincoln Peirce

2015

Packed with drawing prompts, puzzles, games, and jokes, this activity book lets readers enter Nate's sketchy, noisy world. It is best for kids who want to scribble, solve things, and keep moving.

Big Nate's Greatest Hits

by Lincoln Peirce

2015

This supersized collection gathers three earlier Big Nate comic volumes into one place. It is a great sampler of Nate's school trouble, summer mishaps, and nonstop talent for making simple problems spectacular.

Say Good-bye to Dork City

by Lincoln Peirce

2015

Nate barrels through another round of social embarrassment, school headaches, and overconfident planning. The strips are full of quick reversals and the kind of middle school humiliation Nate somehow keeps surviving.

Welcome to My World

by Lincoln Peirce

2015

Pop quizzes, bad horoscope news, snack deprivation, and ordinary school misery all hit Nate at once. He insists he can handle it, which usually means readers are about to get some of his funniest disasters.

Big Nate Blasts Off

by Lincoln Peirce

2016

Nate thinks his family may be moving to California, and suddenly everything feels off-balance. While he worries in secret, school projects, old enemies, and one big misunderstanding keep pushing him toward panic.

Big Nate Puzzlemania

by Lincoln Peirce

2016

A puzzle-heavy Big Nate activity book with brainteasers, comics, codes, and other school-themed distractions. It keeps the humor light and playful while giving readers lots of chances to join in.

Epic Big Nate

by Lincoln Peirce

2016

This big anniversary volume looks back across years of Big Nate strips with favorite comics, creator commentary, and extra behind-the-scenes material. It is part celebration, part retrospective, and a lot of fun for longtime fans.

Revenge of the Cream Puffs

by Lincoln Peirce

2016

Nate and his baseball team are stuck with the humiliating name Cream Puffs, and he is desperate to prove they are not pushovers. Injuries, mockery, and big-game nerves make the payoff especially satisfying.

Thunka, Thunka, Thunka

by Lincoln Peirce

2016

Flying dodgeballs, locker chaos, band trouble, and classic Nate overreaction keep this collection moving fast. It is another strong dose of school humor powered by bad timing and even worse judgment.

A Good Old-Fashioned Wedgie

by Lincoln Peirce

2017

Chad's health kick, Jenny and Artur drama, and Nate's crush on a new pitcher all collide in one especially busy collection. It is full of baseball, insults, and the kind of social chaos Nate never sees coming.

What's a Little Noogie Between Friends?

by Lincoln Peirce

2017

Friendship is the real engine here, even when Nate is dodging homework, pulling pranks, and making everything louder than it needs to be. The collection balances school mayhem with the push and pull of Nate's crew.

Big Nate Goes Bananas!

by Lincoln Peirce

2018

Summer is close, but Nate still has to survive overripe bananas, a mascot contest, jealous classmates, and Coach John in the classroom. This one has the same sharp jokes with a strong end-of-school-year vibe.

Silent But Deadly

by Lincoln Peirce

2018

Nate keeps turning regular sixth-grade problems into first-rate comic disasters. Pranks, music class trouble, sports fails, and classroom meltdowns roll by fast in a collection that is easy to pick up and hard to stop.

Back to Back Hits: On a Roll and Goes for Broke

by Lincoln Peirce

2019

This two-in-one edition pairs Nate's skateboard rivalry with Artur and his disaster-filled stint at Jefferson Middle School. It is a handy way to get two of the longer Big Nate novels in one volume.

Big Nate Better Than Ever

by Lincoln Peirce

2019

A box set collecting four Big Nate comic books, this edition is built for readers who want a lot of Nate at once. School trouble, sports, band chaos, and wisecracks fill every corner of it.

Hug It Out!

by Lincoln Peirce

2019

A mystery girl at the fair leaves Nate completely lovestruck, right when summer school and Gina's tutoring loom over him. The mix of romance panic and ordinary school misery works very well here.

Little Big Nate

by Lincoln Peirce

2019

A younger version of Nate discovers that a new box of crayons can send his imagination racing. It is a simple, playful board book that keeps his creative energy while aiming at much younger readers.

Max and the Midknights

by Lincoln Peirce

2019

Max dreams of becoming a knight, which would be hard enough even without a kidnapped uncle and a rotten king. A medieval rescue quest, a band of misfits, and lots of humor make this a lively fantasy start.

Payback Time!

by Lincoln Peirce

2019

Nate never lets a grudge go quietly, and this collection gets a lot of mileage out of that fact. Rivalries, revenge plots, and school-day scheming keep the laughs coming at a brisk, comic-strip pace.

Battle of the Bodkins

by Lincoln Peirce

2020

Knight school is tougher than Max expected, and danger does not stay politely outside the gates. As Byjovia comes under threat, the Midknights face monsters, magic, and the cracks forming inside their own group.

Big Nate Stays Classy

by Lincoln Peirce

2020

This oversized edition combines the first two Big Nate comic collections, making it a strong starting place for new readers. It has the early school disasters, band jokes, and sarcastic swagger that define Nate.

Blow the Roof Off!

by Lincoln Peirce

2020

Nate's band gets a big chance at the school open house, but Trudy's return knocks his confidence sideways. Music, crushes, and middle school ego combine into one of his louder comic collections.

I Smell a Pop Quiz

by Lincoln Peirce

2020

Pop quizzes, detentions, and classroom ambushes are exactly the kind of thing Nate attracts. This early collection delivers quick jokes, familiar faces, and plenty of proof that school never catches him prepared.

The Gerbil Ate My Homework

by Lincoln Peirce

2020

Nate thinks standing near the class gerbil might be the perfect excuse for another homework disaster. Add Prank Day, a homemade superhero movie, and more classroom trouble, and the mess quickly grows.

Aloha!

by Lincoln Peirce

2021

Nate juggles a maybe-romance with Daisy, a dangerous haircut from Teddy, and a comic-shop mystery that lets him play hero. It is a funny, slightly breezy collection with plenty of classic embarrassment.

In Your Face

by Lincoln Peirce

2021

Soccer setbacks, teacher blowups, awkward surprises, and Nate's usual oversized reactions power this collection. It is familiar Big Nate territory, which means fast laughs, expressive art, and very little calm.

Beware of Low-Flying Corn Muffins

by Lincoln Peirce

2022

Flying baked goods, Dee Dee drama, and fresh battles with Mrs. Godfrey keep the school on alert. Nate's latest round of schemes is loud, silly, and exactly the kind of mess longtime readers expect.

Destined for Awesomeness

by Lincoln Peirce

2022

Based on the animated series, this full-color graphic book throws Nate into three fast-moving stories about detention, birthday chaos, and proving he really is as awesome as he claims. The pace is quick and playful.

Prank You Very Much

by Lincoln Peirce

2022

This TV-based graphic novel leans into Nate's talent for pranks and bad judgment. From fluorescent toothpaste to yearbook trouble and superhero-style chaos, the stories move fast and hit with bright, animated energy.

Release the Hounds!

by Lincoln Peirce

2022

Healthy Halloween snacks, football frustration, and Gina's grab for control of the student lounge all make Nate's life worse. He answers with coaching, meddling, and the usual amount of comic overcommitment.

The Tower of Time

by Lincoln Peirce

2022

Max's final adventure sends the Midknights after a dangerous twin, buried family secrets, and enemies that keep multiplying. Trolls, pirates, ruthless kings, and a race against time give the trilogy a strong finish.

Move It or Lose It!

by Lincoln Peirce

2023

Eighth graders steal Nate's lunch spot, Chad turns weirdly aggressive, and Dee Dee enters the picture for a terrible movie date. This collection keeps the pressure on Nate from every possible angle.

Nailed It!

by Lincoln Peirce

2023

A lucky charm sends Nate on a brief hot streak that includes better grades, cash, and even a movie date. Naturally, bad haircuts, runaway gerbils, and fresh chaos bring him crashing back to earth.

Remain Calm!

by Lincoln Peirce

2024

Oral reports, school stress, an advice column, and even an emotional support dog all become part of Nate's latest survival plan. The title is good advice, because he definitely does not follow it.

The Nate Files

by Lincoln Peirce

2024

Part companion book, part story collection, this one digs into Nate's world through notebook pages, comics, profiles, and TV-inspired extras. It is a fun side door into P.S. 38 for readers who want more than episodes.

This Means War!

by Lincoln Peirce

2024

Nate ends up battling Gina, the school board, and a rival slob in another fast, joke-packed collection. Even by his standards, the conflicts pile up quickly, and he handles them with his usual mix of pride and panic.

Attack of the Cheez Funk Breath

by Lincoln Peirce

2025

Nate tries to quit Cheez Doodles, gets dumped by Francis, and strikes out at the school dance, all in one rough stretch. It is another full-color collection powered by snacks, embarrassment, and bad timing.

No Harm Done!

by Lincoln Peirce

2025

Back-to-school rumors, class president drama, a sea-cucumber mascot dream, and an alleged food fight keep Nate in motion. He stirs up trouble all over P.S. 38, but somehow the place is still standing.

New

Code Red!

by Lincoln Peirce

2026

Nate throws himself into podcasting, pranks, baseball worries, crushes, and fresh school headaches. Surprise locker partners and cafetorium duty only add to the sense that his latest semester may be overloaded from day one.

New

Curse of the Puffy Shorts

by Lincoln Peirce

2026

Nate charges into more classroom chaos, Gina battles, and soccer highs and lows in this later comic collection. As usual, his big ideas only make the halls of P.S. 38 louder, stranger, and much funnier.

Where should I start?

If you want the classic Big Nate starting point: In a Class by HimselfBig Nate Strikes AgainBig Nate on a Roll
If you want the comic-strip collections: From the TopOut LoudBig Nate and Friends
If you want the TV-inspired books: Destined for AwesomenessPrank You Very MuchThe Nate Files
If you want a different world entirely: Max and the MidknightsBattle of the BodkinsThe Tower of Time

Author bio

Lincoln Peirce was born in Ames, Iowa, on October 23, 1963, but he mostly grew up in Durham, New Hampshire. He has said for years that newspaper comics grabbed him early, and one strip mattered more than any other: Peanuts. That mix of drawing, jokes, and everyday kid problems clearly stuck.

He started making his own comic strips when he was still in sixth grade. That detail feels important, because so much of his later work understands exactly how school can feel at that age: the boredom, the drama, the weird little victories, and the way one bad class can seem like the end of the world.

At Colby College in Maine, he studied art and art history. Later, he taught high school art in New York City and coached baseball, and those years gave him a deep well of material. A lot of what makes his school scenes funny is how closely they observe the small rituals of classrooms, cafeterias, locker rooms, and after-school life.

School was always going to end up on the page.

In 1991, Peirce launched Big Nate, the comic strip that made his name. Nate Wright, his self-described genius of a sixth grader, is loud, impulsive, creative, sure of himself, and wrong about plenty. The strip began in newspapers and eventually expanded to hundreds of papers around the world, which makes sense once you read it. Nate's problems are specific, but they are also universal: bad teachers, awkward crushes, annoying siblings, sports disasters, and plans that fall apart in minutes.

Then Nate got bigger.

Peirce brought the character into longer books with novels like In a Class by Himself, Big Nate Strikes Again, and Big Nate Flips Out, along with comic collections such as From the Top and Out Loud. Readers tend to like the same things across all of them: the doodles, the fast pace, the bad ideas, and the fact that Nate never stays embarrassed for long. He always bounces back, usually with another terrible plan already forming.

After finishing the main run of Big Nate novels in 2016, Peirce moved into fantasy with Max and the Midknights. The setting changed from middle school hallways to a medieval kingdom, but the energy stayed familiar. Max is bold, funny, stubborn, and determined to become a knight, and the books mix quests, jokes, friendship, and cartoon-style momentum in a way that feels like a natural next step for him.

He has also written animated shorts for Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, and Big Nate later became an animated series. That jump to animation fits his work well. His stories have always moved like cartoons, with sharp reactions, quick reversals, and characters who seem to spring off the page.

These days, Peirce lives in Portland, Maine, with his wife, Jessica, and their two children. Even when he is writing about knights, monsters, or wildly overconfident sixth graders, his best work comes back to the same thing: kids using imagination, sarcasm, and sheer nerve to get through the day.

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.

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