- MEET BIG NATE:How d you like to be 11 years old, 4 1/2 feet tall, and the all-time record holder for detentions in school history? (118 and counting...!) He s Nate Wright, 6th grade Renaissance Man, prone to accidental antics. Equipped with only a #2 pencil and the unshakable belief that he s #1, Big Nate fights a daily battle against overzealous teachers, undercooked cafeteria food and all-around conventionality.Nate Wright knows he s meant for big things. REALLY big things. After all, he s a self-described genius. Trouble always seems to find him, but Nate keeps his cool no matter what. He knows he s destined for greatness. A fortune cookie told him so.