The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation: Volume 1: The Pox Party

M.T. Anderson. 2006. Cambridge, MA : Candlewick Press.

Plot Summary: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation is a historical novel that takes place in the 1760s in and around Boston. It chronicles the childhood of Octavian, who is raised with his mother in a scientific community of scholars. Octavian, whom we come to find out is a black slave, is raised with all the privileges and luxuries of a prince, especially in his education, where nothing is spared. But he comes to find out that he is not a prince but a slave, an experiment to test the hypothesis of the equality (or lack of ) of intelligence among the races. This first novel of the series chronicles Octavian’s childhood and education and his slow realization of his precarious place in the world. It is only toward the end of the novel that Octavian plays a part in the revolutionary conflict that is the backdrop to the novel.

Critical Evaluation: The language of the novel is that of 18th century literature and the novel is (mostly) in the form of an account written by Octavian. The highly trained rational mind of Octavian explores the question of slavery and its meaning at a time when people are seeking their own freedom from the British. While the language may be a little oft-putting to some young readers in both its style and vocabulary, and the action moves somewhat slowly through the descriptions of Octavian’s education, the story is captivating enough to hold most readers.

Reader's Annotation: "We love fantasy novels in which the characters think that they're peasants but turn out to be princes and kings," Anderson says. "So I thought, 'Well, I'm going to write a book in which someone believes that they're a prince or a king and then turns out to be a slave.' " http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/28/AR2008112802766_2.html

About the author: Author M.T. Anderson is the master of many genres. He is best known for his children's and young adult books of which there are 16. He grew up in Massachusetts and got a degree in literature from Cambridge University in England. He lives in Cambridge, MA. His work is incredibly varied running the gamut from picture books for elementary school kids (Whales on Stilts), science fiction (Feed), to the vast historical novel which is The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing.

Genre: Historical fiction.

Curriculum Ties: This novel is relevant to the study of American slavery, especially the role of slaves and slavery in the American revolution. Readers learn a great deal about events leading up to the war and the rationalizations of slavery current at the time.

Booktalking Ideas: Octavian grows up in the lap of luxury, which makes it all the more intolerable when he realizes he's a slave, and an experimental study at that.

Reading Level/Interest Age: Grades 9 and up.

Challenge Issues: N/A.