Nation

Terry Prartchett. 2008. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. 384 pages. ISBN 978-0-06-143303-0

Plot Summary: When a tsunami destroys his village Mau, a young man completing his manhood initiation, is the only one left. The same wave maroons a ship on the island with only one survivor—-Daphne. The setting is vague—-Mau’s village seems to be somewhat like those in the South Pacific and Daphne seems to be from a civilization somewhat like 19th century England. Together they learn to communicate and survive. Other refugees from the wave appear and a new culture and society grow. Despite his young age, Mau is the de facto leader. Mau communicates with the ancestral gods (the Grandfathers), whose validity he questions after they have let such a catastrophe occur. Mau struggles with the fundamental question of “Why?” while at the same time addressing the practical questions of survival for the new society of refugees.

Critical Review: This novel is like Robinson Crusoe in addressing the practical issues of survival when Mau is stranded in his now deserted, destroyed island village. When Daphne appears with her 19th century sensibility and tools, they together create a hybrid society. At the same time Pratchett, through Mau’s thoughts, addresses questions of religion and belief. While Mau has constant internal debates with “the Grandfathers,” and comes to question the validity of the religion in which he was raised, the book is never heavy. Daphne is the perfect foil to Mau, bringing her knowledge of 19th science (and the resources of the ship she was marooned on) to the task. While this book is aimed at somewhat younger readers (grades 7-10), it could also be a cross-over book for adults, and is therefore suited to an older audience.

About the Author: Terry Pratchett is a very prolific English writer. He wrote his first story when he was 13, which was published commercially when he was 15. His Disc World series of comic fantasy novels numbers 36 books. He has also written a children’s book entitled The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents which won the Carnegie Medal. He has also won Locus Awards, the Mythopoetic Award, ALA Notable Books for Children, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, Book Sense 76 Pick, Prometheus Award and the British Fantasy Award. He has been knighted (2009) and named Officer of the Order of the British Empire for contributions to literature. In 2007 he announced that he was suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Visit his website at http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/.

Genre: Adventure

Curriculum ties: N/A

Reading Level/Interest Age: Grades 7 and up.

Booktalking Ideas: If you could create your own society, what would it be?

Challenge Issues: Non-Christian religion.

Why Chosen: I wanted to read something by Terry Pratchett, and The Nation received a starred review from School Library Journal.