Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins; Reprint edition (September 22, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780061433030
ISBN-13: 978-0061433030
Synopsis: Mau is just returning from his rite-of-passage voyage to his island home, Nation, when a great tsunami hits, nearly destroying everything and everyone. Caught between man and boy, Mau must struggle to keep what is left of his home together, and find more strength when he discovers he isn't the only survivor - and has somehow become their chief! Also caught up in the wave is young Ermintrude, an English girl of gentile breeding who was sailing to meet her father in his post of governor of a tropical island. Ermintrude - who rechristens herself Daphne because she hates her given name - is the sole survivor of her ship (or so she thinks) and must quickly learn a new language, a new culture and a new way of life.
Review: I could not put this book down. I've been a fan of Terry Pratchett since I read his collaboration with Neil Gaiman ("Good Omens"), but had read more of Gaiman's works than Pratchett's. The tagline on the book cover reads "When much is taken, something is gained." These wise words were spoken by an old man in Mau's village, and they set the theme for the entire novel. I heartily enjoyed everything about this book - romance, sacrifice, humor, peril, science - as well as the fact that the author states it took place in a parallel universe that had some of the same people in it as ours and many similar features, but not exactly the same. Within a few moments of opening the book, I was hooked and had suspended all disbelief. The characterizations were rich and lush. The animals and scenery were not just backdrops to the story, they were part of the fabric of the book and integral to everything in it. I recommend this book for "children" of all ages!
Awards/Reviews:
§ School Library Journal Best Book
§ Horn Book Fanfare
§ Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Book
§ Bulletin Blue Ribbon (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books)
§ Publishers Weekly Best Book
§ Michael L. Printz Honor Book
§ ALA Notable Children’s Book
§ ALA Top 10 Best Book for Young Adults
§ ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults
§ ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice
§ Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book
§ Chicago Public Library Best of the Best
§ Horn Book Fanfare
§ Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Book
§ Bulletin Blue Ribbon (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books)
§ Publishers Weekly Best Book
§ Michael L. Printz Honor Book
§ ALA Notable Children’s Book
§ ALA Top 10 Best Book for Young Adults
§ ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults
§ ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice
§ Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book
§ Chicago Public Library Best of the Best
"The main characters are engaging and interesting, and are the perfect medium for the author's sly humor. Daphne is a close literary cousin of Tiffany Aching in her common sense and keen intelligence wedded to courage. A rich and thought-provoking read." - School Library Journal, starred review
"Critics praised Nation as a hybrid, deeply philosophical book aimed at young adults, but one likely to appeal to adults as well, much like Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy or J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. With echoes of William Defoe and William Golding, Nation takes the form of a “classic Robinsonade,” notes the Washington Post—that is, a book in which characters on a desert island recreate civilization. As his characters grapple with questions of leadership, humanity, and survival, Pratchett explores fundamental ideas about religion and culture. This might all sound rather heavy, but there is plenty of originality and humor—and cannibals, spirits, and secret treasures—to go around. In the end, Pratchett offers a vision of a deeply humane world." - Bookmarks Magazine review
"It is hard to imagine a reader who won’t feel welcomed into this nation." - Horn Book, starred review
Connections:
After reading the novel, give students print outs of Terry Pratchett's essay on the inspiration for "Nation" at http://www.harpercollins.com/author/authorExtra.aspx?authorID=7848&isbn13=9780061433016&displayType=bookessay. After reading, look up the Krakatoa and Indonesian tsunamis and compare news/history accounts with how Pratchett described it in his book. What was different? What was similar? Turn this into a journal entry.
On page 1, the fable of how Imo Made the World is told. In their journals, have students write prose or poetry of their own creation myth. What would the god(s)' name(s) be? How did the create the world? What did they put in it?
After students have done this, have them write a story of what happens in this imagined world. Is it like our world, or completely different?
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