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Nation (by Terry Pratchett)

common sense media says

Philosophical survival story with a bit of humor.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the climax of the story is a fight to the death between a man and a young teen, in which the man shoots at and injures the boy. Children kill adults with poison and axes, and a plot point involves the making and drinking of beer.

Positive messages: The young main characters are smart, thoughtful, responsible, often selfless, and hard-working.
Violence: A child poisons one man, and smashes another's face with a bowl. A lengthy battle in which a man repeatedly shoots at a boy, wounding him. A boy kills a man with an ax. References to cannibalism, beheadings, skulls.
Sex: Mild references to admiring ladies' legs.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Drinking and drunkenness. A child drinks and is sick. Part of the plot revolves around making beer.

More on Nation

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the many philosophical points the author raises. Why do bad things happen? What is the place of God or gods in the universe and in our lives? Are some cultures superior to others? How is knowledge lost? Why do people do the things they do?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In a world very similar to ours in the pre-industrial era, a tsunami wipes out a south-Pacific island tribe except for one boy, Mau; and a British girl, Ermintrude, is the only survivor of a shipwreck on that island. Together they help care for other refugees who arrive on the island, learn about one another's culture and language, and prepare for the inevitable coming of the cannibal Raiders, who may be helped by mutineers set adrift from Ermintrude's ship before it was wrecked.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Fans of author Terry Pratchett's other books for children may be surprised by this one. Instead of Discworld, the setting is mostly in the south Pacific a couple of centuries ago. Missing is the riotous humor (though Pratchett being Pratchett, there is always some wit and cleverness) and the fantasy elements. In their place is some pretty deep thinking about the natures and relationships among men and women, gods, and civilizations. Rarely has Pratchett so clearly shown his warm, humanist nature, nor so firmly taken his readers hand in hand down a path towards thinking more deeply about their common humanity. This should be a favorite in literature circles and discussion groups.

All of that philosophy, though, comes at the expense of some of the action, and there are places in this book that bog down a bit; after the exciting opening chapters, the real plot only happens in the second half. But the reader is carried along by some of Pratchett's best characters ever, most especially Mau and Ermintrude. There is little more enthralling than watching young people wrestle with doing the right thing while trying to get a grip on reality. This book may not have everything Pratchett's young fans have learned to expect in his books, but they may get something else they hadn't bargained for.

From the Book:
"Are you from the government?" the captain snapped.

Mr. Black looked surprised. "The government? I am afraid not. Just between us, there is little of the government left at the moment, and what there is is mostly hiding in its cellars. No, to be honest with you, the government has always found it convenient not to know much about us, and I would advise you to do the same."

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Terry Pratchett
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Publication date: September 30, 2008
Number of pages: 384
Hardcover price: $16.99
Read Aloud: 11
Read Alone: 12

This review was written by Matt Berman
 
 

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noveleater
teen, 15 years old
 
A fun read, but a little slow.
Wow. This book is a really interesting novel about surviving on a deserted island. An adult is murdered, by only a kid. (!!!!!!??????) A kid is shot at multiple times, and a boy drinks beer, which gets him pretty, darn sick! They make beer, and there is a scene where a lady is in labor and her baby is born with the help of a girl. There is drawings done by the boy showing a girl's chest. And then draws a picture of a boy with his lower waist showing. There is singing, and a giant wave nearly kills a man. The language is what you would expected on a deserted- island- plot- book, if you know what I mean. I wouldn't be too worried about young kids reading this, just as long as they aren't learning anything they haven't before, like the difference between a girl and a boy. There isn't blood, and your child would probably learn a few things, as a lady's modesty is a man's priority in this book, which is true. I liked this book, but the reason why I gave one less star, is because of the humor that isn't there. I have read other Terry Pratchet books and have loved them because of the humor, but this book was missing Terry's charm. See 'ya and enjoy!

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