 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Pox Party: Octavian Nothing, Vol. 1
- By M.T. Anderson
- Genre: Historical Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Slavery-themed award-winner is a challenging teen read.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this book has won many children's literary awards, including the National Book Award and a Michael L. Printz Honor. Its story deals with slavery and the Revolutionary War, and consequently there's disturbing brutality and violence, especially the vicious beatings endured by slaves. One man is tarred and feathered, throats are slit, and soldiers and horses die. There's a bit of salty language and some sexual references, including nudity and a mention of "the clap." Ultimately, the book's language and style make it a better choice for mature teens who are up for a challenging read.
What's the story?
Octavian, a prince, and his mother, a princess, are kept in luxury and given a classical education in Revolutionary-era Boston by a group of scientists and philosophers who call themselves The Novanglian College of Lucidity. But Octavian and his mother are really slaves, and their treatment is just one of the experiments conducted in the household. They're not free, and they're always subject to the whims of their keepers -- a brutal truth that's brought home to them when the College gets a new source of funding and the nature of the experiment changes. Meanwhile, the country inches toward war, and the scientists have an unusual solution to the smallpox epidemic that's ravaging the countryside.
Is it any good?
Written in an approximation of the style of a classically trained 18th-century writer, combined with an almost postmodern, episodic, time-shifting structure, THE POX PARTY: OCTAVIAN NOTHING, VOL. 1 is intellectually complex, rich in language and ideas, and highly original. Booklist calls it "both chaotic and highly accomplished, and... it demands rereading," and even the author told NPR, "It really is for older teens, in my mind."
Indeed, for gifted teens with a taste for high-level language, extended philosophical discourse, and complex literary structure, this will be a rare treat. But it may not resonate with younger teens or those not up for a real challenge.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the book's violence and brutality. Is there ever a limit on how much violence should be in a young adult book, even one based around historical events? Is reading about violence any different than watching it on TV or playing a violent video game?
This book has won several children's literary awards. Even though it's a well-executed novel, it may be difficult for most teens to read. Should awards for YA books be given to books solely based on their literary merit -- or should they have to resonate with a wider range of today's teens?
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AGE
Great story, historical basis.
I was 14 when I read this (still am), and found it to be just right and actually with an interesting voice. The narrator is supposed to be neutral for the most part, so things that might sound awful under other voices don't sound too heart-panging. Trust me, as a teenage boy, I try to avoid a lot of "touchy-feely" stuff. The novel had some crude humorous aspects, but in 18th century text, they can be tricky to catch. So, this content isn't that bad, only the violence and [animal] abuse. For example, a conversation between boy and master:
BOY: Why aren't you a father?
MASTER: Because there are many uses for sheep's guts.
It took me a second to realize that the man was referring to his time period's condom.
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AGE
Deeper concepts from a challenging read.
This book demonstrates the extreme side of Enlightenment philosophy. The vocabulary used is excellent as is the style; the book is written in the style fitting the setting. The book is brutal, but brings up issues of science that are still relevant. The concept of slavery is also there for discussion. Another age appropriate discussion theme is the search for identity. Coupled with its sequel, the title character is on a quest for who he is, both in name and in action.
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AGE
Not for everyone, but it deserves an audience
The subject matter is disturbing and aimed at the serious, thoughtful reader.
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AGE
i read this when i was 10...
i read it when i was 10, but my mental age is at least 4 years older, so... but, yeah, definitely a teen book.
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AGE
Gross at Times but Wonderful in Parts
I read this book in class for an assignment, and found most of the book to be enjoyable, but some parts to be absolutely astonishing. Some of the chapters I had to skip and have a friend summarize for me because the pages were just too gruesome to bare. Octavian and his mother are brutally beaten and attacked. Octavian is forced into a mask and is violently ill, choking on his own vomit... but, besides the few innapropriate and disgusting scenes, the book was very informational, and an ok read.
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AGE
Good, well written
I read it at fifteen, but a mature 13 year old could definitely handle it.
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AGE
Hmmm...I'm still not really sure.
The language is not difficult. It is very well written, but I cannot see how most people would have problems. Honestly, it's appalling how poorly people can read. I do have to say that the commonsense people are right to say that kids may not be interested in it though. I still can't say if I like it, because it really suprised me. I'll probably have to read it again to have a definite opinion. It is great to see that there is writing talent for teens out there. Serious drivel has been published lately and I was beginning to lose hope that someone could write.
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AGE
An astonishing read
I usually don't read teen lit because i find it too juvenile for my tastes, but this one was a good read.
the 18th century style prose is done very well, and the story is intense all the way to the end.
i can't wait to read the sequel.
I don't think its too mature for teens, i think its written at a level that most 13+ year olds SHOULD be able to understand
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AGE
Utterly Amazing... But like wading through frozen molasses.
Firstly, this is a purely amazing book. The writer must be a certifiable genius to coordinate the language, customs, and philosophy with the time period. It is a masterful work of art, but it is very, very, very difficult to read. I've always read several years beyond my grade level, and I found this difficult, and I think that it is definitely late high school level reading. I know a lot of people that would have found the language wholly opaque. Don't be discouraged though, because it presents a wide range of emotion, science, and psychology that's absolutely fascinating!
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AGE
Complex novel that challenges its readers in many ways
Challenges well-loved myths about America: slavery is an ugly, hypocritical truth during the push for "liberty"; economic/market concerns interfered with the nation's ethical considerations; the Enlightenment had an ugly irrational side; the Revolution was not quite so clean as "good guys beat bad guys" (e.g., England may have been more enlightened than the colonies about slavery); etc. I think this is a wonderful development, because it gets us to think critically about those glossy myths, but these much-needed epiphanies could be painful for a reader who believes that America is exceptional and exclusively good.
This novel will also help build strong context/content knowledge, but could be a huge struggle for a reader who has a shaky grasp of history and/or geography, and especially one not familiar with the often-beautiful but syntactically dense and vocabulary-rich 18th century style, which Anderson uses to great effect.
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| Author: | M.T. Anderson |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Historical Fiction |
| Publisher: | Candlewick Press |
| Publication date: | October 1, 2006 |
| Number of pages: | 351 |
| Hardcover price: | $17.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 14 - 14 |
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