Parents' Guide to

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

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Compelling tale of slavery, experiment in Revolutionary era.

Book M.T. Anderson Historical Fiction 2006
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 15+

Based on 5 parent reviews

carolynsoldier
carolynsoldier Parent of 14 and 16-year-old
March 14, 2022
age 18+

Child translates pornography from Latin, sexual assault

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
carlrosin
carlrosin Adult
May 28, 2011
age 15+

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.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

At the start of THE ASTONISHING LIFE OF OCTAVIAN NOTHING, TRAITOR TO THE NATION, VOLUME 1: THE POX PARTY, 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 enslaved, 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. Young Octavian will be tested physically and emotionally as he searches for the truth about his value as a human being.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5):
Kids say (6):

Historical novels often play fast and loose with the facts, but this coming-of-age story is well-researched and completely compelling. Octavian Nothing is intellectually complex, rich in language and ideas, and highly original. Author M.T. Anderson uses an approximation of the style of a classically trained 18th century writer, combined with an almost postmodern, episodic, time-shifting structure. For 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.

Octavian is a fascinating character who will help readers connect deeply with the horrors of slavery and also get them thinking about some big identity questions. The supporting cast is rich in diversity, and the narrative brims with thematic exuberance. This volume is the first of two. Few readers will be able to resist seeking out the concluding installment.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the level of violence and brutality in The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation. Does the fact that it's based on historical events make it appropriate? Is reading about violence any different from watching it on television or playing a violent video game?

  • What limits should be set on medical experimentation? How has human testing been valuable, and when has it been harmful?

  • What is freedom? Does it come from within, or is it bestowed on individuals?

  • What did you learn about American slavery that you didn't know before?

Book Details

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