Nation

Nation
by Terry Pratchett

Harper Collins Publishers, 2008







Genre:  Fantasy, Alternate History 

Honors: British Fantasy Awards for Top Ten, ALA Notable Children's Book for Older Readers, Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature, Printz Honor, ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction and Poetry

Review:  Two worlds collide in this post-tsunami story set on a remote island. Mau returns to his island after a coming-of-age ordeal where everyone has been wiped out. However, he meets Daphne, an English girl who was the sole survivor of a shipwreck on the same island. Together, they build and assist in the trials of a new nation, as more survivors join them. In the meantime, Daphne wonders if she'll ever make it back to her own homeland.

Opinion:  Terry Pratchett wrote a masterpiece that I found spellbinding from beginning to end. Although the ending was somewhat sad, it wrapped up rather perfectly and beautifully. Additionally, the development of the relationship between Mau and Daphne and their subsequent friendship, was absolutely brilliant.

Ideas:  This book might work for a teacher looking for books with strong main characters who take charge in difficult situations. Another idea might be as a book display on Terry Prachett and his many works.