Nation

Prachett, T. (2008). Nation. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

Interest Level: Grades 7+

Reading Level: 5+

Mau has just spent thirty days on Boys' Island, left there by his dad to survive. This is the practice of Mau's community and is integral to a boy becoming a man. On Boys' Island, boys must craft a canoe and sale back to the Nation on the thirtieth day where they will be welcomed into the village as a man, having left their boy spirit on Boy's Island. But as Mau cleans up the island in preparation for his return he notices something different in the air. He hastens his departure only to find himself in the midst of a tsunami.. Mau survives and makes his way back to his island, but the Nation did not and Mau is now stuck with no soul having left his boy one on Boys' Island and unable to receive his man soul. Simultaneously, a ship from England that had been heading to an island in the South Pacific and are also caught in the tsunami. The ship crashes into the shores of the Nation's island leaving only a teen girl named Daphne as a survivor. Inhabitants of other islands also make their way to the Nation, looking for help and Mau finds himself in the role of leader. Will they all survive?

Fans of Terry Prachett's Discworld series might be surprised to read Nation as it is vastly different from that series. However, Nation is a gripping novel of survival that will have most readers caught up in the story from the very beginning. The imagery is vivid and the characters are believable. In addition to the survival theme, this novel also focuses strongly on beliefs and how traumatic events can challenge those beliefs. Both Daphne and Mau must confront their upbringings and decide whether to honor the traditions they were raised with. This book has something for everyone.