I found the book, Nation, by Terry Pratchett to be a wonderfully engaging read. The book featured a young woman who is the sole survivor of a shipwreck on an island that has suffered a devastating tsunami, and on this island is a young man who is the sole survivor of the tsunami that hit the island. Just as any good bildungsroman, or coming of age novel would, this book questions realities – cultural, spiritual, religious, etc. But for some reason, the questions in this book burn loudly. There is an urgency, a deep need to know WHY. Why do people die? Why do we not know what happens after death? Why do we believe in religious stories? Why do bad things happen to good people? Do the gods answer us? Terry Pratchett has set the perfect scene for asking these questions – an island where a young man is forced to bury the drowned victims of the tsunami – where everyone he knew and loved is gone. And for the young woman – the island is a place where she is forced to be something other than a “good girl.” It is a place where she must confront the sexist rules of her day. Nation is a coming of age story on steroids. Nation strips reality to its bare bones and asks the deep, important questions at the top of its lungs.
Terry Pratchett is one of my favorite authors. Shortly before beginning the writing of this book he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. He describes how his diagnosis, and his intimate need for answers is reflected in his writing of this book here. He considers Nation his best writing to date.
Nation is a good read for advanced elementary students to adults. The questions asked in Nation are universal, and most definitely are not age-specific. Everyone will grow through reading this book.
