Dans Mon Catalogue

No cover — Nation (2008, Random House Children's Books)

eBook

English language

Published Dec. 15, 2008 by Random House Children's Books.

ISBN:: 9781407046112

(1 review)

Washed up on the shores of a remote island, two kids from cultures half a world apart have to learn to get along and survive. Brilliantly funny novel from the master story-teller and creator of Discworld.Finding himself alone on a desert island when everything and everyone he knows and loved has been washed away in a huge storm, Mau is the last surviving member of his nation. He's also completely alone - or so he thinks until he finds the ghost girl. She has no toes, wears strange lacy trousers like the grandfather bird and gives him a stick which can make fire.Daphne, sole survivor of the wreck of the Sweet Judy, almost immediately regrets trying to shoot the native boy. Thank goodness the powder was wet and the gun only produced a spark. She's certain her father, distant cousin of the Royal family, will come and rescue her but …

Washed up on the shores of a remote island, two kids from cultures half a world apart have to learn to get along and survive. Brilliantly funny novel from the master story-teller and creator of Discworld.Finding himself alone on a desert island when everything and everyone he knows and loved has been washed away in a huge storm, Mau is the last surviving member of his nation. He's also completely alone - or so he thinks until he finds the ghost girl. She has no toes, wears strange lacy trousers like the grandfather bird and gives him a stick which can make fire.Daphne, sole survivor of the wreck of the Sweet Judy, almost immediately regrets trying to shoot the native boy. Thank goodness the powder was wet and the gun only produced a spark. She's certain her father, distant cousin of the Royal family, will come and rescue her but it seems, for now, all she has for company is the boy and the foul-mouthed ship's parrot.As it happens, they are not alone for long. Other survivors start to arrive to take refuge on the island they all call the Nation and then raiders accompanied by murderous mutineers from the Sweet Judy.Together, Mau and Daphne discover some remarkable things - including how to milk a pig and why spitting in beer is a good thing - and start to forge a new Nation.As can be expected from Terry Pratchett, the master story-teller, this new children's novel is both witty and wise, encompassing themes of death and nationhood, while being extremely funny. Mau's ancestors have something to teach us all. Mau just wishes they would shut up about it and let him get on with saving everyone's lives!

12 editions

Mike Bloy reviewed Nation by Terry Pratchett

Review of 'Nation' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Any capsule description of the plot of this book sounds inadequate. To really describe this book I'd need about 367 pages, and Terry Pratchett to write it. Fortunately, he's already done that. It's published in book form. It's called Nation. Go read it. Now. It's chock full of the best of Pratchett's stealthy ways of making you think, just a little less stealthy this time. The book is by no means preachy, and tells an excellent story, but it is obvious that, in this book, Mr. Pratchett has crammed in as many hooks to get you thinking as he possibly can. The good part is that, at the same time, he's managed to keep you turning the page, created a world that feels real, stocked it with 3-dimensional characters, made you care about them, AND tied everything up with a bow at the end, all in under 400 pages.