You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
It took ages to get into this book, the first half didn’t grip me at all but I enjoyed it by the end and the ending was nice
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Begon matig, maar werd beter.
This was a wholesome novel that featured Terry Pratchett's wit and insight in a YA fashion. Although I enjoyed it, I did miss the more mature, almost pessimistic tones that his other Diskworld series has. The character development was quality and the story, while dark at first and somewhat predictable, had a wonderful progression. I'd recommend this book to a younger reader interested in reading a unique book about survival, friendship, and some quality humor.
Terry Pratchett has written a lot of books and I have read only a fraction of them. However, I believe you would be hard-pressed to find a better one than Nation. This YA novel is not set on his familiar Discworld but is a completely separate story. Mau is on a quest for his manhood when a tidal wave destroys the entirety of his island nation. He is left alone with a young English girl left shipwrecked by the wave. This story gives Pratchett's keen mind and eye the chance to examine and discuss literally world-shaking issues like life, death, faith, religion, science, and even the very nature of story itself. Absolutely brilliant, breathtaking, funny, and moving. Very highly recommended.
Peak writing. Every word feels intentionally placed. Every plot thread has a purpose. Mau and Daphne are great leads and play off each other wonderfully. The climax is awesome. Such a bitterwsweet ending.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This started out with so much promise; I was sure I was going to give it a 5-star review. It has so many tropes that I love: a desert island narrative (with a twist), survival after a natural disaster, cultural exchange, personal growth, and found family. There are also some wonderful moments of humor and dry wit that I loved.
Unfortunately, as the book goes along, Pratchett tries to cram in way too much. This is a YA novel, and he seems overly eager to get young people thinking about big ideas. I'm not against this, of course, but it would have been more effective to pick one or two issues and leave it at that. But Pratchett wants the reader to think about the nature of religion, politics, the role of rules in a society, the history of science, colonialism, racism, death, and more. It drags down the plot, which is otherwise really compelling. I ended up being disappointed with the book as a whole.
Unfortunately, as the book goes along, Pratchett tries to cram in way too much. This is a YA novel, and he seems overly eager to get young people thinking about big ideas. I'm not against this, of course, but it would have been more effective to pick one or two issues and leave it at that. But Pratchett wants the reader to think about the nature of religion, politics, the role of rules in a society, the history of science, colonialism, racism, death, and more. It drags down the plot, which is otherwise really compelling. I ended up being disappointed with the book as a whole.
emotional
funny
reflective
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes