The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation Vol. 1 The Pox Party

[Rachel]

Has anyone read this? If so, I would be interested in seeing your comments about it. I personally liked it but there were many points that I was a bit disturbed/disgusted with.

[Julia]

I have read it and I like it.

It's historical fiction set at the tme of the Revolutionary War. It's written very densely, in the first person of a very well- educated young man. It's not easy reading, by any means. You also might look at Laurie Halse Anderson's Chains.

[Rachel]

I read that book before this one, also really well written. I was just wondering what others thought as it was so completely different from any other YA book I'd read. Most people, at least on Goodreads it seems, either loved it or hated it.

[Brigid ✩]

Well, I have to say I'm one of the ones who hated it. I loved the premise of it and thought it had a haunting message. But it's one of those books where it started off slow and I thought "Oh, it will get more exciting" and for me, it just didn't. I thought it dragged for a really long time and I wasn't crazy about the writing style. I sort of skimmed through the second half of it because I got bored.

[Kelly]

I am a good reader, but I too was bored to tears with this. I can't think what people so enjoyed about this book. Was it the fact the protagonist was black? I think in the current pc environment, people are scared to say they don't like something for fear that others may accuse them of prejudice. I liked the premise of this book, but the prose was thick and the story slow. I can't think of any of my teen readers who would enjoy it. I reminded me of some of the Pulitzer winners where the text was obscure and strange just so they'd catch the eye of the judges.

[Rachel]

I'm not saying I absolutely loved the book, but the story as a whole was interesting. I will agree with you Kelly, that I don't think many teens would enjoy or understand the book. I think most award-winning books are often in the eye of the beholder as to whether they should have won said award. I know I've disagreed with other books winning say the Newberry or Caldecott, when I thought another book published that year was much better.

[Julia]

No, Octavian Nothing is not for poor readers.
And Kelly, I didn't like it because the main character is black. But the concept of these monster Enlightenment philosophes raising him and his mother as a "scientific" experiment was chilling and fascinating.
It was written densely because that is how educated people of that time and place wrote, spoke and thought.
And then what happened to Octavian later, well...

[Kelly]

Julia. I wasn't accusing anyone here of reverse racism. I do think that sometimes professional reviewers won't overly criticize a book when there could be political backlash. I realize the book was written in the tone of the age, but as a YA teacher who would love to be able to use a period-type book of this kind in the course of teaching, I think the density drives off many readers who otherwise could benefit from this Handmaides's Tale-esque book. I didn't like it myself because I was bored. I'm a little ADD and if a book hasn't captured me within about 100 pages, it is difficult to persevere. :)

[Julia]

Kelly,

Have you seen Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson? It's set at pretty much the same time period, with a slave girl, who also doesn't know where to run, but doesn't have Octavian Nothing's dubious "advantages."

Also look at this one, again with a female protagonist.

If it's slavery/ Handmaid's Tale you're looking for try . My high school students *loved* it and it promoted much discussion.

[Kritika]

I just got this book from the library, so I guess I'll let you know what I think in a few days. As Rachel said, people either love it or hate it. I'm a rather critical reader, so I might land up being a 'hate.'