The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A historical novel of prodigious scope, power and insight. . . . This is the Revolutionary War seen at its intersection with slavery through a disturbingly original lens." --Kirkus Reviews - Starred review, September 15, 2006

Anderson's imaginative and highly intelligent exploration of...the ambiguous history of America's origins will leave readers impatient for the sequel. -- New York Times Book Review, November 12, 2006

Review

"Anderson's imaginative and highly intelligent exploration of the horrors of human experimentation and the ambiguous history of America's origins will leave readers impatient for the promised sequel."

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (January 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763636797
• ISBN-13: 978-0763636791
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #72,552 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best novels I've read in the past year--YA or otherwise, April 26, 2008

By	a reader (Honolulu, HI) - See all my reviews

I LOVED this book. However, it is most certainly not for everyone. This is a challenging read. The language is difficult and even antiquated in parts, but 1) I make it a habit to read with a dictionary nearby so this didn't faze me, and 2) even when I wasn't in the mood to stop reading to look something up, I was still able to figure out the meaning of the text based on the overall context. Besides, after about 50 pages or so, I became accustomed to the writing style and then I blazed through the rest of the book.

If you're willing to put in the effort, the payoff is huge. The characters are believable. The story is horrific, heartbreaking, and somehow hopeful at the same time. The language is stunningly gorgeous in parts. The subject matter is fascinating, and it made me think about our country's history from a different perspective. Also, if you don't read too many reviews that all but spoil the plot for you (Anderson slowly reveals the reality of the situation to the reader as Octavian begins to realize what's going on), the tension and mystery of it propels you along. The cliffhanger ending was perfect, and I cannot wait for the second book in the series to be published.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Disturbingly Beautiful - but for young readers?, January 28, 2008

By	Steven Boe "Dogmatic" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is very disturbing but in a a beautiful dark way. I bought it from the title alone so I didn't know what I was getting myself into but was pleasantly surprised. Anderson has an incredible way of describing emotions on a variety of levels. It says this book is for young readers but I found nothing that seemed to support this. Maybe it's only for very intelligent and deep young readers however I think the subject matter would be great for all of todays teens to study.

Unfortunately the ending leaves you hanging and doesn't seem complete. I'm not patient enough to wait another year for Volume 2.


Bottom line is if you like dark, tragically sad, well written books I would recommend this one.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Yet Disturbing Read, March 6, 2008

By	Joy To The World (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

M.T. Anderson does an amazing job of capturing the heartache and brutality of slavery in this early American story. Complex characters and a plot with many twists and turns add to the quality of the read, and one is rarely sure who is a friend and who is an enemy. The vocabulary of the book is clearly intended to help the readers remember that they are in a different time, but it is not difficult to comprehend. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for good, challenging historical fiction. I do offer one warning though: this book may not work for those with weak stomachs.