Something is Returned

Nation by Terry Pratchett
Reviewed by Emma


Nation is an amazing book. Period.

Nation is a book about a boy named Mau who goes to an island to become a man, just as every other true man that ever lived on the island called Nation had. He makes himself a boat to get back to Nation, then, there is a tsunami; Every person that was on Nation at the time is killed by the murderous wave, though Nation isn't the only island which feels this tragedy. Mau survives and paddles back to his home to find the hundreds of family members and friends laying dead. He makes himself a hut and while he is asleep a spirit version of himself clears away the bodies and sends them all into the ocean to become dolphins, an animal formerly worshiped by his people. When he wakes up there is a strange breakfast in front of his hut. Mau searches for this unseen provider of food and finds her easily. She is Daphne, an English-woman. They are scared of each other the first day, but then they really meet each other and become friends. They overcome challenges like speaking different languages and helping the 100 or so people that come to Nation as their last hope, only to find that Nation had also been overrun by the tidal wave. But the quote on the front of the book: "When much is taken, something is returned" holds true and they find a way to survive as a new and improved Nation.

The characters in this story are very realistic even though some of the happenings in the story are impossible. I would say that this book might be a little inappropriate for younger readers but that people in the 10+ range would love the book if they like almost-but-not-quite-tragic stories with incredibly satisfying endings.