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In a parallel universe set in the time when the British were still exploring and claiming new worlds a plague has affected many of its citizens. On its quest to bring the daughter of the new king back to London, the Sweet Judy is shipwrecked by a tidal wave.

On his journey into manhood Mau had just found the canoe that will take him to his home island where he will become a man. When he arrives, Mau finds that the tidal wave has taken the lives of his entire island Nation.

But when much is taken, something is returned and together Daphne and Mau confront the aftermath of catastrophe. Drawn by the smoke of Mau and Daphne's sheltering fire, other refugees slowly arrive: children without parents, mothers without babies, husbands without wives—all of them hungry and all of them frightened.

Nation was my first Terry Pratchett novel and I enjoyed the journey into this imaginary world and the story told with realism and humor. The characters question faith, struggle to keep their new family safe and overcome the hurdles of a lifestyle turned upside down all while forging a new Nation. I recommend this book to all YA readers.

I've read all Terry Pratchett books (in order!), and loved every one. Most of his books are set squarely in the disc world, a fantastic creation that mimics the foibles of our own world.

Pratchett loves to play with words (puns) and knows how to turn a phrase. He's a delight to read, and a master storyteller. On a deeper level, he likes to deal with deeper themes. In Nation, he explores the primal need of people to create their gods. It is a very real, and ultimately sympathetic look at the core of our humanness.

PICK UP ANY PRATCHETT BOOK... part fantasy, part mystery, part commentary... and all great good fun! You will quickly have favorite characters... all a must read!

And this one is NOT just for young readers!

I had never read a Terry Pratchett story before - I don't think this one will be my last! I read a review of this in the Washington Post a few months ago and immediately put it on my wish list.

Having never read Pratchett, I was not sure what to expect and found myself immediately immersed in a very exciting, humorous, entertaining story. It was basically a simple story of a boy on a South Pacific island who loses everything after a giant tsunami destroys his world. A young girl is also shipwrecked on the island and together they rebuild the Nation with the help of others who eventually show up in canoes from other nearby locations. The story takes place in an alternate reality sometime in the 19th century. There are some really great moments in the story and overall it was very enjoyable. Highly recommend.

I love Terry Pratchett's writing, and this is one of his best! I got this book for my wife for Christmas, and it took a lot of reserve to not read it before she received it!

Reviewed by Lynn Crow for TeensReadToo.com

Mau is away from his small island when a giant wave destroys his village, leaving him alone - and unable to complete the ceremony that would have given him his man's soul. It takes all his strength just to carry on, with the voices of his ancestors haunting him.

Daphne finds herself the lone survivor when the ship she was traveling on crashes into Mau's island on the same wave. With little to guide her but her grandmother's training for high society, she isn't sure whether to approach Mau as a potential friend or foe.

As other survivors gather on the island, Mau and Daphne form a bond and work to create a society that's all their own. Mau begins to believe in himself despite his fear that he lacks a soul. Daphne realizes there are far more important things than propriety.

But when all they've gained is threatened by an outside enemy, will their makeshift community be able to hold steady?

NATION has everything you could ask for in a novel. Its dramatic scenes are both poignant and moving, with Pratchettt's customary humor keeping the proceedings from straying into melodrama. Both main characters are distinctive, and it's a pleasure watching them come into their own throughout the story. The villains are suitably creepy and brutal. Little details of the setting and cultures make it all feel so real.

Highly recommended to both teens and adults.