Read Aloud Virginia - Book Store - The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party

	List Price: $10.99 Our Price: $8.79 Your Save: $ 2.20 ( 20% ) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Manufacturer: Candlewick
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Binding: Paperback EAN: 9780763636791 ISBN: 0763636797 Label: Candlewick Manufacturer: Candlewick Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 384 Publication Date: 2008-01-22 Publisher: Candlewick Reading Level: Young Adult Release Date: 2008-01-22 Studio: Candlewick
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Editorial Reviews: Young Octavian is being raised by a group of rational philosophers known only by numbers. After he opens a forbidden door he learns the hideous nature of their experiments and his own chilling role in them. Set in Revolutionary Boston, M.T. Anderson's mesmerizing novel takes place at a time when Patriots battled to win liberty while African slaves were entreated to risk their own lives for a freedom they would never claim. The first of two parts (volume two will be published in fall 2008), this deeply provocative novel reimagines the past as an eerie place that has startling resonance for readers today.
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Johnny Tremaine for adults Comment: This book furthers my annoyance with publishers who categorize every book whose main character is under 20 as "young adult." Plenty of young adults can and do read adult novels, of which this is one - and an excellent one at that. It explores the ethical implications of prizing property over human welfare, which is something our nation still needs to wrestle with. It looks at a slice of U.S. history from the viewpoint of a slave in Massachusetts, something we northerners would like to pretend was an anomaly. It pokes fun at scientific endeavors that presume to extrapolate from natural laws to ethical laws. While the subject matter is certainly dark, there is also a keen sense of irony and a dry humor woven throughout the story. I'm eager to read the next installment. Customer Rating: Summary: Disturbing, Twisted and not good for young minds Comment: I purchased this book for my young teen. Fortunately I started reading it before she did. Not only is the language much too complex for a teen, but the content is dark and disturbing. This book will make good firewood. Customer Rating: Summary: Challenging but amazing Comment: This book was amazing. It is definitely challenging, but as a teenager I love to embrace challenges in my reading. After you get accostumed to the language used, it gets easier to read and it is deeply rewarding at the end. However, if you like easy, fluffy reads, this is not for you. Customer Rating: Summary: Not a good book at all. Comment: This book is a waste of time. It takes way to long to get the story going and if you don't have a lot of time on your hands you wont understand a word in the book. The book only gets good for the last 50 pages which is a waste. 3/10 Customer Rating: Summary: restores faith in storytelling Comment: This book is one of those rare things that teaches or reminds its reader of the pleasures of reading. It is clear and poignant. Technically it uses lots of different kinds of narrative--like a less boring Tristram Shandy, and has a charming engagement with period language that isn't distracting or detracting from the story. This is perfect for any curious and smart young person, and really good for anyone, really. I wish I'd had it as a kid. I see that another reviewer claims the book bashes science--I'm not sure. In fact, I think it has a really wonderfully multi-sided take on the wonders of Enlightenment intellectual endeavor, and at least this reader found an alternative interpretation much more likely. More Reviews