This the first Pratchett book I read and was pleasantly surprised by the richness of the fabulous paradise turned horror world he created in a few short pages. We start with Mau, the young teenage hero, caught up with proving he is a man by taking an overnight camping trip on a neighboring island. Sound familiar? All the tiny little adolescent angst about making it in his isolated island world is washed away by the Big Wave. Well, we all may have had a Big Wave of sorts in our lives. Mau is the last of his kind, surviving by chance. Enter Daphne, the young daughter of a British noble, the last of her ship to survive and together they begin to re-found the Nation. Not that funny, but thought-provoking in an anthropological way...why believe in gods who allow your family to die? Why worry about Grandma's silly manners in a bug-infested jungle? The two eventually are joined by more natives and explore the island to discover amazing truths (a bit over the top) of their outer and inner worlds. A "happy ending" ensues to leave you wonder about the nature of loyalty, duty and choice. Great read for teens and adults. Look forward to more by the author.

Who said it was a serious book? It was a parody on serious writing. The whole book was bloated with preachy mumbo-jumbo. A pitiful attempt to find answers on the most basic questions human kind ever worried about. Deities (are they real or not)? Is there an afterlife or not? What is fair and unfair? Enforcing 11-13 years old kids to act as 25 years mature people.
While reading this book I had a feeling that I am watching a badly written stage play of one-dimensional unlikeable characters.

Terry Pratchett is my favorite author, and Nation is one of his best ever. Though it is billed as a children's story, it speaks to adults as well, and makes us look at how we would react at a time of total upheaval in our life. It is not a Discworld story, but takes place in a world very close to ours. As we celebrate Discworld holidays ( Soul Cake Tuesday, Hogswatch) we now celebrate Mothering Sunday. Read the book to find out!

Nation is quite possibly the best book Terry Pratchett has ever written. And I've been a Terry Pratchett fan for years and years. It was thoughtful, insightful, and has that rare blend of humor and looking the world in a new way that I always enjoy in Terry Pratchett's work. But this book took it to a new level.

If you like to think and laugh and cry about the bittersweet world around you, you will enjoy this book.

Pratchett is the best. This wonderful book can be read on a number of levels, (although you'll be disappointed if you expect the usual puns and footnotes). Instead of light and bubbly, this book is sad and quiet and deep. This book has a soul.