The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by M.T Anderson

Anderson, M.T. (2006). The astonishing life of octavian nothing: the pox party. New York: Candlewick Press. 

Summary

Octavian has grown up with his mother Cassiopeia, an African princess, in an educated household, surrounded by scientists and philosophers in colonial Boston. Unfortunately, Octavian finds out that his whole life has been a lie. He is being "groomed" in a terrible experiment that is trying to prove that despite education and a great upbringing, African Americans will always be inferior to the European race. When the experiment goes awry, Octavian and his mother are put under the watchful and hateful eye of Richard Sharpe. When a terrible fate is bestowed upon Cassiopeia, Octavian joins the Colonial Army and fights for the freedom of African Americans. 

Review

This was a terrible yet wonderful story about the determination of Octavian and his fight for equality. Tweens, teens, and even adults will want to throw this book against the wall at the same time of running to pick it up and finish reading it. This book is written in a very strong manner, and the language is intriguing yet easy to read. Tweens will relate to Octavian as he tries to do good and fight for what is right. His character will show tweens that everyone can make a difference. 

Genre

Historical Fiction

Reading Age/Interest Level

12-18 years/Tween-Teen

Similar Books

The Absolute Diary of a Part Time Indian- Sherman Alexle

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation
Characters

• Octavian: A boy of African descent, and technically a slave in the Gitney household, although he is brought up in luxury for much of his childhood. He is very skilled at the violin, quiet, and is fluent in Latin, French, and Greek.
• Cassiopeia: Octavian's Mother and an "African princess" known for her superior wit. At age 13 and pregnant, she was sold into slavery and purchased by Mr. Gitney.
• Mr. Gitney (03-01): The head of the Novanglian College of Lucidity and the owner of Cassiopeia and Octavian.
• Dr. Trefusis (09-01): Octavian's classics teacher.
• Lord Cheldthorpe: A Lord from England who comes to the colonies to see if he wants to continue the monetary support that his deceased uncle formerly provided for the Novanglian College of Lucidity. He has an especial fondness for Cassiopeia, but she refuses to return to England with him when he says that they can not marry; he quarrels with Octavian and Cassiopeia, who are brutally punished. He then refuses to continue support the Society.
• Bono: A slave in the Gitney household whose full name is "Pro Bono", because when his mother was purchased she was pregnant, so he was an added "bonus". Bono and Octavian become good friends, and when Bono is sold to a Southern owner, he leaves Octavian with a means to escape.
• Mr. Sharpe: The man funds the Novanglian College of Lucidity when Lord Cheldthorpe refuses to continue his support. He strives to prove that Africans are inferior to please his plantation-owning patrons in the South.

Awards

National Book Award Winner 2006

Michael L. Printz Winner and Honor Book

Readers Annotation

The part of history that you never read about. 

Pendragon: The Merchant of Death by D.J MacHale

MacHale, D.J(2002). Pendrahon: the merchant of death. New York: Alladin Publishing. 

Summary

The story takes place in the Denduron territory which, other than having three moons, is exactly like Earth. This book is the first in the series and has two different subplots, one is Bobby's adventures in Denduron and the other is on Second Earth where Bobby's friends, Mark and Courtney, live and they communicate with each other through Bobby's journals. 

The story begins when Bobby Pendragon is taken by his uncle Press to an abandoned subway station where he discovers that he, like his uncle, is a traveler with the ability to travel through space and time. At the station, Bobby is taken to a world called Denduron where evil Saint Dane is starting a war between the ruling Bedoowan and the enslaved Milago miners. As soon as they arrive, Bobby is captured and scheduled to be executed. 

Review

Soooooooo, great! This book is easy to read, very fast paced, and readers will fall in love with Bobby and the other strong characters introduced in this book. Fans of Harry Potter and Charlie Bone will love this series and will finish wanting more. 

Genre

Fantasy

Readers Age/Interest Level

10-13 years/Tween

Similar Books

Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Coifer

Harry Potter series- J.K Rowling

Charlie Bone series by Jenny Nimmo
Characters

Robert "Bobby" Pendragon - The main character of the story, a 14-year-old boy from Second Earth. He doesn't want to be part of his destiny as traveler but he has to accept it for all the territories. Especially Second Earth. Bobby always seems to mess things up but he is brave and has smart thinking. Bobby is very brave throughout the whole book.

Saint Dane - The villain of the story, an evil Traveler capable of shape-shifting. His goal is to bring chaos to Halla and re-build it for himself. Halla is everything that separates good from evil. It is very common of Saint Dane to make himself in a important position so he can create war and chaos on the inside feeding information and causing wars in all the territories.

Press Tilton - Bobby's uncle. A very experienced Traveler, who helps Bobby learn as he becomes one. He is one of the older generation of Travelers, so he is able to answer most of Bobby's questions. Later, he told Bobby that he was not his real, blood-related uncle. All the Milago look up to him and he will always fight for the good of things.

Mark Dimond - Bobby's best friend from Second Earth; described as a science nerd, long black hair that "always looks as if it should be washed", and extremely intelligent. He is the one Bobby sends all his records to while he is in other territories. He teams up with Courtney to help their friend.

Courtney Chetwynde - Another of Bobby's friends from Earth and his love life; described as doing pretty well academically with the exception of math, and is amazing at sports. She is Bobby's friend, girlfriend, and wife. She teams up with Mark Dimond.

Loor - The traveler from Zadaa. She is described as an extremely attractive warrior. Loor travels to Denduron with her adoptive mother to help stop Saint Dane. She shuns Bobby because of her mothers death, but later makes up with him. She is very mean to Bobby but when he does a heroic act at the end, Bobby is forgiven

Readers Annotation

Not a great family reunion.....

The Forge- Laurie Halse Anderson

Anderson, L. (2010). Forge. New York: Antheneum.
Summary
Fifteen year old Curzon Smith, freed from slavery during the Revolutionary War by stubborn Miss Isabel Finch, is stuck in another ordeal when he ends up saving the life of a young Patriot in 1777 after battling the British and won. Because of this he is made a member of the 16th regiment of the Continental Army and spends the winter with them. Readers are given first hand accounts of the grueling winter of 1777-1778 and the lack of food, supplies, and hope among the soldiers. Then, if by fate or by very bad luck, both Curzon and Isabel are captured and must devise a plan of escape.
Review
Readers of Speak or Wintergirls will be pleasantly surprised at Anderson's second historical fiction book. Forge is a great account of one's search for freedom, both for their fellow man and for themselves. This book can either be read after Chains, or it can be read as a stand alone novel.
Genre
Historical Fiction
Readers Age/Interest Level
13-18 years/Tween-Teen
Similar Books
(PREQUEL) Chains- Laurie Halse Anderson
Moon Over Manifest- Clare Vanderpool
Woods Runner- Gary Paulsen
Awards

• Junior Library Guild Selection
• Kirkus Best Book for Teens: Historical Novels 2010
• The Horn Book Fanfare List Best Book of 2010
• YALSA 2011 Best Books for Young Adults
• Readers Annotation
• Just as Curzan escapes his physical prison, he is forced into another as he has to keep is true identity a secret in order to survive.