The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation
by M.T. Anderson
Candlewick Press, Cambridge, MA: 2006
ISBN: 0-7636-2402-0

Plot Summary:
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing is the story of an slave who was a prince in Africa before being brought to America. It begins when Octavian is around six years old. He lives in a house inhabited by scientists and philosophers who we later learn are experimenting with Octavian as well. His mother was an African princess, and at first she is treated as one, rather than a slave. Octavian is taught the ancient languages and science, and also has his food and excrement weighed and recorded daily.

During the build-up to the Revolutionary War, the College of Lucidity starts to lose its funding. A new manager, Mr. Sharpe, is brought in to bring the College's experiments into line with what the investors want. The investors, as it turns out, are pro-slavery and seek to prove that the African race is inferior, and therefore they should be allowed to use them as slaves. Mr. Sharpe drastically changes Octavian's lessons, and puts him to work around the house--something he's never had to do before.

Eventually the Mr. Sharpe moves the College to Boston in fear either the war or a slave uprising. Mr. Gitney, the head of the College decides to throw a "pox party" where a group of people are infected with a weak strain of small pox in the hope of staving off a worse infection. However, Octavian's mother ends up dying from this "vaccine," sending Octavian into a deep despair. One night he remembers where a former slave told him he could find the keys, and he ends up running away.

Through the newspaper ads showing a reward for Octavian's return, and letters from an American soldier, we learn that Octavian is fighting for freedom with the Patriots, and that the College is actively searching for him. They find him and trick him into thinking he is going to play his violin for the army, but instead they take him back to Boston. However, as he is being interrogated by Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Gitney, Dr. Trefusis--Octavian's former tutor--poisons the men, and the two make their escape.

Critical Evaluation:
The premise of Octavian as a specimen in an experiment is very interesting, and the author really does a good job at pointing out the hypocrisy of the Americans fighting for their freedom, all the while making sure the British don't take away their slaves. However, Octavian is a very quiet young man, and that makes it hard to get to know him. I wanted to hear more from him, and was a little disappointed to have to read about his fighting with the Patriots from someone else's point of view.

Hardcore fans of historical fiction will enjoy this book, otherwise the language is almost laughably obscure. At times I felt as though I was reading a paper by a senior in AP History who was trying to use as many big words as he could. Granted, Octavian is a very intelligent young man, and I appreciate not being talked down to, but I felt as though the author was purposely trying to alienate any but the very brightest of young adults. Overall, the language turned what might have been an exciting, philosophical thriller into a stuffy history lesson.

Reader’s Annotation:
Victim of a cruel experiment, a highly educated slave must now learn to fight for his freedom.

Information about the Author:
M.T. Anderson is from Cambridge, Massachusetts and the author of several books for children and young adults. His book Feed was a finalist for the 2002 National Book Award and The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing won the 2006 National Book Award for Young People.

Genre: historical fiction

Curriculum Ties: American history

Booktalking Ideas:
I would introduce Octavian and his mother and their unique status at the College of Lucidity as royal slaves. Then I would talk about the circumstances of the College changing, and why it was necessary to prove that Octavian would fail at his tasks. Finally, I would juxtapose Octavian's fight for freedom with the Patriots' fight for freedom in the book.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
This book is for readers with a very high reading level, ages 16 and up.

Challenge Issues:
This book would be challenged for its graphic depiction of slavery, mainly whippings and bondage. I would explain the library's selection policy, and give the challenger a complaint form to fill out.

Why I chose this book:
I chose this book because it was the recipient of the National Book Award in 2006. It also has a very provocative cover which I thought would grab a teen reader's attention as well.