Nothing is Something

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing is a superbly crafted historical novel about a black youth in colonial American who is raised in a house of rational philosophy and classical education. As he continues his elite education, he discovers that he is merely a subject of an experiment to determine the intellectual power of Africans. After his mother's death, he runs away and joins the Patriot's cause. However, he is recaptured and brought back only to be forced to wear an iron mask.

There are two major reasons why I would recommend parent's buy this novel for their young adult. First, it has a particularly challenging style. There are differing narrators, 18th century language and multiple forms of narrative including letters and correspondences. While this form will challenge the reader it will also strengthen their interpretive and comprehension skills. Also, there are sections in which Octavian has scribbled over all of his writing in a moment of frustrated storytelling. I especially enjoyed these types of sections because it makes the reader aware of the job which a narrator has in telling their tale. Instead of a single author weaving a narrative, it highlights the notion that there is a human narrator with human behavior and capabilities.

Second, the novel is semi-historical. While Octavian may be a fictional character, he is living in historically accurate times. The racism, patriotism and rebellion of colonial America is all truthful and conveyed in the novel. Hence, I see this as a possibility for young students who may not be particularly interested in American History to learn the subject by means of a fictional story. The characters of the novel can be enticing hooks to bring young readers into the reality of history in a way that a objective textbook cannot. Thus, if you know a young adult who drags their feet through their history class, this novel could possibly provide the spark needed to liven up the subject.

Recommendation: Eye-opening and a great window into history for young adults; equally interesting in the historical aspect for an adult read as well.