Octavian Nothing

This book is another very interesting read. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, by M.T. Anderson, is different than any book I have ever read. The plot is focused towards a young boy, Octavian, who realizes that his entire life is being controlled and that, in reality, he has no freedom. Unlike books such as The Outsiders or Hunger Games, this book takes a bit of time to really get into. If your child is the type who only likes book that are interesting right from the get-go (which was the way I was as a kid) then this book may be a struggle to get through at first. I would strongly urge your kids to push through though!

The book can be considered a 'coming-of-age saga' due to Octavian's struggles and eventual awareness of the way life really is. This book is not a simple read or a lighthearted text. It deals with Gothic themes and is quite 'heady', but it is also a book that really makes you "think". It is deep but also has very rich with ideas.

~Spoiler Alert~

This next session will be dedicated to details within the text. Themes, characters, what I thought of it, and possibly how it ended. If you don't want the ending to be given away than please don't continue!

Octavian spends his life thinking that he is a normal boy, living in a normal home, with normal surroundings. He lives in a house full of philosophers and scientists, and he has received a phenomenal classical and musical education. Eventually Octavian realizes that his life is far from normal, and that he is actually an experiment to prove that the African race is inferior to the European race. For me, the story really began to get interesting when Mr. Gitney held a 'Pox Party', in which everyone was infected with the pox. When Octavian's mother, Cassiopeia, is killed my the pox and eventually dissected, Octavian flees from the house, resulting in his enlist in the colonial army.

Although the book began to get more interesting, it also was a little weird to me. The fact that Cassiopeia is dissected was quite alarming. I know that she and her son were seen as 'experiments' but this part of the book just seemed a little unnecessary for some reason. It may just be my biased opinion because I don't exactly like those kinds of things :).

Octavian's time in the army is told from a different perspective, Private Goring's, which adds more depth to the novel. It is interesting to see the different views throughout the book. When the book is eventually picked back up by Octavian, he is recaptured and back to the Gintley house. The end of the book leaves readers wanting more, which I find very intriguing and I hope to be able to read the second novel soon.

This book can show your young readers how thankful they should be for the freedom they have. Octavian must fight to get away, when we all are given our freedom. I really felt as if a major theme was racism. The doctors are attempting to prove that the African race is 'second-rate' when being compared with the European race. This book shows how we are all people with feelings and everyone deserves to be treated with respect.

Overall, I liked the book but I would not consider it a 'must read!' I found the characters well developed and the themes well thought out. Anderson is a great writer, so if you are looking for a book that is well developed with an interesting story and characters, than this is the one!

*There are swear words throughout the novel a a few 'intense' scenes, but they would not be a big enough deal to not have your child read the book.