Finding himself alone on a desert island when everything and everyone he knows and loved has been washed away in a huge storm, Mau is the last surviving member of his nation. He's also completely alone - or so he thinks until he finds the ghost girl. She has no toes, wears strange lacy trousers like the grandfather bird and gives him a stick which can make fire. Daphne, sole survivor of the wreck of the Sweet Judy, almost immediately regrets trying to shoot the native boy. Thank goodness the powder was wet and the gun only produced a spark. She's certain her father, distant cousin of the Royal family, will come and rescue her but it seems, for now, all she has for company is the boy and the foul-mouthed ship's parrot. As it happens, they are not alone for long.Other survivors start to arrive to take refuge on the island they all call the Nation and then raiders accompanied by murderous mutineers from the Sweet Judy. Together, Mau and Daphne discover some remarkable things - including how to milk a pig and why spitting in beer is a good thing - and start to forge a new Nation.

As can be expected from Terry Pratchett, the master story-teller, this new children's novel is both witty and wise, encompassing themes of death and nationhood, while being extremely funny. Mau's ancestors have something to teach us all. Mau just wishes they would shut up about it and let him get on with saving everyone's lives!

(amazon.de)



Finally managed to get this wishlist book, and read it in 2 or 3 days. It's brilliant! For a book for young readers, it touches really complicated topics, like coping with death, questioning religion, cross-cultural communication, and all kinds of ethical questions including, if you think while you read, a question about the death sentence (only it approaches this from an unsusual direction). It's about every stage of life and the questions (and tasks and responsibilities) that come with it. It's about how democracy could really work... Pratchett manages to treat all this in a gentle, intelligent way that's really suitable for young readers (of all ages). He provides possible answers to a lot of questions (most of them asked, explicitly or implicitly) by the character of Mau. But I think that maybe this story raises a lot more questions - and it's meant to make you think. (In this I believe it succeeds.)
I love this book, and I recommend it to everyone on this planet. :)

Oh yes - and I love the pictures of the stars, and the map of the island - to me it looks just like a hermit crab's shell (and that's possibly done with purpose). ;))

PC - but can and will be loaned out to friends (who will hopefully write JEs in return).