The book I have been reading recently for book club is Nation, by Terry Pratchett. It is about a boy called Mau and Daphne, and the Nation they must try to build from nothing. When a giant tsunami destroys Mau’s village, the Grandfathers, the ancient spirits that guide the Nation, demand that Mau rebuilds the Nation. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, the ‘trouserman’ king has died from a plague, and the trouser men need the heir to step forward. The Sweet Judy is hired to bring the heir’s daughter to the coronation, but when the tsunami strikes, the ship is thrust onto Mau’s island, and the heir’s daughter, Daphne, is the only one left. Mau and Daphne meet, and begin to form the Nation. Slowly, more people from other island come to join the Nation, telling tales that the Raiders (a cannibal army) are close behind. Can Mau and Daphne organize the growing Nation to withstand their might?
I think that Mau is tolerant, because he has to learn a lot about becoming a man, and not all of the truths he learns are enjoyable to hear. He has to be confident, or when the Raiders come, if he is not confident and does not lead the Nation, none of the other villagers will have the courage to fight. He is open-minded, because he accepts other’s views when something must be done. In one part, there is a trial, and he shows empathy when he helps Daphne to win it.
Daphne is a communicator because in the beginning of the book, she tries to teach Mau English, and tries hard to learn Mau’s language. Daphne is also knowledgeable, but she hides it in the beginning. She is reflective because she sees the connections between the Nation’s songs and the real world.
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