Matthew Tobin Anderson - The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing

Taking readers back to the birth of the United States,The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing is the story of the son of an African Princess, raised in unique circumstances: having been brought to the American Colonies. Octavian becomes part of a college study, attempting to gauge the intelligence and overall potential of African Americans. Octavian's mother dies due to a college mandated smallpox inoculation, and Octavian is forced to see the world for what it is. The first part of the novel is told in Octavian's narrative, while the second part is told through a sequence of letters. The novel is praised for its creativity and chaotic storyline. Teenagers are able to understand and relate to the story without having to know all the historical details in the novel. This novel has also attained its prestigious reputation based on the effort Anderson dedicated to researching the historical aspects of the book. Anderson tried to make the language as accurate to the time period, the 18th century, as possible.