On Thursday at 7 p.m., author M.T. Anderson will be reading from and signing his new book, The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Vol. II, The Kingdom on the Waves, in the Central Library’s Microsoft Auditorium.
Why should you go?
For one thing, this event is hosted by University Bookstore, and they often raffle off very cool prizes.
For another, Anderson is one of the best authors writing for teens* today. You’ve probably heard of The Pox Party (the first in the Octavian Nothing series), which won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature in 2006. It tells the story of an African American boy of the Revolutionary period who receives an excellent classical education from a group of radical philosophers. But he slowly discovers that he is a captive in an experiment, designed to test the natural intelligence of African people.
Anderson’s books often feature teen guys facing dark, sometimes terrifying worlds. Feed (a favorite of Nancy Pearl’s) takes place in a future where people don’t bother to go online anymore–they have the Internet (and all the ads that come with it) implanted directly into their brains. If you think commercials are annoying now, imagine what it would feel like to be forced to watch people frolicking in khaki pants every time you walked past a Gap.
Not into dystopic futures? How about vampires? In Thirsty, Chris seems to be slowly turning into one. But maybe it’s just puberty. Sometimes it’s so hard to tell.
So swing by the auditorium on Thursday night and see what the kids are reading. I think you’ll be impressed.
*Of course, he has also written some great children’s books, and lots of adults I know have read and loved his books.
Leave a Comment