NOMANSLAND by Lesley Hauge

Nomansland

by Lesley Hauge

6/22/10 - Henry Holt

Teen Fiction

Summary:

Sometime in the future, a lonely, windswept island is populated solely by women. Among these women is a group of teenaged Trackers—expert equestrians and archers—whose job is to protect their shores from the enemy. The enemy, they’ve been told, is men. 

When these girls come upon a partially buried home from the distant past, they are fascinated by the strange objects—high-heeled shoes, teen magazines, make-up—found there. What are they to make of these mysterious things? And what does it mean for their strict society where friendship is forbidden and rules must be obeyed—at all costs?

My Review

Nomansland focuses a post apocalyptic women-only society living a secluded existence on a remote island. All the women/girls are given particular jobs and Keller is among the elite trackers trained to fight if men ever attack. 


It's better than being a breeder - artificially inseminated, your baby taken away. Only the girls are raised by the group. The boys? They're never seen again.  

The girls are stifled - must follow strict rules, deny anything feminine, smother emotions. While they're a unit, friends aren't allowed. Our protagonist, Keller, starts questioning the rules but it's Laing, who is much more cavalier about wanting to break loose. 

When Laing, Callow and Keller secretly find a buried home, they explore the fun teen-girl stuff that they've never experienced. 

The Council shows up, the girls further question all they've been told, Keller discovers uncomfortable truths, makes hard decisions and they all deal with the consequences. 

Nomansland isn't what I expected - a dystopian action/adventure this is not. Nomansland moves slowly but is compelling and powerful. It explores women's roles, the benefits or evils of material things, social interaction, friendship, loyalty, and group thought vs. individuality. 

I got caught up in Keller's dilemmas and Laing's drama and...well, Hauge did a great job making the characters complex and interesting. Some harsh realities are confronted. I actually got teary at the end which was sad and happy, sweet and bitter. Just a lot going on here. 

ROMANCE: None. They're aren't any men (except in a very minimal role) and while homosexuality is hinted at, nothing's developed or explicit.  

Nomansland has been compared to Lowry's The Giver and Gathering Blue, and I'd agree. 

BOTTOMLINE: Thought-provoking, complex dystopian that delves into society/cultural norms and expectations. Intriguing, and while the plot moves along at a slow pace, I was compelled to keep reading, thoroughly invested in the characters and how the story would play out. Who knew such a slow read would keep me captivated? 


Recommended for older teens because of the depth of topics explored - this is not a light read. Nomansland would make a great book club read, especially a mother/daughter group as it could provoke good discussion.

THE COVER: I love it. It looks like a beautiful painting, but I don't think it represents the book well. It gave me the impression that action and battles would ensue. However, the battles are more emotional struggles of will, not physical. 

FIRST LINES: Today Amos, our instructor, keeps us waiting. Our horses grow impatient, stamping and snorting and tossing their heads. When she does appear, she looks even thinner than usual, her bald head bowed in the wind.