Nation by Terry Pratchett

After a great wave hits, Mau is the only survivor of his island village. He is joined by other survivors, some islanders like him, and one very different girl from the west. His people, the Nation, had a very rich culture and oral tradition of history. As they do the work of surviving each day, Mau battles with the voices of his people's past and the new experiences brought on by exposure to other cultures. Along the way, Mau grows from a regular boy to a great man.

This book will appeal to readers that enjoy survival stories, folklore, history, and even science. The interweaving of folklore throughout the story adds an element of mysticism that makes the reader wonder if there is some fantasy happening, too.

I'd recommend this book to middle schoolers.