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Ash #1
The Nature of Ash
Ash McCarthy thinks he finally has it made - revelling in the freedom of student hostel life. But life takes a devastating turn when two police officers knock on his door. Their news forces him to return home and impels him into a shady world of political intrigue, corruption, terrorism and lies ...so many lies. As if this isn't bad enough, the whole country is imploding. While trying to protect his brother, and strangers Travis and Jiao, Ash's fight to uncover the truth turns into a nightmare race to save their lives. The Nature of Ash is a fast-paced thriller that explores love and loss assumptions and prejudices, truth and fiction, and the many faces of 'family'.
- GenresYoung AdultDystopia
361 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2012
2 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Mandy Hager
26 books73 followersMandy Hager is a multi-award winning writer of fiction, most often for young adults. She has won the LIANZA Book Awards for Young Adult fiction 3 times (‘Smashed’ 2008, ‘The Nature of Ash’ 2013, ‘Dear Vincent’ 2014), the NZ Post Children’s Book Awards for YA fiction (‘The Crossing’ 2010), an Honour Award in the 1996 AIM Children’s Book Awards (‘Tom’s Story’), Golden Wings Excellence Award (‘Juno Lucina,’ 2002), Golden Wings Award (‘Run For The Trees’, 2003) and Five Notable Book Awards.
She has also been awarded the 2012 Beatson Fellowship, the 2014 Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship and the 2015 Waikato University Writer in Residence.
In 2015 her novel ‘Singing Home the Whale’ was awarded the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year award, and the Best Young Adult fiction Award from the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. It has also been named a 2016 IBBY Honour Book, an international award. Her historical novel for adults, titled ‘Heloise’, was long-listed for the Ockham Book Awards.
She is a trained teacher, with an Advanced Diploma in Fine Arts (Whitireia) and an MA in Creative Writing for Victoria University. She also writes adult fiction, short stories, non-fiction, educational resources, blogs and articles, and currently tutors the Novel Course for Whitireia’s Creative Writing Programme.
She has also been awarded the 2012 Beatson Fellowship, the 2014 Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship and the 2015 Waikato University Writer in Residence.
In 2015 her novel ‘Singing Home the Whale’ was awarded the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year award, and the Best Young Adult fiction Award from the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. It has also been named a 2016 IBBY Honour Book, an international award. Her historical novel for adults, titled ‘Heloise’, was long-listed for the Ockham Book Awards.
She is a trained teacher, with an Advanced Diploma in Fine Arts (Whitireia) and an MA in Creative Writing for Victoria University. She also writes adult fiction, short stories, non-fiction, educational resources, blogs and articles, and currently tutors the Novel Course for Whitireia’s Creative Writing Programme.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
June 30, 2012
I was really interested in this book. It sounded like a good idea. It is a book set in New Zealand in the near future that deals with issues like: 'home-grown' terrorism, the selling of state owned assets, recycling and the shortage of resources, Chinese owned dairy farms, the marginalization of the disabled, homosexuality, family dynamics and growing unease within society in general.
Mandy Hager deals with most of these issues well. But is all a bit off. I feel like she tried way too hard and in the end the 'voice' and feel of the whole book was cheesy and fake and patronizing. Ash is a boring, frustrating, shallow character most of the time. He's meant to be at university but he seems to have the maturity of a 15 or 16 yr old. I got so sick of his sexist bullshit 'what a waste of those spectacular tits' 'watched her tidy tush (what 19yr old would say tush?)' and all the times he says he wants to bury his face in his friends cleavage... puke.
Ash's narration and dialogue really don't seem realistic to me and gave me major cultural cringe. Do people really think young New Zealanders talk like that? Here are some examples: argy-bargy (x3), aforementioned tush, bro-browed, jeezus, bugger me, mate mate mate this and that all over the fucking show, you little bugger, chur bro (maybe 10 yrs ago), bloody hell, ma, do you mean it? And so many more. He is meant to be a 19 ish year old who grew up in Wellington Central not a 50 yr old farmer trying to be cool. Also they refer to Weta and Kiwi which are Maori words with an s as the plural which is wrong, two weta are still weta not wetas.
The one thing that I am still kind of confused/angry about is Muru VERY SLIGHT SPOILERS POSSIBLY FOLLOW....
So Muru is referred to as a way out hard line grass roots terrorism group 'Maori separatist thing' who are living elusively in the bush.... hmmmm. How much is Mandy Hagar referring to Operation 8 and the group accused of being terrorists in te Urewera? I thought she handled this terribly. 'In the old days it was an anti-colonisation, anti-globalisation thing' ACTUAL MAJOR SPOILER FOLLOWS....
And then it turns out to be a horrible national front type military organisation that abuse woman and deal in dirty drugs? wtf? Where was Hagar coming from with this and why does she kill off the real victim of the story, Ash's Mum, who has mental health problems, has been terribly abused and is addicted to meth? wtf?!
I liked 'The Crossing' by Mandy Hagar and I wanted to like this but I didn't.
Mandy Hager deals with most of these issues well. But is all a bit off. I feel like she tried way too hard and in the end the 'voice' and feel of the whole book was cheesy and fake and patronizing. Ash is a boring, frustrating, shallow character most of the time. He's meant to be at university but he seems to have the maturity of a 15 or 16 yr old. I got so sick of his sexist bullshit 'what a waste of those spectacular tits' 'watched her tidy tush (what 19yr old would say tush?)' and all the times he says he wants to bury his face in his friends cleavage... puke.
Ash's narration and dialogue really don't seem realistic to me and gave me major cultural cringe. Do people really think young New Zealanders talk like that? Here are some examples: argy-bargy (x3), aforementioned tush, bro-browed, jeezus, bugger me, mate mate mate this and that all over the fucking show, you little bugger, chur bro (maybe 10 yrs ago), bloody hell, ma, do you mean it? And so many more. He is meant to be a 19 ish year old who grew up in Wellington Central not a 50 yr old farmer trying to be cool. Also they refer to Weta and Kiwi which are Maori words with an s as the plural which is wrong, two weta are still weta not wetas.
The one thing that I am still kind of confused/angry about is Muru VERY SLIGHT SPOILERS POSSIBLY FOLLOW....
So Muru is referred to as a way out hard line grass roots terrorism group 'Maori separatist thing' who are living elusively in the bush.... hmmmm. How much is Mandy Hagar referring to Operation 8 and the group accused of being terrorists in te Urewera? I thought she handled this terribly. 'In the old days it was an anti-colonisation, anti-globalisation thing' ACTUAL MAJOR SPOILER FOLLOWS....
And then it turns out to be a horrible national front type military organisation that abuse woman and deal in dirty drugs? wtf? Where was Hagar coming from with this and why does she kill off the real victim of the story, Ash's Mum, who has mental health problems, has been terribly abused and is addicted to meth? wtf?!
I liked 'The Crossing' by Mandy Hagar and I wanted to like this but I didn't.
July 25, 2012
This is a cracker read. Disturbingly real, set in Wellington (home for me) and Whanganui New Zealand, Mandy has painted a scenario that's blisteringly plausible and uncomfortably real. Excellent writing.
April 24, 2013
Go to your bosom; Knock there, and ask/your heart what it doth know. Measure for Measure – William Shakespeare. (Epigraph to ‘The Nature of Ash’)
‘It’s so bloody unfair. If those sabre-rattling douches shut the country down, we’ll be sent home. And once you drop out of uni, it’s damn near impossible to get back in. So much for my grand plans of doing good: there’s no way I can be a speech and language specialist if I don’t complete the full three years. With nearly half the working population unemployed already, and all the decent jobs reserved for those who have the right contacts – the stinking rich – chances are we’ll end up slaving in some sweat shop – or, worse, signed up against our wills to fight another no-win war. But, worst of all, back to a life as boring and predictable – and hard – as it was before.’
This is ‘the nature of Ash’ at the beginning of this action-packed, dystopian, political thriller. As well as representing the journey of Ash from self-absorbed teenager, revelling in the boozed life of a uni hostel, to Ash – political activist, hero and provider for all – (hmmm…) the title is resonant, because ‘ash’ brings to mind so many literary allusions that is has real depth as a metaphor.
This novel is set in an unspecified future in Wellington and Whanganui. While we are not ever directly told it is the future, we make that assumption because of the referral to relatively new buildings (Te Papa and the Cake Tin – Westpac Stadium Wellington) as being the ‘old’ museum and the ‘old’ stadium. Kowhai Park in Whanganui is, sadly, a wreck as well. The political world is a mess, with an evil Bill Chambers as Prime Minister, and the Western Alliance - aka WA (USA, UK, Australia, Taiwan, Malaysian Federation, Republic of Indonesia, Peru) and the United People’s Republic – aka UPR (China, East Russia, United Korea, Japan, Republic of Indochina, Fiji and Chile) being the big boys that little New Zealand is squeezed between. There are also State-siders – citizens of the USA. The only State-siders referenced in the book are evil manipulators of Muru – an activist group that has been taken over by WA secret service agents (aforementioned state-siders) for their own wicked purposes.
These acronyms dehumanise those involved to the extent that they become paper-thin manipulators and manipulated, according to the needs of the plot. Shaun McCarthy, of the CTU (Combined Trade Union) is the face of the good guys – and the book is littered with his pithy aphorisms, reminding us of exactly what a good guy he was – Freedom has a very thin veneer if you look too closely. He is Ashley’s dad, and is killed in a bombing of CTU headquarters at the beginning of the story – but who did the bombing – and who did the manipulating become the question.
New Zealand is effectively in a state of war. Ash has to get his younger brother Mikey, who has Down Syndrome, to a safe place, and along the way collects together a somewhat eccentric band of followers. There is Jiao, a Chinese student whom he is initially suspicious of, since he assumes her allegiance to the UPR.
‘How the hell can they get away with this? It’s an outright act of war.’
‘They?’ Jiao’s eyebrow lifts.
‘Come on. Even you must see that it’s the UPR.’
She tucks the collar of Dad’s dressing gown under her chin. ‘Jumping to conclusions never helps.’
‘Conclusions?’ I bark it out before I can switch down my volume. ‘It’s pretty bloody obvious. They’ve been screwing with our politics for years.’
‘As you and every country in the Western Alliance have screwed with theirs.’
However, Ash develops trust for Jiao as he sees Mikey’s devotion to her. And there is Travis - alcoholic and would be drama student, son of Police Officer, Jeannie Smith, who takes an initially unfathomable maternal role in the story. And Erich, neurosurgeon turned ‘green’, and (handily) benefactor and Lucinda Lasch, dad’s lawyer, who to Ash’s surprise and admiration – F*** me, she really is a porn star! All she needs is fishnets and a whip,(not sure on Goodreads policy for offensive language in quotes) was possibly his father’s girlfriend as well. Ash is very hormonally driven – although maybe this was a little over done. Having said that, it wasn’t unbelievable, just tiresome.
The story moves along at a cracking pace. There is always another twist to the plot, another character flaw or strength to be revealed and another of Dad’s pithy aphorisms ‘Note to self: Dad was right. Irony is just hypocrisy with style.’ Certainly Ash is a well drawn character, and this story is exactly as self-absorbed and black and white as his character should be. And I think that this is appropriate. Very few of the other characters in this story are really fleshed out to any degree at all, except with their relevance to Ash, although there are a few attempts, ‘Note to self: nobody is as straightforward as they first seem – even pissheads (and big busted girls originally from the UPR)’.
There are some real strengths to this book – the plot is complex and relatively unpredictable. There are no zombies or vampires – which is a relief. Ash is a believable character, in many ways. I can see it appealing to a wide readership. The political stance and eco-politics asks readers to reflect on how our society could end up, if we are not vigilant and thoughtful.
O, it is excellent
To have a giant’s strength; but it is tyrannous
To use it like a giant.
(Measure for Measure, William Shakespeare).
It is certainly no hardship to read. I read it in two sittings, in under a day. I found myself comparing it to other titles – for example, Tomorrow When the War Began. I vastly prefer Ellie to Ash as a character, but as I reflected on the similarities and differences between the two, I realised that The Nature of Ash doesn’t brush over the politics, the politics drive the book, possibly to the detriment of character. It kind of makes Tomorrow, When the War Began feel a little lightweight in comparison. It is good to have provocative literature. There were strongly espoused beliefs in here that could do with exploration. This should bring about many a lively discussion – I really hope so. I give this about 4/5 stars, because there is so much that is worthwhile in it. I see it as best suited to readers of 13+.
Read other reviews here:
◾My Best Friends Are Books
◾Bob’s Books Blog
Read about Mandy Hagar.
‘It’s so bloody unfair. If those sabre-rattling douches shut the country down, we’ll be sent home. And once you drop out of uni, it’s damn near impossible to get back in. So much for my grand plans of doing good: there’s no way I can be a speech and language specialist if I don’t complete the full three years. With nearly half the working population unemployed already, and all the decent jobs reserved for those who have the right contacts – the stinking rich – chances are we’ll end up slaving in some sweat shop – or, worse, signed up against our wills to fight another no-win war. But, worst of all, back to a life as boring and predictable – and hard – as it was before.’
This is ‘the nature of Ash’ at the beginning of this action-packed, dystopian, political thriller. As well as representing the journey of Ash from self-absorbed teenager, revelling in the boozed life of a uni hostel, to Ash – political activist, hero and provider for all – (hmmm…) the title is resonant, because ‘ash’ brings to mind so many literary allusions that is has real depth as a metaphor.
This novel is set in an unspecified future in Wellington and Whanganui. While we are not ever directly told it is the future, we make that assumption because of the referral to relatively new buildings (Te Papa and the Cake Tin – Westpac Stadium Wellington) as being the ‘old’ museum and the ‘old’ stadium. Kowhai Park in Whanganui is, sadly, a wreck as well. The political world is a mess, with an evil Bill Chambers as Prime Minister, and the Western Alliance - aka WA (USA, UK, Australia, Taiwan, Malaysian Federation, Republic of Indonesia, Peru) and the United People’s Republic – aka UPR (China, East Russia, United Korea, Japan, Republic of Indochina, Fiji and Chile) being the big boys that little New Zealand is squeezed between. There are also State-siders – citizens of the USA. The only State-siders referenced in the book are evil manipulators of Muru – an activist group that has been taken over by WA secret service agents (aforementioned state-siders) for their own wicked purposes.
These acronyms dehumanise those involved to the extent that they become paper-thin manipulators and manipulated, according to the needs of the plot. Shaun McCarthy, of the CTU (Combined Trade Union) is the face of the good guys – and the book is littered with his pithy aphorisms, reminding us of exactly what a good guy he was – Freedom has a very thin veneer if you look too closely. He is Ashley’s dad, and is killed in a bombing of CTU headquarters at the beginning of the story – but who did the bombing – and who did the manipulating become the question.
New Zealand is effectively in a state of war. Ash has to get his younger brother Mikey, who has Down Syndrome, to a safe place, and along the way collects together a somewhat eccentric band of followers. There is Jiao, a Chinese student whom he is initially suspicious of, since he assumes her allegiance to the UPR.
‘How the hell can they get away with this? It’s an outright act of war.’
‘They?’ Jiao’s eyebrow lifts.
‘Come on. Even you must see that it’s the UPR.’
She tucks the collar of Dad’s dressing gown under her chin. ‘Jumping to conclusions never helps.’
‘Conclusions?’ I bark it out before I can switch down my volume. ‘It’s pretty bloody obvious. They’ve been screwing with our politics for years.’
‘As you and every country in the Western Alliance have screwed with theirs.’
However, Ash develops trust for Jiao as he sees Mikey’s devotion to her. And there is Travis - alcoholic and would be drama student, son of Police Officer, Jeannie Smith, who takes an initially unfathomable maternal role in the story. And Erich, neurosurgeon turned ‘green’, and (handily) benefactor and Lucinda Lasch, dad’s lawyer, who to Ash’s surprise and admiration – F*** me, she really is a porn star! All she needs is fishnets and a whip,(not sure on Goodreads policy for offensive language in quotes) was possibly his father’s girlfriend as well. Ash is very hormonally driven – although maybe this was a little over done. Having said that, it wasn’t unbelievable, just tiresome.
The story moves along at a cracking pace. There is always another twist to the plot, another character flaw or strength to be revealed and another of Dad’s pithy aphorisms ‘Note to self: Dad was right. Irony is just hypocrisy with style.’ Certainly Ash is a well drawn character, and this story is exactly as self-absorbed and black and white as his character should be. And I think that this is appropriate. Very few of the other characters in this story are really fleshed out to any degree at all, except with their relevance to Ash, although there are a few attempts, ‘Note to self: nobody is as straightforward as they first seem – even pissheads (and big busted girls originally from the UPR)’.
There are some real strengths to this book – the plot is complex and relatively unpredictable. There are no zombies or vampires – which is a relief. Ash is a believable character, in many ways. I can see it appealing to a wide readership. The political stance and eco-politics asks readers to reflect on how our society could end up, if we are not vigilant and thoughtful.
O, it is excellent
To have a giant’s strength; but it is tyrannous
To use it like a giant.
(Measure for Measure, William Shakespeare).
It is certainly no hardship to read. I read it in two sittings, in under a day. I found myself comparing it to other titles – for example, Tomorrow When the War Began. I vastly prefer Ellie to Ash as a character, but as I reflected on the similarities and differences between the two, I realised that The Nature of Ash doesn’t brush over the politics, the politics drive the book, possibly to the detriment of character. It kind of makes Tomorrow, When the War Began feel a little lightweight in comparison. It is good to have provocative literature. There were strongly espoused beliefs in here that could do with exploration. This should bring about many a lively discussion – I really hope so. I give this about 4/5 stars, because there is so much that is worthwhile in it. I see it as best suited to readers of 13+.
Read other reviews here:
◾My Best Friends Are Books
◾Bob’s Books Blog
Read about Mandy Hagar.
October 25, 2013
The Teenage Voice - "nailed" to Perfection,
This review is from: The Nature of Ash
I read this story and then had to immediately order a print copy as a Christmas gift for a teenage nephew.
I don't normally like swearing and "bad" language. This book has some but I didn't even notice it, at least not in a negative way, because it was a natural part of an authentic teenage boy's voice and it felt just right. Spot on. This narrator's "voice" has been nailed to perfection. The author must surely be either superbly skilled or living with teenagers day and night to get it so right..
The whole thing feels so grittily realistic. No window dressing. The kids in the story are dealing with family horrors, societal collapse, grief, physical danger, and sometimes they do things like turning to alcohol. The author manages to skilfully show the reality of this without condoning it. The kids are so real - not perfect. They're complex characters experimenting with language, relationships, alcohol etc as teenagers do.
It's a thriller and the pace just gallops, but so much more than a thriller with so much to say about inter-personal relationships, human behaviour and attitudes within families, society as a whole, as well as cultural difference between nations and races. After reading this book I felt I'd been shown what was important about being human and also could clearly see my own defects compared to someone like Ash. We may criticise a teenager for swearing and drinking, but could we deal with what this one dealt with as well as he did? I know I certainly couldn't and yet it all seemed so believable for this particular character to behave this way.
The plot is very convoluted with twists and turns like wildfire, but in the end it all comes clear though at times you cannot see how it can ever all be satisfactorily concluded.
This stunning book moved me to tears at times. I loved the poetic ending and the way it described . . . well . . . the nature of ash. You'll understand that comment better once you've read it and I highly recommend you do.
This review is from: The Nature of Ash
I read this story and then had to immediately order a print copy as a Christmas gift for a teenage nephew.
I don't normally like swearing and "bad" language. This book has some but I didn't even notice it, at least not in a negative way, because it was a natural part of an authentic teenage boy's voice and it felt just right. Spot on. This narrator's "voice" has been nailed to perfection. The author must surely be either superbly skilled or living with teenagers day and night to get it so right..
The whole thing feels so grittily realistic. No window dressing. The kids in the story are dealing with family horrors, societal collapse, grief, physical danger, and sometimes they do things like turning to alcohol. The author manages to skilfully show the reality of this without condoning it. The kids are so real - not perfect. They're complex characters experimenting with language, relationships, alcohol etc as teenagers do.
It's a thriller and the pace just gallops, but so much more than a thriller with so much to say about inter-personal relationships, human behaviour and attitudes within families, society as a whole, as well as cultural difference between nations and races. After reading this book I felt I'd been shown what was important about being human and also could clearly see my own defects compared to someone like Ash. We may criticise a teenager for swearing and drinking, but could we deal with what this one dealt with as well as he did? I know I certainly couldn't and yet it all seemed so believable for this particular character to behave this way.
The plot is very convoluted with twists and turns like wildfire, but in the end it all comes clear though at times you cannot see how it can ever all be satisfactorily concluded.
This stunning book moved me to tears at times. I loved the poetic ending and the way it described . . . well . . . the nature of ash. You'll understand that comment better once you've read it and I highly recommend you do.
May 28, 2015
Ash McCarthy and his Uni mates are planning on getting drunk. They’ve been watching a growing power struggle between the world’s super powers and New Zealand is getting swept up in it. His Dad has told him to go home if it escalates and Ash is worried about completing his studies.
But that worry is nothing compared to when two police officers knock at his door to tell him a bomb has gone off in his Dad’s Trade Union Offices. Stunned, Ash flies home to his Down syndrome brother (Mikey), and their lives are tipped upside down as they escape their city under siege and face an uncertain future without their father. Their flight binds them to two strangers, Travis and Jiao and in a search for truth, they find nothing but lies and all their lives are on the line.
The Nature of Ash sweeps the reader along with the choices and decisions Ash must make to protect his brother and friends amongst political intrigue, corrupt officials and a hidden family past. Ash is a wonderfully real character dealing with much more than a teen should. The prejudice aimed at both his brother and his new friend was raw and real, but the bond between Ash & Mikey was heart-warming
But that worry is nothing compared to when two police officers knock at his door to tell him a bomb has gone off in his Dad’s Trade Union Offices. Stunned, Ash flies home to his Down syndrome brother (Mikey), and their lives are tipped upside down as they escape their city under siege and face an uncertain future without their father. Their flight binds them to two strangers, Travis and Jiao and in a search for truth, they find nothing but lies and all their lives are on the line.
The Nature of Ash sweeps the reader along with the choices and decisions Ash must make to protect his brother and friends amongst political intrigue, corrupt officials and a hidden family past. Ash is a wonderfully real character dealing with much more than a teen should. The prejudice aimed at both his brother and his new friend was raw and real, but the bond between Ash & Mikey was heart-warming
November 8, 2014
A stunning YA read. The plot is only too believable, set in the near future in New Zealand and reflecting what is happening now politically. Ash McCarthy has to face the load of responsibilities brought about by the death of his father, and the political implications. Top that with a tricky brother who has Down's syndrome and their known world falling apart and you have a thriller which is fast paced, well plotted and horribly real!
I hope Mandy Hager is wrong about our future but I have a nasty feeling she's right.
Great writing skills, tight, good word selection, excellent dialogue and strong characters. A book to make youngsters think and oldsters groan! It's an honest book and not just a good read for YA readers but for all readers.
I hope Mandy Hager is wrong about our future but I have a nasty feeling she's right.
Great writing skills, tight, good word selection, excellent dialogue and strong characters. A book to make youngsters think and oldsters groan! It's an honest book and not just a good read for YA readers but for all readers.
August 23, 2022
Genuinely it’s okay, I love that it’s set in my home country and like the writing and all is great but some important scenes/moments were compressed into a few sentences when they should’ve been a few pages to be more impactful but eh. Worst thing about this was probably the blatantly homophobic and sexist Ash is to Jiao some occasions and she doesn’t really try to make it clear that it’s not okay like sis!! stand up for yourself!! The fact that a woman wrote this book as well makes this all even worse like bruh are you encouraging people to act like this
Also just a side note bc I’m Chinese, the names of the farms were pretty funny to me even though they shouldn’t be kkshshh lmao
Also just a side note bc I’m Chinese, the names of the farms were pretty funny to me even though they shouldn’t be kkshshh lmao
May 19, 2013
This novel reminded me a bit of the Tomorrow series by John Marsden; but set in NZ. Ash's world is turned upside down when his father is killed in a bomb blast and he has to go home to care for his Downs syndrome brother. The country is in the grip of unrest, terrorism and political instability; and a small group of teenagers must fight to rescue Jiouw's parents and stay alive. I hope there is a sequel...the ending lends itself to one.
June 30, 2012
One of the best New Zealand teen books I've read for ages. The futuristic setting (well, not all that far in the future) is chillingly realistic. The characters are easy to like and the plot races along at top speed. Extra points to the author for including a thoroughly convincing character with Downs Syndrome. Read it, everyone!
June 21, 2012
I went to the launch of The Nature of Ash, where Mandy read a few pages and I cried (don't often cry!). And I couldn't stop reading it, once I got through Chapter 1. A thriller, and a real page turner, with stunning, complex, characterisation. I especially liked its insight into a believable near future.
July 25, 2012
A fast-paced YA thriller set in a slightly but very believably futuristic Aotearoa. Raises lots of issues and questions including racism, state terrorism/power and control, prejudice against people with Downs Syndrome, who are your friends/family, loyalty and betrayal – but not in a preachy way – the endearing characters stay centre stage and the plot fair pulls you along.
March 14, 2015
Gripping story, convincing male protagonist, and a persuasive call to speak out. While reading this book, I also learnt the meaning of 'bro-brow' - grateful for that!
July 1, 2018
This is a stunning book. It dragged me in and didn't let up until I reached the end a very brief couple of days later.
Thematically this books sits with John Marsden's Tomorrow series, a sudden overthrow of a stable world into war and kids scrambling to do their best to deal with that and stick it to the oppressors. But The Nature of Ash is so much more complex than the black and white good guys vs bad guys of Marsden's books. Nearly all the characters are neither all good or all bad and the suspense racks up because of it.
A supposedly dead mother hiding out with the rebels? That story line did not follow any of the expected tropes and was frankly terrifying. The shocks and surprises kept coming.
This was a terrific book right until the very end, which sadly didn't quite deliver. Ash's climax, his attempt to sock it to the bad guys just seemed lame. Spoiler alert. Denouncing the corrupt Prime Minister and the guys pulling his puppet strings via TV and social media doesn't bring the whole regime down. The real world since this book was written proves that.
A lot of other reviewers make much of whether Ash acts/speaks/thinks like a modern teenager. Really I couldn't have cared less. I have kids just a bit older than Ash. I cared for him and his mottely band. I wanted them to make it and I couldn't stop reading their story. That's the mark of a good book.
I will definitely be reading the sequel.
Thematically this books sits with John Marsden's Tomorrow series, a sudden overthrow of a stable world into war and kids scrambling to do their best to deal with that and stick it to the oppressors. But The Nature of Ash is so much more complex than the black and white good guys vs bad guys of Marsden's books. Nearly all the characters are neither all good or all bad and the suspense racks up because of it.
A supposedly dead mother hiding out with the rebels? That story line did not follow any of the expected tropes and was frankly terrifying. The shocks and surprises kept coming.
This was a terrific book right until the very end, which sadly didn't quite deliver. Ash's climax, his attempt to sock it to the bad guys just seemed lame. Spoiler alert. Denouncing the corrupt Prime Minister and the guys pulling his puppet strings via TV and social media doesn't bring the whole regime down. The real world since this book was written proves that.
A lot of other reviewers make much of whether Ash acts/speaks/thinks like a modern teenager. Really I couldn't have cared less. I have kids just a bit older than Ash. I cared for him and his mottely band. I wanted them to make it and I couldn't stop reading their story. That's the mark of a good book.
I will definitely be reading the sequel.
December 15, 2018
Age – 14+
Ash McCarthy and his Uni mates are planning on getting drunk. They’ve been watching a growing power struggle between the world’s super powers and New Zealand is getting swept up in it. His Dad has told him to go home if it escalates and Ash is worried about completing his studies.
But that worry is nothing compared to when two police officers knock at his door to tell him a bomb has gone off in his Dad’s Trade Union Offices. Stunned, Ash flies home to his Down syndrome brother (Mikey), and their lives are tipped upside down as they escape their city under siege and face an uncertain future without their father. Their flight binds them to two strangers, Travis and Jiao and in a search for truth, they find nothing but lies and all their lives are on the line.
The Nature of Ash sweeps the reader along with the choices and decisions Ash must make to protect his brother and friends amongst political intrigue, corrupt officials and a hidden family past. Ash is a wonderfully real character dealing with much more than a teen should. The prejudice aimed at both his brother and his new friend was raw and real, but the bond between Ash & Mikey was heart-warming.
Ash McCarthy and his Uni mates are planning on getting drunk. They’ve been watching a growing power struggle between the world’s super powers and New Zealand is getting swept up in it. His Dad has told him to go home if it escalates and Ash is worried about completing his studies.
But that worry is nothing compared to when two police officers knock at his door to tell him a bomb has gone off in his Dad’s Trade Union Offices. Stunned, Ash flies home to his Down syndrome brother (Mikey), and their lives are tipped upside down as they escape their city under siege and face an uncertain future without their father. Their flight binds them to two strangers, Travis and Jiao and in a search for truth, they find nothing but lies and all their lives are on the line.
The Nature of Ash sweeps the reader along with the choices and decisions Ash must make to protect his brother and friends amongst political intrigue, corrupt officials and a hidden family past. Ash is a wonderfully real character dealing with much more than a teen should. The prejudice aimed at both his brother and his new friend was raw and real, but the bond between Ash & Mikey was heart-warming.
January 5, 2023
Fun and fast-paced. I struggled to follow the political intrigue. I'd have enjoyed a little background into how NZ got from now to the somewhat distopian near future in the future book. Also, Ash's constantly cynical inner monologue drove me a bit batty. It is funny that the thing he wants most is for people to trust him with information but he constantly witholds information from all the people closest to him - especially Mikey.
June 14, 2023
Drama with capital D!!
This book is partly based on some historic events, with some credible futuristic possibilities. Written essentially for teenage boys, I think all adults should read it and consider its' content carefully.
It is an action-packed page-turner!!
This book is partly based on some historic events, with some credible futuristic possibilities. Written essentially for teenage boys, I think all adults should read it and consider its' content carefully.
It is an action-packed page-turner!!
June 21, 2012
This is a great book for Young Adults.
Author and current NZ scene background:
Mandy is the sister of well-known NZ political activist Nicky Hagar and I think she shares some of his views. At the moment in NZ there is political controversy as our National (centrist-right, Conservative but secular) government is planning on selling major part-shares of state owned assets to raise cash to fund the recession and the Christchurch earthquake rebuild, and to buy more expensive earthquake insurance now our risk has gone up.
There is fear (whether with good grounds or not) that if our dairy farms are sold to overseas interests (most are privately NZ-owned but some major ones were taken over when the owners went into receivership, and the receivers are getting permission to bend the law and sell to overseas interests)that this is the thin end of the wedge. We have great natural resources - plantation forests, plentiful water, hydro electricity, great climate and land for raising free-range, grass-fed sheep, cattle and dairy herds - but there is fear that if these are foreign owned we won't be able to afford our own water, electricity, wood etc. Also that foreign owners of large amounts of dairy farms will bring foreign owners in, build their own dairy factories and have their own workers there too. That they will ruin our healthy, grass-fed agriculture image by trying to barn raise dairy and beef cattle intensely, rather than allowing them to roam in grassy paddocks the way all herd animals are raised here, due to our temperate climate making barns unnecessary for all but the very young animals. Everyone is aware of how China practically owns most foreign debt in the world, is a military force to reckon with and has a bad record with human rights in their own countries. There is the impression they are keen to buy bits of foreign natural resources, as practically the only power with the cash to do so, to feed their exponentially growing economy.
Plot Summary
It is the near future in NZ. The major powers in the world are the WA (Western Alliance) and the UPR (United People's Republic). Ashley's dad is a union activist trying to fight for the rights of UPR indentured works living and working in NZ but under employment conditions that would be illegal for NZ workers, in UPR farms and factories. There is high unemployment of NZ-ers and most people are too broke to own cars. Food is expensive except for vegetables grown in community gardens, petrol is prohibitive and only the extremely rich can afford to fly anywhere. A bomb attack kills' Ash's dad and other people in his offices, which are in the Wellington CBD. Ash is called back from university in the South Island to deal with this and his younger Down's Syndrome brother, as his mother has been missing, presumed dead since 3 months after his brother's birth.
The bombing is attributed to the UPR, and hostilities are escalating since UPR and an Australian naval ship exchanged fire in Australian waters. There is also an underground group of terrorists in NZ who seem to be mostly anti-UPR. They had started out as a largely Maori, anti-globalisation anti-colonisation protest group, but seem to have been taken over and morphed into something else, fully armed, with a violent agenda, and no longer seem to have Maori members.
The WA is invited in by the NZ Government to help take control of the situation, and martial law is declared. The UPR close their ports and start arming their workers in the factories and farms, ready to use them as fighters or human shields to protect their interests, which they believe are threatened by WA posturing over hostilities falsely attributed to them. Media reporting of issues is not trusted to be giving a full or balanced picture. The populace is fed-up with conditions generally, shortages are worse and prices escalating with the port closures. They are none too thrilled with the Australian and WA forces now helping to enforce curfews etc, so are beginning some protest and civil disobedience which is being ruthlessly (by NZ standards) repressed. Hostility and suspicion amongst the populace increases, especially towards someone who is UPR (even 3rd generation Chinese New Zealanders are getting a hard time from those who don't know them and initially take them for UPR).
Ash's brother's day to day caregiver is a UPR student, whose parents sacrificed everything to get her to NZ at age 2, for the chance of an education and a better life, and who are trapped on one of the farms as "human shields". Ash initially strongly resents her because of his father's death attributed to UPR action, and because his brother is so fond of her.
The plot "thickens" as various agendas, groups, and government forces intertwine around Ash's immediate environment and situation, with a number of twists, and new characters introduced are filled out more, including the character of Jiao, the UPR care-giver/student.
It is well written, with a good feel for kiwi dialogue and how young people interact, and with plenty of believable action.
Author and current NZ scene background:
Mandy is the sister of well-known NZ political activist Nicky Hagar and I think she shares some of his views. At the moment in NZ there is political controversy as our National (centrist-right, Conservative but secular) government is planning on selling major part-shares of state owned assets to raise cash to fund the recession and the Christchurch earthquake rebuild, and to buy more expensive earthquake insurance now our risk has gone up.
There is fear (whether with good grounds or not) that if our dairy farms are sold to overseas interests (most are privately NZ-owned but some major ones were taken over when the owners went into receivership, and the receivers are getting permission to bend the law and sell to overseas interests)that this is the thin end of the wedge. We have great natural resources - plantation forests, plentiful water, hydro electricity, great climate and land for raising free-range, grass-fed sheep, cattle and dairy herds - but there is fear that if these are foreign owned we won't be able to afford our own water, electricity, wood etc. Also that foreign owners of large amounts of dairy farms will bring foreign owners in, build their own dairy factories and have their own workers there too. That they will ruin our healthy, grass-fed agriculture image by trying to barn raise dairy and beef cattle intensely, rather than allowing them to roam in grassy paddocks the way all herd animals are raised here, due to our temperate climate making barns unnecessary for all but the very young animals. Everyone is aware of how China practically owns most foreign debt in the world, is a military force to reckon with and has a bad record with human rights in their own countries. There is the impression they are keen to buy bits of foreign natural resources, as practically the only power with the cash to do so, to feed their exponentially growing economy.
Plot Summary
It is the near future in NZ. The major powers in the world are the WA (Western Alliance) and the UPR (United People's Republic). Ashley's dad is a union activist trying to fight for the rights of UPR indentured works living and working in NZ but under employment conditions that would be illegal for NZ workers, in UPR farms and factories. There is high unemployment of NZ-ers and most people are too broke to own cars. Food is expensive except for vegetables grown in community gardens, petrol is prohibitive and only the extremely rich can afford to fly anywhere. A bomb attack kills' Ash's dad and other people in his offices, which are in the Wellington CBD. Ash is called back from university in the South Island to deal with this and his younger Down's Syndrome brother, as his mother has been missing, presumed dead since 3 months after his brother's birth.
The bombing is attributed to the UPR, and hostilities are escalating since UPR and an Australian naval ship exchanged fire in Australian waters. There is also an underground group of terrorists in NZ who seem to be mostly anti-UPR. They had started out as a largely Maori, anti-globalisation anti-colonisation protest group, but seem to have been taken over and morphed into something else, fully armed, with a violent agenda, and no longer seem to have Maori members.
The WA is invited in by the NZ Government to help take control of the situation, and martial law is declared. The UPR close their ports and start arming their workers in the factories and farms, ready to use them as fighters or human shields to protect their interests, which they believe are threatened by WA posturing over hostilities falsely attributed to them. Media reporting of issues is not trusted to be giving a full or balanced picture. The populace is fed-up with conditions generally, shortages are worse and prices escalating with the port closures. They are none too thrilled with the Australian and WA forces now helping to enforce curfews etc, so are beginning some protest and civil disobedience which is being ruthlessly (by NZ standards) repressed. Hostility and suspicion amongst the populace increases, especially towards someone who is UPR (even 3rd generation Chinese New Zealanders are getting a hard time from those who don't know them and initially take them for UPR).
Ash's brother's day to day caregiver is a UPR student, whose parents sacrificed everything to get her to NZ at age 2, for the chance of an education and a better life, and who are trapped on one of the farms as "human shields". Ash initially strongly resents her because of his father's death attributed to UPR action, and because his brother is so fond of her.
The plot "thickens" as various agendas, groups, and government forces intertwine around Ash's immediate environment and situation, with a number of twists, and new characters introduced are filled out more, including the character of Jiao, the UPR care-giver/student.
It is well written, with a good feel for kiwi dialogue and how young people interact, and with plenty of believable action.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2018
Great writing, fantastic ideas, Mandy Hager kept me hooked until the end. I can't wait to read the second one in this series.
April 30, 2025
Disturbing how realistic this is, especially when the setting is in your own backyard! Young adult fiction but goodness me it had me hooked from cover to cover.
May 11, 2013
I am impressed! This was a real adrenalin rush of a read - devoured in a matter of days. Pretty serious stuff, and all the more powerful because it's set in my country, in places I have a passing familiarity with. The writing style is compelling and I found the characters convincing. I especially liked the inclusion of Mikey, the younger brother with Downs Syndrome, and the relationship he had with Ash. Whilst other readers have commented on the language - I would have to say - this is probably set 10-20 years in the future - who's to say how teenagers will talk? The storyline was heartbreaking, brutal and tense, but with a healthy dose of humanity and a dash of humour. The political intrigue was fascinating - and very complicated. All too easy to believe with the world in the state it is. The little hints to how the world had changed really brought this future world to life without it feeling like things were being forced down your throat, but introduced them naturally. Indeed, I am tempted now to go back and read the rest of Hager's "Blood of the Lamb" trilogy for she is clearly a skillful author.
My only complaints - or to be precise, observations - are the storyline is littered with swearwords - which definitely fit the premise but may not be to the tastes of some readers and the occasional sexual thoughts of Ash felt a little cliched - like the author was writing them in because it was how she thought an 18 year old boy must feel. Otherwise, she managed to get into the head of a late-teen boy very well indeed. I found Mikey's behaviour very convincing: she seems to have a very sound knowledge of Downs Syndrome.
Overall, an excellent and compelling read and I highly recommend it for ages 16+ - it should certainly spur a lot of discussion about our political future if we continue in the way that we are going (selling off our assets overseas, etc). I hope it does well in the NZ Children's Post Book Awards, in which it is one of hte nominees.
My only complaints - or to be precise, observations - are the storyline is littered with swearwords - which definitely fit the premise but may not be to the tastes of some readers and the occasional sexual thoughts of Ash felt a little cliched - like the author was writing them in because it was how she thought an 18 year old boy must feel. Otherwise, she managed to get into the head of a late-teen boy very well indeed. I found Mikey's behaviour very convincing: she seems to have a very sound knowledge of Downs Syndrome.
Overall, an excellent and compelling read and I highly recommend it for ages 16+ - it should certainly spur a lot of discussion about our political future if we continue in the way that we are going (selling off our assets overseas, etc). I hope it does well in the NZ Children's Post Book Awards, in which it is one of hte nominees.
July 21, 2013
New Zealand is perceived as a 'safe' country and therefore it is uncomfortable to read of a New Zealand where nothing is safe and where families can be torn apart by conflict and civil unrest, almost unheard of in this little country. Set in the near future, The nature of Ash gives us a picture of what New Zealand could be like caught between the power struggle of two superpowers and trying to retain some sense of order and normality. However Ashley McCarthy's sense of order is thrown spectacularly into disorder when he is called from his dorm room at university to be flown back to his hometown of Wellington because the building in which his father works has been blown up and his father is missing, presumed dead.
While dealing with his conflicted emotions at this news, he also has to deal with his younger brother Mickey who has Downs Syndrome and his brother's minder, Jaio with whom Mickey has formed a special bond. Thrown from the normalcy and freedom of uni, Ashley now had to deal with some grownup issues that face him daily while also coming to terms with the country's descent into chaos with martial law, riots and civil unrest forcing food shortages and refugees to flee the city, Ashley and his hastily thrown-together 'family' amongst them. What follows is a fast-paced thrilling story with many twists and turns to keep its target audience interested, enthralled and turning the page.
I like that we got to see the story through Ashley's eyes and his voice came through strongly on the page along with his emotional turmoil. A deserved finalist of the NZ Post Children's Book Awards which is not as dark and introspective as the ultimate award winner and one that was, for me, a much more satisfying read.
While dealing with his conflicted emotions at this news, he also has to deal with his younger brother Mickey who has Downs Syndrome and his brother's minder, Jaio with whom Mickey has formed a special bond. Thrown from the normalcy and freedom of uni, Ashley now had to deal with some grownup issues that face him daily while also coming to terms with the country's descent into chaos with martial law, riots and civil unrest forcing food shortages and refugees to flee the city, Ashley and his hastily thrown-together 'family' amongst them. What follows is a fast-paced thrilling story with many twists and turns to keep its target audience interested, enthralled and turning the page.
I like that we got to see the story through Ashley's eyes and his voice came through strongly on the page along with his emotional turmoil. A deserved finalist of the NZ Post Children's Book Awards which is not as dark and introspective as the ultimate award winner and one that was, for me, a much more satisfying read.
October 13, 2012
Firstly, I don't like the cover of this book, and I probably wouldn't have read it if I hadn't joined an on-line book group that chose to read it this month. Wow!! would I have missed out if I hadn't read The nature of Ash, this is a great book, a real thriller that is scary in it's possibilities. I liked the main character Ash and how he dealt with each situation that was being thrown at him, I liked the way he had to be tough and together but was freaking out inside. I liked the way the other characters were developed and the fact that along with Ash, I couldn't pick who the "goodies" were, who should be trusted and who shouldn't be. A great read that definitely needs a better cover to make it stand out from the rest.
June 15, 2013
I enjoyed another Mandy Hager book. I find it easier to connect to stories when they are set in the homeland. It took me a wee bit to work out who was who eg WA, UPR but got there. found the characters really interesting. Ashley was a really strong character. liked the themes. Good little twists and turns. A few what a great turn on luck moments though. Every Kiwi kid should read this.
July 22, 2012
(SF-fantasy shelf because I don't have a near-future political thriller shelf.)
August 30, 2012
Really enjoyed this. Hager has the voices spot on, and while the mother,s character is confused, the rest is very well done
December 16, 2012
Fast paced thriller. Thought provoking so believable. Slight chance of paranoia inducement??
March 1, 2014
Excellently readable. Hope it is the start of a series....
July 9, 2014
(Margaret) The best book I read this summer. Love the believable near-future setting. Hope there's a sequel to come...
September 13, 2012
Great read - fast paced, exciting and set in familiar places!
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