How I Live Nowby Meg Rosoff
Wendy Lamb Books
2004
New York
ISBN: 0553376055
Daisy is a lonely, motherless girl living in NYC with her father and evil stepmother. Somehow, she convinces him to let her go live with her unknown cousins in the English countryside. Upon arrival, Daisy is seemingly transported into a timeless place-- where fields of flowers cohabit with sheep and goats, where children are "home-schooled' and parents are scarce, and where she's never felt so at home in the world.
Most of these feelings are because of her cousin Edmond; Daisy is happy, and even starting to eat again. But when the war everyone kept worrying about finally happened, Daisy's chance at happiness seems fated to disappear for good.
Critical Evaluation:
How I Live Now utilizes a stream-of-conscious voiceover that remains utterly consistent throughout. Daisy's perspective is revealed as subjective from page one, however this knowledge never detracts from the voice and the eye that develops, working instead to support a deep empathy for her and her loved ones. The journey that Daisy and her younger cousin submit to is sparingly described, yet completely redolent with detail at the same time; she describes emotional states in much the same way. A heartbreaking, devastatingly beautiful book.
Reader's Annotation:
Daisy is a little girl lost in the anonymous world of New York. Her journey to England changes all that, providing her with a place in the world for the very first time. That is until the outside world storms in and changes everything.
Genre:
Coming-of-age/Post-Apocalyptic/Romance
Author Info:
Meg Rosoff didn't begin writing until reaching her mid-40s. Her first novel, How I Live Now, captured numerous awards in both the U.S. and the U.K. She has since gone on to write several novels, the most recent of which, The Bride's Farewell, is also garnering critical acclaim.
Reader Level/Interest Age:
Marketed as a young adult novel, however the themes are mature, dark, and definitely of interest to adult readers.
Booktalking Ideas:
*In what ways does Daisy's story draw the reader in?
*What happens to Edmond?
*What is the significance of the cousins being motherless?
*How does the descriptions of the English countryside coalesce with the later events?
*Is How I Live Now a fairy tale, or a nightmare?
Challenge Issues:
Anorexia, incest, apocalypse.
Defense to challenges:
Many of the themes of this book (particularly the incestuous relationship between the cousins), has the potential to perturb parents and guardians. However, other than a few scenes of war-related violence, the book refrains from explicitness. The book's numerous awards and recognition, particularly that of the Michael J. Printz Award, will be used as justification for inclusion.
Why Include?:
A recommendation from a friend, the book's dystopic setting, the amazing cover art, and the book's awards, all drew me in. Very possibly one of the most beautiful books I have ever read.
