How I Live Now

Bibliography

Rosoff, Meg. 2004. How I Live Now. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN 0553376055
Plot Summary
Rosoff's novel, How I Live Now, takes place in England. Daisy, still struggling with her mother's death, her father's refusal to talk about her mother and determined to get away from her pregnant step mother visits her aunt and cousins. Daisy bonds with all of them, but especially Edmond, with whom she develops a strong physical and spiritual relationship. Shortly after she arrives, war breaks out. Her aunt travels to try and stop the coming war. When the war does break out, she is unable to reenter England to care for the teens . The children fend for themselves for a while thinking that their mother will arrive soon. When the army arrives, the children , Daisy, Piper and the boys are separated from each other and doled out to adults who attempt to care for them. Daisy and Piper escape after the death of the major who had taken them home. Daisy creates a plan to reunite with Edmond and the other boys and survives the journey through horrible conditions. The girls eventually make it back to the homestead. After several weeks, the boys have not returned. Before she knows if Edmond is alive or dead, Daisy is pulled out of England by her father and returned to the US. The next six years is spent not knowing what happened to her cousins in England. When she finally returns to England she finds that her aunt had died trying to regain entry into England during the war. Edmond is so emotionally scared that he speaks to no one. Her hope is fight past horrors and build a future with Edmond and the rest of the family.

Critical Analysis

How I Live Now is one of the most surprising books I have ever read. It deals with some pretty tough themes such as war, incest, eating disorders, death and coming to terms with all of them. The story is told in first person by Daisy. She lost her mother when she was young-and her father won't even speak about her. This has a devastating effect on Daisy who starves herself to gain some semblance of control. Her voice is powerful but also sounds exactly like a fifteen year old girl who has had some major issues in her life. Little is known of her relationship with her father- only slightly more about her relationship with her step mother. We only know that they are willing to send her to England even though terrorism seems to be rampant. Other than that, the story is told through Daisy's eyes. Her cousins and aunt are all very nice to her and make her feel at home and finally relaxed. However, it is Edmond who is the center of her life. Edmond is young -only fourteen but seems to have a wisdom and solitude that Daisy felt "she would not be surprised if he turned out to be 35". They develop an almost telepathic sense of each other. During one scene, the family had gone fishing. "I was thinking about almost nothing except that bird and then Edmond was next to my ear whispering Skylark, and I just nodded, knowing it was futile to ask how he knew the answers to questions you hadn't even got around to asking yet." (pg. 18) When the horrors of war pull the two away from each other, readers can feel the physical pain it causes. They have not yet had enough experience to be able to reason out the pain. Through her experiences, Daisy soon realizes that starving herself is not the answer and has to grow up quickly just to survive. When she returns to England, she realizes that she has to fight for her life and her happiness. Readers are left with the impression that her life truly begins the minute she returns to England to be with Edmond.
Although war is the root problem in this story, it is not described in detail. The Who, What When, Where and Why of the war are not addressed. This rings true to a story told by a young girl in love. Nothing really matters except Edmond and the pain she feels when she is away from him. The events seem real enough but at times they seem to have an almost fantasy-like quality. Especially throughout the prose that explains the telepathic feelings between the two lovers. The setting feel contemporary yet it also seems unfamiliar and almost as if it is taking place in the past. Life on a farm, away from city life seems to be what makes this novel seem historic. The fact that technology such as phones, jets, cars etc. are mentioned lets readers know it is a contemporary setting. Still, the fact that there is no communication for a long period of times due to the war seems a bit far fetched.
Rosoff style is often hard to follow-a bit like being in someones head hearing thoughts but not able to piece everything together. Again, this is a pretty accurate accounting of how a teenage mind thinks and is reflective of Daisy's distinct personality. At times, the story was difficult for me to read due to the themes presented. I would recommend this book only to more mature readers-at least high school age. I am not sure that students younger than 17 or 18 would understand the relationship in the truest sense.
Review Excerpts
VOYA ,Ruth E. Cox : "The depth and starkness of Rosoff's writing is beautiful yet painful to read. This book about the emotional devastation of war raises the hair on a reader's arms and brings tears to one's eyes."

Booklist, Jennifer Mattson : A 15-year-old, contemporary urbanite named Daisy, sent to England to summer with relatives, falls in love with her aunt's "oldy worldy" farm and her soulful cousins--especially Edmond, with whom she forms "the world's most inappropriate case of sexual obsession." Matters veer in a startling direction when terrorists strike while Daisy's aunt is out of the country, war erupts, and soldiers divide the cousins by gender between two guardians. Determined to rejoin Edmond, Daisy and her youngest cousin embark upon a dangerous journey that brings them face to face with horrific violence and undreamt-of deprivation. Just prior to the hopeful conclusion, Rosoff introduces a jolting leap forward in time accompanied by an evocative graphic device that will undoubtedly spark lively discussions.
Connections
A great discussion guide for this novel can be found here:
http://www.multcolib.org/talk/guides-howilive.html

Author's Website: http://www.megrosoff.co.uk/
This site contains pictures, a diary and list of books from the author.
Awards:
WINNER 2005 - ALA Best Books for Young Adults
WINNER 2005 - Michael L. Printz Award Winner
WINNER - Publishers Weekly Flying Start AuthorWINNER - Booklist Books for Youth Editors' ChoiceWINNER - Kirkus Reviews Editor Choice AwardWINNER - Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the YearWINNER - Horn Book Fanfare