How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Bibliography
Rosoff, Meg. 2004. How I Live Now. NY: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN 0385746776.

Plot Summary
Rejection, anorexia and a possible war are just a few things that Daisy is currently dealing with when she is sent to London to live with her cousins (Obert, Edmond, Isaac, and Piper)that she has never met. Since Aunt Pen is busy with work Edmond meets her at the airport and drives her to the family farm. Work keeps her aunt away most days until the war breaks out and Daisy and her four cousins soon realize that Pen is not able to make it home at all. At first, this new freedom is everything the children hoped for but that soon changes when soldiers separate the boys from the girls and sends the girls to live with a different family in a neighboring town. Determined to be reunited, Daisy and Piper try everything to find their way back home.

Critical Analysis
How I Live Now is set in modern day London and is about 15 year old Daisy who is dealing with alot...rejected by her father and step-mother, her own anorexia, a possible war, and being sent with cousins she has never met. Once in London, Daisy is instantly drawn to Edmond, one of her cousins, and falls in love with him.

War quickly breaks out and the children are first separated from their aunt and then from each other. Determined to get back to Edmond, Daisy and Piper, try everything to find their way back home. During their journey, they encounter very rough circumstances including no food, water, shelter, or a change of clothes.

Rosoff's writing is simple and direct. Readers will find courage in the strength that Daisy displays on their journey to be reunited with Edmond and her determination to keep Piper alive along the way. Teens will easily identify with Daisy's inner struggles.

Reviews
Booklist: "More central to the potency of Rosoff's debut, though, is the ominous prognostication of what a third world war might look like, and the opportunity it provides for teens to imagine themselves, like Daisy, exhibiting courage and resilience in roles traditionally occupied by earlier generations."

School Library Journal: "Though the novel has disturbing elements, Rosoff handles the harshness of war and the taboo of incest with honest introspection. This Printz award winner is a good choice for book discussions as it considers the disruption of war both physically and emotionally and should be on every high school and public library shelf."

Connections
*Have teens compare this novel to other Michael Printz Award Winners in an effort to find common themes that may be discovered in the novels.
*Have teens create a disaster kit that may come in handy if they were forced to survive during a war.