How I Live Now

Written by Meg Rosoff

Published in New York by Random House, Copyright 2004, Paperback, 224 pages

Annotation

Daisy is a teen girl who is sent over to England from New York to spend time with her cousins. Her mother had died given birth to her and now her dad had recently gotten married again, this time to a witchy character who was now pregnant with her step-sibling. When she arrives in England she discovers another way of life in the country side. Her aunt (sister to her mother) tells her a little bit about the mother she never got to know. However, her aunt has to soon leave to go to the peace talks to stop a war from happening between England and an aggressor. She and her cousin Edmond bond together more than any of the other questions. Oddly, in an ewwww sort of way, while her aunt and their mother is out of the country in the peace talks, Edmond and Daisy hook up. Daisy cannot stop thinking about Edmond and Edmond her. Each night they would steal away to spend more time together in midnight trysts. Suddenly, everyone’s world is turned upside down when England is attacked as well as some cities in the United States. Email, telephone and other communications are shut down. The country seems unaffected until the military moves in to be quartered in houses. Unfortunately they take over the cousins’ house and split up Daisy from Edmond. Daisy and her cousin Piper are put up in a house of a military man. They soon discover where the others are and plan their way back. Through their adventure to get back to the others, her and Piper become close friends. Soon they get back to their house to discover that a massacre had taken place there. The enemy had evidently taken over England when all of her forces were overseas. But the British government was able to get the country back and the war quickly ends. Daisy is taken back to the States before she has a chance to see Edmond. Years later she returns to the English country side to visit and stay with Edmond. And that is how she lives now.

Criticisms

It is a well written book from more of an English perspective (but the author is American transplanted into England). The mystery of the unnamed occupiers brought back the sense of WWII but in a new context, which was very interesting. The book focused I thought too much on relationships and day to day things (which bored me and I am sure it would do the same for most boys). But the thing that was probably a little disturbing is the sexual relationship between Daisy and her cousin. Obviously this thing was written from a girl’s perspective and maybe they would enjoy this a little more, but other than sense of mystery and magic behind the story and the good writing that English authors posses, I really see no redeeming value to this book. Strengths are a command of the English language in a well-written story that delves into neat details (perhaps too much). Weaknesses I thought was the Hillbilly relationship that Daisy has with Edmond which weirded me out, as I am sure for other readers.

Book Rating

P4/Q4

Recommended Age

Grades 11-12

Cover Art Commentary

A black background covered with white butterflies, tan trees and pink shrubberies definitely screams as a girl novel. It would seem to have a catchy cover for teen girls.