Sad and moving book about teens living through war. I loved the narrators psychological development and struggle to deal with the reality of her new life. Dark and moving. Very mature. ( )

How I Live Now, by Meg Rosoff is the winner of the 2005 Michael L. Printz Award and the ALA Best Books for Young Adults. The story is set in a countryside village in England and centers around Daisy, a fifteen year old girl from New York, and her four English cousins. Daisies father has sent her to stay in England for the summer with her Aunt Penn and cousins who she has never met. Soon after her arrival Daisy’s aunt is called abroad for work, leaving the children on their own. The children quickly forge a relationship that is stronger than any of them expected. Things quickly change though when England is attacked by an unknown enemy and war breaks out. Soon the children are alone with no power and a depleting supply of food. After months of living on their own they are discovered by the English army and sent to live separately with host families. After what seems like an eternity the cousins are reunited only to find that the war has changed them in more ways than they know.
How I Live Now is a beautifully written story that will keep the reader interested until the end. Meg Rosoff's portrayal of Daisy is truly believable and may even spark memories about the angst of being a teenager. The story deals with some mature issues including sex, incest and anorexia, but is written in a way that is still appropriate for young readers. The only disappointment was that the book came to an end to soon and left me wanting more. I would highly recommend this book for young adult and adult readers. ( )

Synopsis: Living with her extended family all the way over in England in the hope to recover from an eating disorder and get away from family troubles involving her stepmother, 15 year old Daisy is pleasantly surprised with her new life. That is, until war breaks out, and her new family is separated.
My Opinion: This book was written in quite a blunt way, with the use of few commas. It was a quick read with an interesting perspective on England and war. ( )

Meg Rosoff’s acclaimed novel tells the story of Daisy, a teenage American girl who travels to Britain, leaving behind her estranged father and his new family. Sent to stay with her mother’s family in the English countryside, Daisy has to juggle her family problems and eating disorder, while being swept up in a different way of life. She soon grows fond of her eccentric aunt and misfit cousins, especially bonding with the slightly younger Edmund. Everything changes however, when her aunt is out of the country on business. Britain is attacked by some unknown enemy, and left in a chaotic state of war, reminiscent of the country during WW2. The children are left to fend for themselves, providing food and shelter and hiding from the world outside, living and playing in their own little bubble. The war is never far away though, and soon the army arrive, building a base on the farm and separating the children. Daisy is left alone to care for nine year old Piper, and is tormented by her separation from Edmund, with whom she had fallen in love and is determined to find.

Although dealing with war and the delicate subject of love between blood relatives, neither of these is the focus of Rosoff’s story. Rather, they set the scene, and allow the story to follow as it will, through Daisy’s own experiences. She sees some true horror, yet finds in herself a spirit and courage unbeknownst to her.

It is easy to see why this extraordinary book won the Guardian Children’s Fiction award. Rosoff’s writing is remarkable and her storytelling is daring, yet she tackles her subjects with a gentle hand. I can imagine that some readers would be put off by a story that is, in places, quite violent, and that touches on the sexual relationship between two cousins. In Rosoff’s capable hands, this story is a touching one, brimming with emotion, full of beauty and hope. Although I never particularly became attached to any of the characters, the storytelling is so involved that I found myself open-mouthed in horror one minute and holding back tears the next. I'm not sure anything I can say will so this book justice, so you'll just have to read it and make up your own mind.

I for one have been won over by Rosoff’s writing, and will certainly be reading more of her work in the future. A moving read.

This is a haunting story that takes place in an England that has been invaded by an unknown army in a global war waged by unidentified terrorist groups. Daisy has been sent to her deceased mother's relatives in England because she suffers from anorexia, although that term is never used. Her father has a new wife who is expecting and has been convinced that Daisy would be better off with her cousins. However, Daisy's aunt leaves on a quick trip to Sweden just before the war breaks out so the children are on their own indefinitely to run the family farm and look after each other. All the children seem to have a telepathic connection which makes their bonds closer than ordinary cousins so none are them are shocked when Daisy falls hopelessly in love with her cousin Edmond. The first several weeks of her stay are spent in a romantic trance without the oversight or counsel of parents or community.

Eventually, the children are discovered when the army needs their house for a base. The two girls, Daisy and her 9-year-old cousin Piper, are sent to live with an Army couple while the boys are sent to another location. The rest of the story details Daisy and Piper's struggle to find their way back home to Edmond and his brothers.

The author does an excellent job of putting forth the difficulties of living and surviving in a state of siege in a way that is thought-provoking without being preachy. Daisy's observations of adults and society are often humorous but also honest. An unusual story. I highly recommend it. ( )