| How I Live Now | |
|---|---|
First edition cover |
|
| Author(s) | Meg Rosoff |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Young adult |
| Publisher | Penguin Books |
| Publication date | 5 August 2004 |
| Pages | 192 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0141380759 |
| OCLC Number | 56465545 |
How I Live Now is a novel by Meg Rosoff, first published in 2004. The book won three notable awards including the Michael L. Printz Award and received generally positive reviews.
Contents |
Fifteen-year-old Manhattanite Elizabeth (who goes by the name of Daisy) is sent to stay with cousins on a remote farm in the English countryside during the outbreak of a fictional world war three of the 21st century. Though enthusiastic about moving away from an evil stepmother who is with child, Daisy is homesick, which only lasts for a while before she and the family become close, and Daisy begins to embrace her new home and has difficulty adjusting to her relatives, with whom she is unfamiliar. However, the awkwardness, where she does not experience the adult authority she resented in Manhattan. Daisy soon finds herself falling in love with cousin Edmond and, after realizing that the affection is mutual, begins a relationship with him.
Meanwhile, the family receives news that Daisy's aunt Penn is stranded in Oslo. During this period of time, terrorists attack from an enemy unknown who later occupies England. The war becomes increasingly personal for Daisy and her cousins as it begins to impinge on their lives, eventually leading to food shortages and lack of other resources. One day, the farm is taken over by soldiers who separate the boys from the girls by sending them away to live at separate homes, and then separate farms. Daisy and Piper are forced to put survival as their top priority and cannot look for the male members of their family. After the war ends, Daisy must deal with putting the pieces of her life back together and overcoming the terrible experience of war as she reunites with the forever changed members of her family, including an emotionally and literally scarred Edmond.
In 2007 the novel was adapted for radio by Elizabeth Burke. There were five parts of fifteen minutes each, which aired daily from 12 to 15 November as the Woman's Hour Drama on BBC Radio 4.[7]
Cast:
It was directed by Kate McAll and the music was composed by John Hardy.
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The First Part Last |
Michael L. Printz Award Winner 2005 |
Succeeded by Looking for Alaska |