How I Live Now facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | Meg Rosoff |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Young adult literature |
| Publisher | Penguin Books |
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Publication date
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5 August 2004 |
| Pages | 192 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0-14-138075-9 |
| OCLC | 56465545 |
How I Live Now is a popular novel written by Meg Rosoff. It was first published in 2004. This book received many good reviews. It also won important awards like the British Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and the American Printz Award for young adult books.
Contents
Story of the Book
Daisy's New Life in the UK
The story is about a 15-year-old girl named Elizabeth, who everyone calls Daisy. She is sent from the United States to live with her aunt Penn and her cousins. They live on a quiet farm in the United Kingdom. This happens just as a fictional third world war begins in the 21st century.
Daisy is happy to get away from her stepmother, who is expecting a baby. But at first, Daisy misses her home. She meets her 14-year-old cousin Edmond at the airport. Daisy initially thinks he looks a bit scruffy.
Settling into Farm Life
When Daisy arrives at the farm, she also meets Edmond's twin brother, Isaac. Isaac is 14 years old. She also meets 9-year-old Piper and Osbert, who is the oldest brother. Daisy's homesickness does not last long. She quickly becomes very close with her new family. Daisy starts to love her new home.
Soon, Daisy finds herself falling in love with Edmond. She realizes he feels the same way about her. They begin a special relationship.
War Breaks Out
Aunt Penn travels to Oslo and gets stuck there when the war starts. An unknown enemy army takes over the UK. Life becomes very hard for Daisy and her cousins. The war affects them more and more. They start to run out of food and other important things.
One day, soldiers take over the farm. They separate the boys from the girls. The boys are sent to live in different homes. The girls are sent to different farms. Daisy and Piper are forced to focus only on surviving. They cannot look for the boys in their family.
Journey Home and Aftermath
Slowly, the two girls find their way back to their farm. They learn how harsh and difficult war can be. They wait for their family in the barn house. After the war ends, Daisy has to put her life back together. She must overcome the terrible things she experienced.
She reunites with her family members. They have all changed forever. Edmond is physically and emotionally scarred by the war.
Reunion and New Beginnings
Near the end of the book, Daisy is pulled back to the US by her father. But she later returns to the UK to see Edmond and the others. Edmond thinks Daisy broke their promise to always be together. At first, he does not want to see her. However, he eventually accepts her again. Instead of going back to the US, Daisy stays and lives with Edmond and the rest of the family in the UK.
Main Characters
- Elizabeth (also known as Daisy): She is a 15-year-old girl from New York. Daisy comes to Britain to live with Aunt Penn. She is upset with her father and stepmother. Daisy falls in love with Edmond. She is described as strong-willed and determined. Sometimes she can be a bit selfish.
- Isaac: He is Daisy's 14-year-old cousin. Isaac is Edmond's twin brother and Piper's older brother. At the start of the story, he does not talk much. But he speaks more towards the end. He enjoys being with animals.
- Piper: She is Aunt Penn's only daughter and Daisy's cousin. Piper is the youngest in the family, at 9 years old. She seems very sweet and innocent. Daisy feels protective of her. Daisy acts like a mother figure to Piper when Aunt Penn is away. Piper is energetic, sweet, and innocent.
- Edmond: He is Isaac's brother and Piper's older brother. He is in a relationship with Daisy. Daisy first describes him as a "mutt" from a dog shelter. She means he is hopeful and sweet. Later, he and Daisy develop a very strong connection. During the war, Edmond sees a terrible event. This shock makes him unable to talk for a while. He is also deeply scarred by his war memories.
- Osbert: He is the oldest child, older than the twins Edmond and Isaac, and Piper. He is 16 years old and a little self-important. He is "in charge" when Aunt Penn is not there.
- Aunt Penn: She is the mother of Piper, Edmond, Isaac, and Osbert. She is Daisy's deceased mother's sister. Daisy sees Aunt Penn as the caring mother she never had. Aunt Penn is tragically killed trying to return to her family two years after the war started.
- Daisy's father: He is usually too busy with his second wife and his work. He does not pay much attention to Daisy.
- Davina: She is Daisy's stepmother and her father's second wife. Daisy describes her as heartless and mean. Daisy even calls her "Davina the Diabolical." Daisy's stepmother is part of the reason Daisy does not eat properly.
- Leah: She is Daisy's friend. While Daisy is at Aunt Penn's, Leah keeps her updated on news from her school.
- Mrs McEvoy: She is the woman Daisy and Piper are sent to during the war. She is described as overly nice and cheerful. Daisy appreciates that Mrs McEvoy tries to be kind. Mrs McEvoy's husband, Major McEvoy, is killed by the soldiers. This event makes her very upset.
- Joe: He is a boy who works with Daisy picking apples. He is also killed along with Major McEvoy.
Awards and Recognition
Awards Won
- 2004 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize
- 2005 Michael L. Printz Award
- 2005 Branford Boase Award
Other Recognitions
- 2004 Shortlisted for the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year
- 2004 Shortlisted for the Orange Prize
- 2005 Shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize
Radio Show Adaptation
In 2007, the novel was turned into a radio show by Elizabeth Burke. Kate McAll directed it. John Hardy created the music. The show had five parts, each fifteen minutes long. They aired daily from November 12 to 15 as the Woman's Hour Drama on BBC Radio 4.
Cast members:
- Saoirse Ronan as Daisy
- Matthew Barry as Edmond
- Heidi Woodrow as Piper
- Brendan Charleson as Daisy's father
- Erica Eirian as Aunt Penn
- Richard Mitchley as Major McEvoy
- Gareth Warren as Joe
Film Adaptation
The novel was also made into a film. Kevin Macdonald directed it. The movie came out in 2013. Irish actress Saoirse Ronan played Daisy. George MacKay played Edmond. In the film, Edmond is the oldest cousin. Tom Holland played Isaac, who is the younger cousin in the movie. Harley Bird played Piper.
