How I Live Now
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
on BBC Radio 4
.
Cast:
It was directed by Kate McAll
and the music was composed by John Hardy
.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by Meg Rosoff
Meg Rosoff
Meg Rosoff is an American author based in London since 1989. She is best known for her novel How I Live Now, which won 3 awards including the Guardian Award , Michael L. Printz Award , Branford Boase Award and was shortlisted for the 2004 Whitbread Awards. Her second novel, , won the prestigious ...
, first published in 2004
2004 in literature
The year 2004 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* Canada Reads selects Guy Vanderhaeghe's The Last Crossing to be read across the nation....
. The book won three notable awards including the Michael L. Printz Award
Michael L. Printz Award
The Michael L. Printz Award is an annual award in the United States for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a school librarian from Topeka, Kansas, who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association...
and received generally positive reviews.
Plot summary
Fifteen-year-old ManhattaniteManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
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
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. During this period of time, terrorists attack from an enemy unknown who later occupies
Military occupation
Military occupation occurs when the control and authority over a territory passes to a hostile army. The territory then becomes occupied territory.-Military occupation and the laws of war:...
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.
Awards and nominations
- 2004 Won the Guardian AwardGuardian AwardThe Guardian Children's Fiction Prize or Guardian Award is a prominent award for works of children's literature by British or Commonwealth authors, published in the United Kingdom during the preceding year. The award has been given annually since 1967, and is decided by a panel of authors and the...
- 2004 Whitbread Children's Book of the YearCosta Book AwardsThe Costa Book Awards are a series of literary awards given to books by authors based in Great Britain and Ireland. They were known as the Whitbread Book Awards until 2005, after which Costa Coffee, a subsidiary of Whitbread, took over sponsorship....
- 2004 Longlisted for the Carnegie MedalCarnegie MedalThe Carnegie Medal is a literary award established in 1936 in honour of Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and given annually to an outstanding book for children and young adults. It is awarded by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
- 2005 Won the Michael L. Printz AwardMichael L. Printz AwardThe Michael L. Printz Award is an annual award in the United States for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a school librarian from Topeka, Kansas, who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association...
- 2005 Won the Branford Boase AwardBranford Boase AwardThe Branford Boase Award is a British literary award presented annually to an outstanding novel for young people by a first-time writer.Wendy Boase, Editorial Director of Walker Books and Henrietta Branford worked together previously to produce a great number of books. Both Wendy Boase and...
- 2005 Shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage PrizeBooktrust Teenage PrizeThe Booktrust Teenage Prize is an annual award given to young adult literature published in the UK. The prize is administered by Booktrust, an independent charity which promotes books and reading.-List of Prize Winners:...
.
BBC Radio adaptation
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 DramaWoman's Hour
Woman's Hour is a radio magazine programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom.-History:Created by Norman Collins and originally presented by Alan Ivimey the programme was first broadcast on 7 October 1946 on the BBC's Light Programme . It was transferred to its current home in 1973...
on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
.
Cast:
- Greta Clough 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
It was directed by Kate McAll
Kate McAll
Kate McAll is Executive Producer, Radio Drama at BBC Wales. There she is a radio director and producer for BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4. Her credits include How I Live Now and The Worst Journey in the World , along with seven Torchwood radio episodes.-Radio Plays:Sources:* * * -References:...
and the music was composed by John Hardy
John Hardy (composer)
John Hardy is an English-born composer who has been commissioned by the Arts Council/National Lottery, the BBC, Welsh National Opera and the BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, among others...
.