Synopses & Reviews
"Every war has turning points and every person too."
Fifteen-year-old Daisy is sent from Manhattan to England to visit her aunt and cousins she's never met: three boys near her age, and their little sister. Her aunt goes away on business soon after Daisy arrives. The next day bombs go off as London is attacked and occupied by an unnamed enemy.
As power fails, and systems fail, the farm becomes more isolated. Despite the war, it's a kind of Eden, with no adults in charge and no rules, a place where Daisy's uncanny bond with her cousins grows into something rare and extraordinary. But the war is everywhere, and Daisy and her cousins must lead each other into a world that is unknown in the scariest, most elemental way.
A riveting and astonishing story.
Review
"Readers won't just read this book, they will let it possess them." The Sunday Telegraph
Review
"[T]he best children's novel for adults since The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." Time Out
Review
"A daring, wise, and sensitive look at the complexities of being young in a world teetering on chaos, Rosoff's poignant exploration of perseverance in the face of the unknown is a timely lesson for us all." People
Review
"[C]entral to the potency of Rosoff's debut...is the ominous prognostication of what a third world war might look like, and the opportunity it provides for teens to imagine themselves...exhibiting courage and resilience in roles traditionally occupied by earlier generations." Booklist (Starred Review)
Review
"[T]he book provides a realistic picture of what life would be like if a world war broke out today, and it provides a lot of material for class discussion. The relationship between Edmond and Daisy...is described in an emotional rather than physical way." Children's Literature
About the Author
Meg Rosoff (www.megrosoff.co.uk) was born in Boston and currently lives in London with her husband and daughter. Her debut novel, How I Live Now, won the Michael L. Printz Award and was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Her second novel, Just in Case, won the 2007 CILIP Carnegie Medal and was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. What I Was, Rosoffs third novel, was short-listed for the 2008 CILIP Carnegie Medal. Her previous novel with Penguin, There Is No Dog, received four starred reviews.
Kids Q&A
Read the Kids' Q&A with Meg Rosoff