how i live now

ByMegRosoff

Completed by: Mary Kelly LIS 590

Michael L. Printz Award for Excellent in Young Adult Literature

ichael L Printz Award for Excellent Young Adult Literature began in 2000 with its first award going to Monster by Walter Dean Myer. The award was created to highlight the life and work of Michael L. Printz, a high school librarian and active member of YASLA, whose mission was to find the right book for the student. The award is meant to honor books that target readers between the ages of 12-18 years old. It is awarded annually to a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.1 Michael L. Printz award winners receive a gold seal for their book and honor books receive a silver seal. Each year one book is chosen as the Michael L Printz Award recipient and up to 4 more titles are chosen as honor books. Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or an anthology is eligible for the award and the Printz committee decides the best title based on literary merit. The Printz committee consists of a chair and four members selected by the President/Vice President of YALSA, Young Adult Library Service Association, and four more members elected by YALSA members. Finally, the Printz award is sponsored by Booklist magazine, a publication of YALSA. 2005 Michael L. Printz Award Winner

how i live now

By Meg Rosoff 2005 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book

Airborn
By Kenneth Oppel CHANDAS SECRETS By Allan Stratton LIZZIE BRIGHT and the BUCKMINSTER BOY By Gary D. Schmidt

YALSA. The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Literature. February 25, 2009. http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/printzaward/Printz.cfm

Review
A 15-year-old, contemporary urbanite named Daisy, sent to England to summer with relatives, falls in love with her aunt's "oldy worldy" farm and her soulful cousins--especially Edmond, with whom she forms "the world's most inappropriate case of sexual obsession." Matters veer in a startling direction when terrorists strike while Daisy's aunt is out of the country, war erupts, and soldiers divide the cousins by gender between two guardians. Determined to rejoin Edmond, Daisy and her youngest cousin embark upon a dangerous journey that brings them face to face with horrific violence and undreamt-of deprivation. Just prior to the hopeful conclusion, Rosoff introduces a jolting leap forward in time accompanied by an evocative graphic device that will undoubtedly spark lively discussions. As for the incestuous romance, Daisy and Edmond's separation for most of the novel and the obvious emotional sustenance Daisy draws from their bond sensitively shift the focus away from the relationship's implicit (and potentially discomfiting) physical dimension. More central to the potency of Rosoff's debut, though, is the ominous prognostication of what a third world war might look like, and the opportunity it provides for teens to imagine themselves, like Daisy, exhibiting courage and resilience in roles traditionally occupied by earlier generations. -Starred Review from Booklist

Promotion
How can you promote the Michael L. Printz Award winner and honor books for 2005? Here are some ideas: Reach out to teachers and ask permission to have a 10-minute book talk during class to inform students about the books. Host a book discussion for the winner and honor books in 2005. Try and get the administration to announce the discussion on PA once a week, three weeks leading up to the discussion. Collaborate with the teachers to see if they can tie how i live now in with their curriculum. In particular history teacher (modern) that are discussing war, impact of war on civilians, how realistically war is portrayed in the book. Have displays in the library and the books prominently displays in the library. Have flyers ready to handout promoting the books and discussion. Have books prominently displayed on website with links to book reviews, databases, like novelist that provide real alikes, and links to authors web pages. Create a social networking page, wiki page, or electronic bulletin board that focuses on the titles and give the students an opportunity to discuss the titles online.

Collaboration
Using award winners is a great way to establish collaborative relationships between a school librarian and teachers. Language arts and history are the most obvious choices for collaborate between school librarians and teachers, however a successful collaboration between teachers of geography, computer science, audio/visual, art health, and political science can also be successful. The health teacher can assign how i live now as a subtle way to discuss eating disorders and history teacher can assign it if they would like to discuss how wars impact civilian populations.

Potential collaboration between high school librarian and history teacher Assignment Students read How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, and find five examples of how the Iraq War impacts civilian population. The high school librarian will have to assist students in researching the current and ongoing Iraq war and help them identify relevant databases, journals, books, and other online resources to learn about the wars impact on civilians. Not only will the students improve important search skills, they will also think more critically about current events and perhaps gain a new understanding of our current political atmosphere. The high school librarian will have to contact the local public library to ensure that the books will be available, or else the high school librarian will have to purchase an adequate number of books for each class member to acquire a copy.

Standards
ISAIL: Grades 9-12 Standard 4: Appreciates literature and other relative expressions of information and pursues information related to personal interest and aesthetic growth. Illinois Learning Standards 1.B.4a Preview reading materials, clarify meaning, analyze overall themes and coherence, and relate reading with information from other sources. 1.B.4c Read age-appropriate material with fluency and accuracy. 1.B.5a Relate reading to prior knowledge and experience and make connections to related information. 1.C.4a Use questions and predictions to guide reading. 1.C.3b Interpret and analyze entire narrative text using story elements, point of view and theme. 1.C.3a Use information to form, explain and support questions and predictions. 1.C.3d Summarize and make generalizations from content and relate them to the purpose of the material. 1.C.4c Interpret, evaluate and apply information from a variety of sources to other situations (e.g., academic, vocational, technical, personal. 1.C.4d Summarize and make generalizations from content and relate them to the purpose of the material. 1.C.5b Analyze and defend an interpretation of text. 2.A.3b Describe how the development of theme, character, plot and setting contribute to the overall impact of a piece of literature. 2.A.3c Identify characteristics and authors of various literary forms (e.g., short stories, novels, drama, fables, biographies, documentaries, poetry, science fiction). 2.A.3d Identify ways that an author uses language structure, word choice and style to convey the authors viewpoint.

2.B.3a Respond to literary material from personal, creative and critical points of view. 2.B.3b Compare and contrast common literary themes across various societies and eras. 2.B.3c Analyze how characters in literature deal with conflict, solve problems and relate to real-life situations. 2.A.4a Analyze and evaluate the effective use of literary techniques (e.g., figurative language, allusion, dialogue, description, symbolism, word choice, dialect) in classic and contemporary literature representing a variety of forms and media. 2.A.4b Explain relationships between and among literary elements including character, plot, setting, theme, conflict and resolution and their influence on the effectiveness of the literary piece. 2.A.5a Compare and evaluate oral, written or viewed works from various eras and traditions and analyze complex literary devices (e.g., structures, images, forms, foreshadowing, flashbacks, stream of consciousness). 2.A.5b Evaluate relationships between and among character, plot, setting, theme, conflict and resolution and their influence on the effectiveness of a literary piece. 2.B.5a Analyze and express an interpretation of a literary work. 2.B.5b Apply knowledge gained from literature as a means of understanding contemporary and historical economic, social and political issues and perspectives. 2.B.4a Critique ideas and impressions generated by oral, visual, written and electronic materials. 4.A.3a Demonstrate ways (e.g., ask probing questions, provide feedback to a speaker, summarize and paraphrase complex spoken messages) that listening attentively can improve comprehension. 4.A.3b Compare a speakers verbal and nonverbal messages. 4.A.3d Demonstrate the ability to identify and manage barriers to listening (e.g., noise, speaker credibility, environmental distractions). 4.A.4a Apply listening skills as individuals and members of a group in a variety of settings (e.g., lectures, discussions, conversations, team projects, presentations, interviews). 4.A.4b Apply listening skills in practical settings (e.g., classroom note taking, interpersonal conflict situations, giving and receiving directions, evaluating persuasive messages). 4.B.4a Deliver planned informative and persuasive oral presentations using visual aids and contemporary technology as individuals and members of a group; demonstrate organization, clarity, vocabulary, credible and accurate supporting evidence 4.B.4c Use strategies to manage or overcome communication anxiety and apprehension (e.g., developed outlines, notecards, practice). AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner 2.1.5 Collaborate with others to exchange ideas, develop new understandings, make decisions, and solve problems. 2.4.3 Recognize new knowledge and understanding.

4.1.1 Read, view, and listen for pleasure and personal growth. 4.1.2 Read widely and fluently to make connections with self, the world, and previous reading. 4.1.3 Respond to literature and creative expressions of ideas in various formats and genres. 4.1.4 Seek information for personal learning in a variety of formats and genres. 4.1.5 Connect ideas to own interests and previous knowledge and experience. 4.2.2 Demonstrate motivation by seeking information to answer personal questions and interests, trying a variety of formats and genres, and displaying a willingness to go beyond academic requirements. 4.2.3 Maintain openness to new ideas by considering divergent opinions, changing opinions or conclusions when evidence supports the change, and seeking information about new ideas encountered through academic or personal experiences. 4.2.4 Show an appreciation for literature by electing to read for pleasure and expressing an interest in various literary genres. 4.4.1 Identify own areas of interest. 4.4.2 Recognize the limits of own personal knowledge. 4.4.3 Recognize how to focus the efforts in personal learning. 4.4.4 Interpret new information based on cultural and social context. 4.4.6 Evaluate own ability to select resources that are engaging and appropriate for personal interests and needs.

Booktalk
Today Im going to tell you about a wonderful novel by Meg Rosoff titled, how i live now. It is a speculative fiction novel, meaning it discusses a world not unlike our own; it is set in the not too distant future and discusses the outbreak of what may be World War III. The story also has elements of realism, like growing up in extreme circumstances, a passionate romance, conquering your inner demons, and becoming a more aware person. Contrary to what Im about to tell you I would argue that it is NOT a novel about a war, rather it is a coming of age story, but you will have to read it yourself to see if you agree with me. Imagine that you are a 15-year-old Manhattanite sent away by your father and his new wife to live in the English countryside with an Aunt and four cousins whom you have never met. While you are living with your new family a war breaks out that will change your life forever. Can you imagine this scenario? Well that is exactly what happens to Daisy, the heroine of how I live now by Meg Rosoff. Daisy is a pretty typical teenager before her life is turned upside down. She goes to high school, hangs out with her friends, but she also has to cope with some damaging issues, such as a stepmother she loathes and who loathes her, and an eating disorder. Upon her arrival in England she is retrieved from the airport by her cousin Edmond, a fourteen year old that smokes and drives his familys car. Daisy is immediately beguiled with Edmond and upon meeting the rest of the family, Aunt Penn and her cousins, Piper, Osbert, and Isaac she is completely captivated. The family lives a somewhat bohemian lifestyle in a remote English farmhouse. Daisys cousins have a very close bond and at times, Daisy thinks that they are all psychically connected. I was thinking about almost nothing except that bird and then Edmond was next to my ear whispering Skylark, and I just nodded, knowing it was futile to ask how he new the answer to questions you hadnt even got around to asking yet. Then he handed me a hot cup of tea from the thermos and disappeared again back to the fishing. P.18 Early on in the story Aunt Penn is called away to Oslo to complete her work on the peace process. While she is away, a train station in London is bombed and the war begins. An unnamed invading army occupies England. At first, Daisy and her cousins are unaffected by the war and they live in a utopian atmosphere with no school and no adult supervision. A strong and sincere romantic relationship blossoms between Daisy and Edmond. The four children live off government rations and their own ingenuity. Unfortunately for Daisy and her cousins this idyllic situation cannot last. The war is in their doorsteps and Daisy will have some difficult choices to make. Will she be separated from the family she has grown to love? Will she survive the war? Can she conquer her own demons in the midst of such chaos and suffering? Can Daisy and Edmond continue their taboo relationship, or has their inappropriate love only be allowed because of the extreme circumstances they found themselves in? To find out you must read Meg Rosoffs how i live now.

MichaelL.PrintzAwardWinnerforExcellenceinYoung AdultLiterature.

"Adaring,wise,andsensitivelookatthecomplexitiesofbeingyounginaworldteeteringon chaos,Rosoffspoignantexplorationofperseveranceinthefaceoftheunknownisatimely lessonforusall."PeopleMagazine Afantastictreat...Daisyisanunforgettableheroine.Kliatt,Starred

It would be much easier to tell this story if it were all about a chaste and perfect love between two children against the world at an extreme time in history Pleasejoinourmonthlybookdiscussionof
March25,2009
3:00 p.m.

how i live now