Module 5- How I Live Now and Ellington Was Not A Street

Summary
Set in the near future, How I Live Now tells the story of Daisy, a teenager sent to live with her family in rural England after her father has remarried.  Chaos quickly ensues as a war breaks out while Daisy's aunt is out of the country.  Daisy and her four cousins are left to fend for themselves while the situation around them quickly deteriorates.  How I Live Now is a story of survival as well as being an unorthodox love story with a bittersweet ending.

Rosoff, M. (2004). How I live now. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.

My impressions
Even though this book is written for young adults, it was by no means a light or carefree read.  Dealing with such heady topics as war, underage sex, and a love affair between cousins, it is quite edgy!  I enjoyed How I Live Now, particularly because I felt like the author respected the audience that she wrote for.  She wasn't afraid to broach difficult topics even though they might be controversial, and she seems to understand that teenagers go through, (and want to read about), things that their parents may not be comfortable with.
Reviews

Baker, D. F. (2004). How I Live Now (Book). Horn Book Magazine, 80(5), 597-580.

This first novel is intelligent, funny, serious, and sweet; a winning combination of acerbic commentary, innocence, and sober vision. Sent from Manhattan to live with four English cousins on their farm, fifteen-year-old Daisy is smitten with the lush, pastoral beauty around her, but especially with her cousin Edmond, who surprises her "in about half a million ways each day." Daisy's and Edmond's idyllic love is interrupted when an unnamed enemy power invades the country (à la Marsden's Tomorrow, When the War Began): the British army confiscates the farm, and the children are split up and evacuated to separate places. As the violence escalates, Daisy and youngest cousin Piper escape their caretakers and make their way home through an uncertain countryside, where fields and woods may yield either carnage or sustenance. Daisy's account, in eccentrically punctuated run-on sentences, has a breathless directness, a mixture of urbane self-mockery and first-time wonder, that is utterly captivating. Through her eyes, we see the practical effects of the occupation--how civilians rally to bring in the harvest, provide medical care, and even milk cows in the absence of electricity. Refreshingly, Rosoff understates Daisy's transformation from self-absorbed, defensive anorexic to generous, loving hero, but that inner evolution is always apparent in her bracing wit and intense response to beauty, both human and natural. Hilarious, lyrical, and compassionate, this is, literarily and emotionally, deeply satisfying.

 

Hofmann, M. (2005). How I Live Now. School Library Journal, 51(11), 60.

Anorexic Daisy, a miserable, quirkily perceptive 15-year-old New Yorker, is sent to live with British cousins whose mom is off on a peace mission. An idyllic adventure becomes more intense as Daisy and her cousin Edmond develop a deep but also physical relationship. During her stay, unidentified terrorists attack England, global war ensues, and the cousins are separated. Privation and growth necessitated by crisis move Daisy past anorexia into wisdom, and love changes her--and possibly her readers'--perspectives forever.

 

Suggestion for library use

This book might be fun for students to use as inspiration for a role-playing game.  Students could divide into groups and work together to form a survival plan for dealing with a situation like the one that Daisy and her family found themselves in.  They could come together afterwards to share their plans, discussing which points would and would not work in a real life war zone.

 

 

 

Summary
 Recipient of the Coretta Scott King award, Ellington Was Not A Street is a sort of historical fiction picture book for school-aged children.  Prominent African American figures such as Paul Robeson, W.E.B. DuBois, and of course, Duke Ellington all gather in the main character's house. 

Shange, Ntozake. (2004). Ellington was not a street. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers.

My impressions
While there is no doubt as to the importance of the figures depicted in the book, as well as the beautiful illustrations that accompany the story, I don't know how many children would pick this book up to read just for fun.  Ellington Was Not A Street undoubtedly has value as a historical teaching tool, but beyond that, I don't see it as being a popular pick.

Reviews
Ware, F. (2005). Ellington Was Not a Street. Black Issues Book Review, 7(4), 65-67.
The warmth and pride of the Harlem Renaissance comes alive in this poignant story of great African American men who made outstanding contributions to American culture. The strong, powerful illustration by Kadir Nelson capture the reader and make the period real and the reader proud.

Wysocki, B. (2007). Ellington Was Not a Street. School Library Journal, 53(4), 59.

Velvet smooth, this illustrated rendition of the free-verse poem "Mood Indigo" highlights men of color such as Paul Robeson, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and W.E.B. DuBois. Based on the musicians, politicians, fighters, and other notables who visited the author's childhood home, the biographical endnotes fill in the facts. Eloquent paintings make this a book to share. Video and audio versions available from Weston Woods.

 

Suggestion for library use

This book would be a good introduction to historical figures in the African American community.  Students could choose a person from the story and do a research report on that person.