First of all, this book does contain non-explicit descriptions of a sexual relationship between two young (14 and 15) first cousins. Although this is described as incestuous in the main review, it is, in fact, legal in many states (including Georgia) and marriage between first cousins is common throughout history. The sexual affair is not dealt with in a tawdry way, and I did not feel that it was graphic or glamorized. The ramifications of the affair are dealt with, and the two characters are irrevocably bonded - with a fidelity that transcends war, distance, time, and trauma. The novel does contain some graphic descriptions a fictional future war that are all the more horrifying because the reader feels that the events in the novel could potentially happen. The fact that the violence is realistic and plausible could give more sensitive readers feelings of fear or anxiety and parents/educators should be sensitive to the potential. The book handles many difficult issues in a way that I felt gave a very positive message. The main character, Daisy, responds with courage and strength in the face of horrific circumstances after a series of terrorist attacks leave the country in chaos. In the absence of adults, she protects her young cousin and survives by living off the countryside and learning map/navigational skills. She is anorexic at the start of the novel, but realizes the selfishness of intentionally starving after living through a genuine crisis. Daisy and her cousin Edmund have an intense emotional and sexual affair in the face of what could be the end of the world. As mentioned previously, they are faithful to one another through the most horrible events, distance, and trauma - Daisy stays with Edmund as an adult even after he is horribly scarred by the war. The lack of consequences (pregnancy) is explained by Daisy's ammenorrea. While some may feel that any sexual behavior by teens is inappropriate, I felt that this novel dealt with sexuality in a way that was fair and not-glamorized. There is one scene where the girls accidently eat bad mushrooms while foraging for food to survive and hallucinate. The depiction of the night is horrific and it is a clearly negative view of a drug experience. Positive messages in the novel surround themes of fidelity, self-sacrifice, survival, and self-reliance. There is a strong message of self-sustainable life choices at the end. Proponents of am ecological, back-to-the earth, sustainable farming/living vision will find much to admire. I would not hesitate to recommend this novel to high school students and would not have any qualms about my children reading it in 9th-12th grade.

I loved this book. I love how Meg Rosoff wrote it with an indescribably amusing slang. If you really pay attention you'll notice she doesn't use any quotations marks at all. :)

I cannot deny that this book was an extreme page turner. I read it in one day. I think that this author is one of the bravest people I know, whatwith portraying incest, underage sex, smoking, and anorexia in a not so negative light. This book should definatly NOT be read by anyone under the age of 14 in my opinion. On the cover it says that the narrator, Daisy, is "witty", and I agree with that. I am not so sure however, about the book being "magical". This is probably the last book in the universe I would call "magical." It is extremely heavy, in some parts very graphic, and not a good book for very impressionable people. I have extremely mixed feelings for this book. I think it is a good wakeup call---not to teens, but to parents, well written, and creative. But I also think that it is disturbing, a little too brave, and the fact that I think that people should be warned before reading this is not good. This is an extremely edgy book.

HOW I LIVE NOW is an excellently written portrayal of the way war splits apart people and relationships. Some things of note: there is incest between cousins, violence (a semi-graphic scene with some corpses rotting and a couple 'on-screen' deaths), etc. A couple uses of s---, but overall I think it's perfect for 13+. Mature 11- and 12-year-olds will like it too.

I think it's a great book that points out problems in our civilisation... And it's NOT incest (do you spell it that way..?) my great grandmother and my great grandfather was first cousins! It's legal to marry your first cousin here in Sweden but I guess some people are just to conservetive...

I have read this novel in class and i must say, that i enjoiyed reading it. The main character, Daisy, experiences first love, to care for somebody, war, and how to stay alive during the war. There are a lot of feelings in this novel. When i've read "How I Live Now" i really thought about life. That its not a matter of course that we have peace and freedom in our country. I thought about how it would be like to starv because of food rareness and armed soldiers around me. All in all i think it was a good book, I read it with pleasure and I woul definately recommend it.

The best book I have ever read. A taste of reality. Any tween should read this book. Defiantly a good lesson. Kind of creepy, though, when she falls in love with her cousin. Some scenes are very graphic, in the violent area. Really good book.

I think this book is entirely inappropriate for teens. There are no positive authority figures. (The father is described in derisive language and the aunt is distant and uninvolved in her many children's lives.) The anorexia is defended by the protagonist and it vanishes when she is forced to care for a young cousin in a war zone. The incest between a 14 and a 15 year old is portrayed as a positive relationship. The violence and gore is included with the intent of being "shocking" and cutting edge, but the overall descriptions of the war and the protagonist's response to it are completely unrealistic. The people who give these kind of books awards and push them towards librarians for teens do not have teens themselves, or if they do, they have lost all conscience and have no desire to maintain the power of childhood, but view it as a vacuum to fill with "REALITY", i.e. the worst this world contains, as soon as possible.

Slightly strange sums it up quite well. Confusing at first and relatively short read, definatly not for the younger children. Odd relationships which are at points, unreal and bizarre. Not one to go out an buy in hard back. Unlikely to be one that you will reread