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Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac (by Gabrielle Zevin)

common sense media says

Lost memory leads to some honest soul-searching.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this book is about a high school girl who rediscovers herself after losing four years of memories. In the process, she finds her own birth control pills, is kissed passionately by her forgotten boyfriend, becomes infatuated with another boy with a dark past, is drunk at a party, lies to her father, and relearns ugly details of her parents' divorce, including her mother's affair. In addition to teen drinking, there is a male character who smokes cigarettes, talk of an attempted suicide, and a disturbing discussion on wrist-cutting technique.

Educational value: Can open up discussions about coming-of-age stories and what's attractive about starting a new life. See our "Families Can Talk About" section for some ideas.
Positive messages: Once Naomi reevaluates who she is, she makes important changes involving meaningful relationships in her life.
Positive role models: Naomi's evolution may
inspire teens to think about their own relationships and choices and
what it takes to make positive changes in their lives.
Violence: The main character falls down the stairs and loses her memory. Talk of an attempted suicide using pills and slitting wrists, and of wrist-cutting technique.
Sex: Mentions of birth control pills and The Joy of Sex. Some kissing and fondling, and a teen boy gets rough with a girl. Main character's divorced father is sleeping with his girlfriend. Two high school friends are lesbians.
Language: "Bulls--t," "damn," "hell," "dick," "bitch."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Teens drink. The main character has one drink, becomes drunk, and must call her father for a ride. A boy smokes cigarettes.

More on Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about Naomi's memory loss and how it changed her. Who does the reader like better: the old Naomi or the new one?
  • Why is amnesia such a popular plot device in soap operas and other stories? How does it create possibility? Does the idea of starting anew appeal to you?

What's the story?

What's the story?
The summer before their junior year of high school, Naomi Porter and her best friend Will, both co-editors of the yearbook, flip a coin to see who has to retrieve an expensive camera they left out. She loses, finds the camera, and trips on the stairs. The bump on her head takes away her memories of the past four years. She no longer remembers Will, her parents' divorce, body changes since the sixth grade, her boyfriend, or her likes/dislikes as a teen.

Along the way she and her boyfriend Ace break up and she connects with the boy who found her on the steps and rode with her to the hospital. His own dark past and journey in self-discovery help jump-start a romance between them. Once Naomi reevaluates who she is, she makes important changes involving meaningful relationships in her life.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Author Gabrielle Zevin has nailed this one for teens. Amnesia or not, most teens want to erase and start over at some point in adolescence. MEMOIRS OF A TEENAGE AMNESIAC allows readers to live vicariously through Naomi, who's lost four years with one spill down the stairs. As Naomi gathers clues to her past, she discovers she likes and dislikes certain things about herself. Can she go back to being that person -- and does she want to?

Her reevaluation has many consequences, including better relationships with her parents and friends, and a test of those relationships. This book offers a great opportunity for young adult readers to get to know a teen character as she forges a new identity. Her evolution may inspire teens to think about their own relationships and choices and what it takes to make positive changes in their own lives.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date: August 21, 2007
Number of pages: 288
Hardcover price: $17.00

This review was written by Pam Gelman
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

thunderpup25
teen, 18 years old
 
A really life changing book
This book makes you examine all the little details of life in a new and creative way. It makes you take a step back from reality and really see yourself for who you are. I thought the writing style was catchy and the themes were great. This is a must read for anyone. Good discussion book.

3m0gr7witu
teen, 14 years old
 
themes of this book
i ? it..thats all im saying just finding themes

ModernClassic
teen, 17 years old
 
(:
Love it. It's a not a typical teenage book. It's really how teenagers are, Like me.

lindzgirl95
teen, 15 years old
 
I really enjoyed this book!
The whole plot was so fresh and interesting I just fell in love eith the book!!!! Some of the subjects are a little bit iffy, but I would definitely recomend this book to teens! It was an amazing book from the tiltle to the ending. The only thing I disliked was that the ending was alittle bit too predictable.

fettuccini9564
teen, 15 years old
 
Not Worth the Time
eh... I have read much better books on this same subject matter. Pretty crude. I don't think I'll ever read it again.

MaribelDiaz
teen, 14 years old
 
I love thee story of it!! It would be a great movie one comes out.

Daisiexoxo
teen, 14 years old
 
I personally think this book is great that brings general life issues into aspect while still being an enjoyable read with a great plot. I would reccomend this to any teen.

 
Great Story of rethinking your life
This is a great book about a girl who suffers a brain injury and can no longer remember her life for the past few years. As she relearns many of the things that she lost, she is confronted by many of the choices that she made in the past and reexamines them. There is one especially heartbreaking character who has attempted suicide and ends up in a institution. His story may be difficult for younger readers.

 
Great book
This book was truly amazing and arguably one of the best I have ever read. Naomi is an inspirational character, and although she makes some bad decisions, builds up her life, changing for the better.

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