February 28, 2005
YA26: Izzy Willy-Nilly
Izzy Willy-Nilly
Cynthia Voigt
Simon Pulse, New York: 1986
Paperback, 280 pages
This was a really incredible book and, like much of the YA gems, extremely depressing. You know it will be from the cover, which clearly warns that "One drunk driver changed her life forever..." But it is wonderfully told and Izzy is a great character, as is her outspoken friend Rosamunde who helps her deal with what has happened and how she has changed. I would definitely recommend it -- and will probably put it on my top ten list for the class, but keep the kleenex box nearby.
Publisher's Weekly called it "one of the Newbery Medalist's most poignant novels." School Library Journal said, "No one will be able to finish this story without understanding the psychological trauma an amputee faces." Booklist said that it "Conveys a keen understanding of the physical practicalities involved in coping with a handicap." And Kirkus said that "Voigt has a gift for writing books that are impossible to put down, not because of breathtaking plots but because her characters so involved the reader in their inner lives. This is a penetrating look at some real people. Izzy is a winner."
Not to slight the actual issue the book addresses, but I feel the reviews focus too much on the amputation and not enough on the transformation Izzy goes through internally. The book is about friends and family and perceptions and depression and life -- and while you may not think you'd identify with a girl who has lost her leg in a car accident, it addresses a lot of the deep, universal issues that these great YA novels tackle in a very accessible way.
Ages 12+, Grades 6-9
Mom will be pleased to know that the author, Cynthia Voigt, is a Smithie ('63) and grew up in Southern CT (not sure where, and she went off to boarding school in MA anyway I think, but some of her other books take place around Bridgeport and elsewhere in the state).
If I have time this semester I'd definitely add another of her books to my list.
Posted by Emily at February 28, 2005 03:32 PM