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Available
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Description
After a nasty fall, Naomi realizes that she has no memory of the last four years and finds herself reassessing every aspect of her life.
User reviews
LibraryThing member abbylibrarian
What if you were given a blank slate? One day you wake up and you can't remember the past four years. You have no idea what your tastes are, who your best friends are... Would you still love the people you thought you loved before? Would you find that there were things you liked out of habit that
Naomi Parker has been given a blank slate. She fell down the steps at her high school, hit her head, and now she can't remember anything from the past four years. She doesn't remember meeting her best friend Will, she doesn't remember why she likes her jock boyfriend Ace, she doesn't remember her parents' divorce, she doesn't remember how to drive. What Naomi has is the chance to start over, to press the reset button on her life. And the things that remain the same might indicate what she should really be doing with her life and where her heart truly lies.
I thought this was an excellent book with a very interesting premise. It's divided into three sections: I was, I am, I will. In the first section, Naomi is trying to get back the life that she had, to recreate it as closely as she can. In the middle section she realizes that some things are different now and some things she'll have to figure out from scratch. In the final section, Naomi comes to terms with her life and decides where she'll go from there. This is a book that will make you think and reevaluate your own life, but it's not too heavy and Naomi comes across as a very realistic 16-year-old girl.
I'd wager that this one's a Printz contender.
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now have no appeal? Would you want to find out everything you could to recreate the you that you were? Or would you start over? Naomi Parker has been given a blank slate. She fell down the steps at her high school, hit her head, and now she can't remember anything from the past four years. She doesn't remember meeting her best friend Will, she doesn't remember why she likes her jock boyfriend Ace, she doesn't remember her parents' divorce, she doesn't remember how to drive. What Naomi has is the chance to start over, to press the reset button on her life. And the things that remain the same might indicate what she should really be doing with her life and where her heart truly lies.
I thought this was an excellent book with a very interesting premise. It's divided into three sections: I was, I am, I will. In the first section, Naomi is trying to get back the life that she had, to recreate it as closely as she can. In the middle section she realizes that some things are different now and some things she'll have to figure out from scratch. In the final section, Naomi comes to terms with her life and decides where she'll go from there. This is a book that will make you think and reevaluate your own life, but it's not too heavy and Naomi comes across as a very realistic 16-year-old girl.
I'd wager that this one's a Printz contender.
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LibraryThing member GaylDasherSmith
Forgive me, but although I remember enjoying it, now, three weeks later, I can't remember much else.
LibraryThing member ProfJody
This story is about a high-school junior, Naomi, who after falling down a flight of stairs, loses the past four years of her memory. The reader goes through Naomi's ups and downs of discovering who she is, with all the drama any American high school.
I liked this book even though it was slightly
I liked this book even though it was slightly
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predictable -- does anyone ever become amnesiac and not become a "better" person than they were? -- but Zevin hits on a point that I think everyone can relate to: would it be better if you could just forget the past? Naomi struggles with this question, while surrounded by her colorful peers. The supporting characters were a titch stereotypical--the jocks, the drama kids, the yearbooks staff--but there were a few that I liked, particulary Will, Naomi's best friend. I would recommend this to 7th graders and up. Show Less
LibraryThing member MickyFine
Above all, mine is a love story.
And like most love stories, this one involves chance, gravity, a dash of head trauma.
Following this opening, Zevin's novel follows Naomi who, after falling down the front steps of her high school, develops retrograde amnesia and loses the past four years of her life.
Zevin's novel sucked me in quickly. From the opening lines that charmed me to her delightfully well-drawn characters, I was captured. Naomi is a normal 17 year-old girl in unusual circumstances and I found the way she dealt with her situation compelling. She doesn't always make the best decisions but the character comes from a realistic place that makes her mistakes forgivable. And while Naomi could be irritating, her best friend, Will is a fabulous character. A bit of an oddball, his obsession with making mixes and burning them to CD charmed me entirely.
Zevin handles her themes well and despite the slightly unusual premise of the novel, her characters are entirely realistic. A well-done YA novel exploring the issue of identity and what makes us us.
And like most love stories, this one involves chance, gravity, a dash of head trauma.
Following this opening, Zevin's novel follows Naomi who, after falling down the front steps of her high school, develops retrograde amnesia and loses the past four years of her life.
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Now she's left to rediscover why she's dating her boyfriend, the basis of her relationship with her best friend, Will, and where exactly James, the new guy, who found her after she fell, fits in. In the process she attempts to find her own identity and decide if she wants to be the girl she was before she fell down the stairs.Zevin's novel sucked me in quickly. From the opening lines that charmed me to her delightfully well-drawn characters, I was captured. Naomi is a normal 17 year-old girl in unusual circumstances and I found the way she dealt with her situation compelling. She doesn't always make the best decisions but the character comes from a realistic place that makes her mistakes forgivable. And while Naomi could be irritating, her best friend, Will is a fabulous character. A bit of an oddball, his obsession with making mixes and burning them to CD charmed me entirely.
Zevin handles her themes well and despite the slightly unusual premise of the novel, her characters are entirely realistic. A well-done YA novel exploring the issue of identity and what makes us us.
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LibraryThing member marnattij
When Naomi falls down the steps and lose her memory her entire life changes. She isn't sure she likes the person she used to be and strives to become someone she wants to be.
This is a fabulous story that hooks you in immediately and doesn't let go until the end. Fascinating to think about the
This is a fabulous story that hooks you in immediately and doesn't let go until the end. Fascinating to think about the
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moment of your life, that if you could forget it, would change the way you think about yourself and the way you are. Show Less
LibraryThing member airdna
16-year-old Naomi falls down the steps in front of her school, and wakes up unable to remember anything about the past 4 years. As she pieces together the mystery of the missing years, she discovers there's a tremendous disconnect between the person she is now, and the person she was before the
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accident. Not only does she not recognize her boyfriend Ace, she doesn't understand what she ever saw in the handsome, popular athlete and instead is hopelessly drawn to the dark and brooding James. This story tackles the classic coming-of-age questions of identity and self-definition, (which Naomi, an adoptee, had been struggling with even prior to her accident)in a new and fascinating way. Show Less
LibraryThing member infinitechoice
Zevin explores the theme of identity through the plot construct of a character with amnesia. After an accident, high school junior Naomi can't recall anything past the sixth grade. The condition
presents both a challenge and an opportunity to begin her life anew.
Naomi discovers that despite her
At times, it's hard to like Naomi or to identify with her choices. All the same, she is a richly developed character. For me, the plot lagged a bit as soon as her memory returned, and Naomi attempted to reconcile her new life with her recollections of the past.
presents both a challenge and an opportunity to begin her life anew.
Naomi discovers that despite her
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high-achieving status at her New York high school, she has a few areas in her life that she'd like to change: her fractured relationship with her mother, her play-it -safe, not very compatible boyfriend. She latches on to a mysterious, moody new boy and, just as she tumbled off the steps of her high school and injured her head, she tumbles headlong into a relationship with him despite the flashing danger signs.At times, it's hard to like Naomi or to identify with her choices. All the same, she is a richly developed character. For me, the plot lagged a bit as soon as her memory returned, and Naomi attempted to reconcile her new life with her recollections of the past.
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LibraryThing member ark76
Having a character with amnesia seems like a forced plot, it is necesssary to deliver the unique experience afforded to Naomi - being able to evaluate your life as a stranger. When teenager, Naomi, awakens from her coma, she has amnesia and is reintroduced to her life. Everyone she meets is new and
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she is surprised by the friends she had and the experiences she learns of. In her new life she makes different choices and different friends and isn't sure she likes the other self she is learning about. This is an new and interesting perspective for an amnesia story and an excellent one for teenagers who are constantly reevaluating their identity, self-image and the identy forced upon them by peers and society. I highly recommend this for anyone 8th grade and above. Show Less
LibraryThing member MissMac
A very good book, which had me hooked enough to read it all in one sitting. I loved the idea of someone having lost their memory and them piecing their life back together again to find that they didn't like things as they were.
I enjoyed the explorations of character and identity and the
I enjoyed the explorations of character and identity and the
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developments within the novel as the narrator found herself again. Lovely stuff. Show Less
LibraryThing member tiamatq
There are several reviews that sum the book up very well, so I won't take a lot of time doing it. The short version is that high school junior Naomi Porter takes a fall down her school's stairs and the resulting bump causes her to lose the past four years' worth of memories. The book is divided
The tone and style of this story felt so perfect. I wish I could write like this. None of the characters were far beyond belief, and Zevin creates a story where you can feel for each character, even the jerks. Yes, it's a love story, but it's more a story about remembering and forgetting people, relationships, and yourself. It doesn't hammer any messages home, but gives you a year of Naomi's life and how she reconciles herself with her past and makes choices for how she'll live her life. It's beautiful and funny and sweet and sad. I think that's something all books should try to be. I don't know that I'm really doing the book justice, so I'll just say that you should go out and read this book!
On a side note, one of the characters deals with depression. This was probably one of the hardest parts of the book to read. Zevin does such an excellent job of showing that transitions from "normal" as this character stops taking medication. You feel badly for Naomi, who puts herself in a fairly dangerous situation, as well as this character, who seems to be falling apart while desperately trying to keep things together. I really appreciate the way that Zevin handles this part of her story.
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into three sections, pertaining to Naomi's memories (or lack thereof), her attitude towards life, and her relationships with Ace (her boyfriend), James (the enigmatic and exquisite brooding guy that discovers her on the stairs), and Will (her best friend who supposedly knows everything about her).The tone and style of this story felt so perfect. I wish I could write like this. None of the characters were far beyond belief, and Zevin creates a story where you can feel for each character, even the jerks. Yes, it's a love story, but it's more a story about remembering and forgetting people, relationships, and yourself. It doesn't hammer any messages home, but gives you a year of Naomi's life and how she reconciles herself with her past and makes choices for how she'll live her life. It's beautiful and funny and sweet and sad. I think that's something all books should try to be. I don't know that I'm really doing the book justice, so I'll just say that you should go out and read this book!
On a side note, one of the characters deals with depression. This was probably one of the hardest parts of the book to read. Zevin does such an excellent job of showing that transitions from "normal" as this character stops taking medication. You feel badly for Naomi, who puts herself in a fairly dangerous situation, as well as this character, who seems to be falling apart while desperately trying to keep things together. I really appreciate the way that Zevin handles this part of her story.
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LibraryThing member ewyatt
Naomi's life turns upside down after she dives down the front steps of the school to save the yearbook camera. Her head injury results in amnesia that has caused her to loose all her memories of the previous four years.
She finds that she is not the same person and has the opportunity to try out an
Zevin comes up with another really interesting plot here as she did in Elsewhere that leads to much food for thought and would lend itself to good discussion. The novel is separated into three sections: i was, i am, and i will. The story captured me at once, although I lost some of my steam about half way through the book, I still wanted to find out what would happen to Naomi and which parts of herself she'd keep after she regains her previously missing memories.
She finds that she is not the same person and has the opportunity to try out an
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alternate identity. She becomes romantically involved with James, a moody guy with a mysterious past. She doesn't remember her best friend Will, her boyfriend Ace, or even the fact that her parents got divorced. Zevin comes up with another really interesting plot here as she did in Elsewhere that leads to much food for thought and would lend itself to good discussion. The novel is separated into three sections: i was, i am, and i will. The story captured me at once, although I lost some of my steam about half way through the book, I still wanted to find out what would happen to Naomi and which parts of herself she'd keep after she regains her previously missing memories.
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LibraryThing member Jadesbooks
I think that this book does a good job at capturing what it is like being a teenager. All confusion, and decisions that you wish you could forget and change....but somehow you have to face the world and make things right.
LibraryThing member stonelaura
When Naomi bumps her head falling down the stairs outside her school she loses four years of memories and, while it is frightening and unsettling, it gives her a whole new perspective on her interests, her social position in school, her estranged relationship with her mother, and quite possibly her
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taste in boyfriends. When she suddenly regains her memory she’s afraid to upset the new balance she’s achieved, but ultimately realizes what’s really important. The character of troubled James starts off strong, but fizzles a bit when he dips into mental strain, and his opposite, best friend and general good guy Will seems to be a bit one-dimensional. But overall the book is fairly good and would be easy to recommend to teen. It’s fairly clean (perhaps a bit of drinking and a cigarette or two) with no sex beyond kissing and a predictable romantic resolution for Naomi in the end with all loose ends tied up. Show Less
LibraryThing member chibimajo
Not quite what I was expecting, but an interesting read anyway. The book is divided into 3 parts - part 1, where she has amnesia, part 2 where she remembers everything, and part 3, the consequences of her actions. There is quite a contrast between the image we see painted of her before her amnesia
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and that of her after. Lots of emotional growth, but the falling in love with the best friend was too obvious. Show Less
LibraryThing member cazedbooker1
I forund this book intreguing because if it's contents. It's about a girl who tries to remember her past after she hits her head. In this book she learnes about friendship. For readers 12- up
LibraryThing member kpickett
On her way out of school Naomi falls down some stairs and hits her head. When she wakes up she can’t remember the last four years of her life, all of high school, her parents divorce, her boyfriend! As Naomi goes back to school and meets all her friends for the second first time she wonders who
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she was and what she had become. She realizes that she doesn’t really like any of her friends or her boyfriend. So when her memory comes back she keeps is a secret and decides to change her life. Show Less
LibraryThing member bellalibrarian
Naomi finds herself suffering from amnesia during one of her high school years. While being a teenager isn't hard enough; not being able to remember how to drive or who your boyfriend is can make things much harder.
Zevin has done a great job with the themes of memories, and our need to forget
Zevin has done a great job with the themes of memories, and our need to forget
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traumatic events within our lives. This is a great read for young adults, or adults, like me! Show Less
LibraryThing member CaroTheLibrarian
When 16 year old Naomi falls down some steps she loses any memory of the last 4 years of her life. She doesn't know that her parents have divorced or that she and her dad have moved house. She doesn't know that she has a boyfriend, and doesn't recognise her best friend Will when he comes to visit
The book is split into 3 parts: I was, I am and I will, and follows Naomi as she attempts to make sense of her past, present and future. As she relearns about herself she realises that she may not want to pick things up where she left off.
A coming of age novel with an excellent set of characters and an unusual plot.
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in hospital.The book is split into 3 parts: I was, I am and I will, and follows Naomi as she attempts to make sense of her past, present and future. As she relearns about herself she realises that she may not want to pick things up where she left off.
A coming of age novel with an excellent set of characters and an unusual plot.
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LibraryThing member Vplkids
Main character is a junior in high school and has lost her memory for the past four years (all of high school) and is trying to deal with the memories she lost.
LibraryThing member JRlibrary
Naomie slips on the school stairs, and, in trying to save the camera, hits her head. When she wakes up, she has amnesia. She has NO memory of her boyfriend, Ace, and little memory of her best friend, Will. She does, however, meet a new boy, James, who has a very questionable future. She does get
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her memory back. It's hard to predict how the book ends. Show Less
LibraryThing member kkugler
Naomi falls down steps and hits her head. That is how she looses her memory. The rest of the book is her struggle to rediscover who she is. Her growth is related thsi try around to who she would like to be rather what others expect of her.
Second chances are something we all want. Watching Naomi
Second chances are something we all want. Watching Naomi
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get hers and not screw it up is one of the things that make the book so enjoyable. We should all be so lucky. Show Less
LibraryThing member lkerr
Naomi falls/dives down the fronts steps of her high school to save the yearbook staff's brand new camera. As co-editor of the yearbook, the camera comes first before her own head. The impact erases the last 4 years of her memeory. She forgets her parents difficult divorce (mom cheated), the new
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house she and her dad share, her best friend William Blake Landsman, her tennis champion boyfriend Ace, and her absolute love of the year book. By the time she remembers she has dumped Ace, fallen for James the new guy with a questionable character, quit yearbook, and ruined her relationship with Will. Can she unite her old self with the person she became after her fall? Good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member su_library_student
Naomi is a popular athlete, a junior, and co-editor of her high school yearbook when an injury results in amnesia. Naomi can't remember the last 4 years of her life and a lot has happened in that time including the divorce of her parents. As each day passes, Naomi learns a little bit more of who
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she was and doesn't necessarily like what she learns. The story has lots of drama, humor, heartbreak, and a love story which will keep the reader turning the pages. Show Less
LibraryThing member spacecat77
Looks interesting, a girl tries to save a camera and ends up forgetting the last five years of her life. a Coming of age story mixed with forgotten memories
LibraryThing member SunnySD
Tennis player, yearbook co-editor, girlfriend, best friend, orphan, adoptee.... Waking up in the hospital after what she's told was a fall down the high school steps, Naomi Porter doesn't know exactly who she was beforehand. Because of a coin toss and a camera, she's lost four years worth of memory
Identity seems to be the question of the day. I liked Naomi from the start, and although the plot is fairly predictable, the tone is upbeat and the characters are entertaining. When I put it down, I wanted to pick it back up to see what happened next - usually the sign of a good book.
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(the camera's okay, though). As each day brings new surprises - her mom has a new daughter?! - she begins to question the life she had before.Identity seems to be the question of the day. I liked Naomi from the start, and although the plot is fairly predictable, the tone is upbeat and the characters are entertaining. When I put it down, I wanted to pick it back up to see what happened next - usually the sign of a good book.
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Awards
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award (Nominee — 2010)
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Young Adult — 2009)
Gateway Readers Award (Nominee — 2010)
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Recommended — 2010)
Blue Hen Book Award (Winner — Younger Readers — 2009)
The Flume: NH Teen Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2009)
Evergreen Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2010)
Rhode Island Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2009)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2008)
CCBC Choices (2008)
Young Adult Favorites Award (2009)