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Just in Case is a book that readers will almost certainly pick up with high expectations after Meg Rosoff's amazing debut,
How I Live Now, and it does not disappoint. After rescuing his baby brother from what could have been a disastrous fall, David Case is struck by the horrifying realization that Fate is merciless and could at any moment be the cause of David's untimely demise.
The first step to outrunning Fate, he decides, is to change his mind. And so, David Case becomes Justin Case. At a thrift shop where he is looking for new clothes to further disguise himself (possibly futilely) from Fate, he meets Agnes. Agnes helps Justin with his new look and remains a part of his life as he tries to escape Fate, along with Boy, his imaginary dog, and Peter, another friend.
It's hard to neatly categorize Just in Case, difficult to describe it in any way that can truly do justice to this amazing, moving, and powerful book. This is not a straightforward, easy-to-understand story. Meg Rosoff does not spoonfeed the story to the reader. It has to be figured out (and once you've figured it out, you're still not certain you've really figured out what's going on), and it's well worth it.
The quirky cast of characters, from Justin to Agnes to Fate itself (himself?), are all wonderfully written. Meg Rosoff is an unbelievably brilliant writer, and her talent shines through in all aspects of this story. Some readers may prefer the earlier How I Live Now, but that's a matter of personal preference; both novels are almost flawless. They are absorbing, easily read in one sitting. Both are intelligent, highly original offerings; they are some of the best of young adult literature, but could just as easily be enjoyed by adults as by teens.
It seems almost disrespectful sometimes to group brilliant, intelligent books like Just in Case with
Gossip Girls and the like. Certainly, those books can be entertaining, but they are nothing compared to what Meg Rosoff brings to the world of young adult literature.
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Just in Case