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katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
An adolescent 'angst' story, with a difference.
David Case saves his baby brother from a nasty plunging death, or so he thinks. Which starts him off on a path he can't move off - he decides that he is destined to die.
Changing his name, hiding from his fate - will it work?
Quite an intriguing story, David / Justin is both annoying and appealing. Maybe more of one to a 30-something and leaning more to the other if you are a teenager reader.
I really enjoyed the points of view of the baby brother, it reminded me of a chapter in Mary Poppins narrated by the Banks' baby children.
This is teen romance, teen angst, looks at fate and death, has a sense of humour. It's a well-crafted piece from Rosoff, very different to How I Live Now.
I've had teenager readers at my school enjoy it recently, and that's why I picked it up as well, I'm glad I did - it has some memorable scenes and characters and is a cut above a lot of YA fiction.
Nothing unsuitable for ages 12+
David Case saves his baby brother from a nasty plunging death, or so he thinks. Which starts him off on a path he can't move off - he decides that he is destined to die.
Changing his name, hiding from his fate - will it work?
Quite an intriguing story, David / Justin is both annoying and appealing. Maybe more of one to a 30-something and leaning more to the other if you are a teenager reader.
I really enjoyed the points of view of the baby brother, it reminded me of a chapter in Mary Poppins narrated by the Banks' baby children.
This is teen romance, teen angst, looks at fate and death, has a sense of humour. It's a well-crafted piece from Rosoff, very different to How I Live Now.
I've had teenager readers at my school enjoy it recently, and that's why I picked it up as well, I'm glad I did - it has some memorable scenes and characters and is a cut above a lot of YA fiction.
Nothing unsuitable for ages 12+
jenny_hedberg's review against another edition
4.0
[b:Just in Case|209390|Just in Case|Meg Rosoff|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1172700635s/209390.jpg|1201171] is a special book. David a.k.a. Justin Case, is adolescence personified: self-centered, paranoid and in desperate need of someone to love and be loved by. In an attempt to escape Fate he decides to change. He starts by changing his name and follows up with a drastic change of appearance. The following events add up to a story of how David/Justin takes a few steps to becomming an adult and finding himself.
This is a book which I recommend to everyone between 13 and 19, especially those in need of some guidance threw their teenage years.
This is a book which I recommend to everyone between 13 and 19, especially those in need of some guidance threw their teenage years.
4saradouglas's review against another edition
1.0
I read and enjoyed How I Live Now, so I had at least some expectations for this book. Such as it would have a plot and that it would be entertaining. Not so. This is the most uninteresting work of fiction I've ever read. I made myself finish it, and believe me, it took a lot of discipline to get through. There was really no plot, the only interesting characters were those that weren't mentioned often, the book is often confusing and just plain stupid. What a let down.
katie_33's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
miriam2's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
deborahbabin's review against another edition
1.0
what an odd book! i did not like it. it was totally off the wall. i left it in Florida for my dad to read.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book, but then I am drawn to weird books that do not make much sense, and this one is no exception.
It starts at once. David Case rescues his brother, who get annoyed. His brother tells him (well thinks it) what he wanted to do, of course out of the 1 year olds mouth nonsense comes out. Through out the book we can hear the baby's clever thoughts, and he is sure wondering why no one gets him.
David is dead sure that Fate is out after him, and he has a lot of gloomy thoughts. So he changes his name to Justin, starts wearing new clothes, and thinks that Fate can't find him any more. He also gets a dog, a greyhound, and the dog is of course not real. But he sees him. He gets a new friend, who also plays with the dog. I guess crazy attracts crazy. And then there is the older girl who wants to photograph him, and he falls in love. I think that was all teh crazy stuff.
Or was it? No, this book has a second POV, Fate with short sentences tells us that he actually is after David.
Why did I then like this book? I didn't think I would but suddenly I was drawn in to it and could not stop. David was so crazy, I guess it made me think of that Gyllenhaal movie with the rabbit. But David, or Justin really believed fate wanted him dead. And soon he saw dangers in everything, and that is not a way to live. His love affair with the girl was doomed, and it was rather painful to read who much he wanted her, when one could see her indifference. Even if she did care for him as a friend. Luckily he did meet Peter, who was great, and his little sister. That family was a pillar in Justin's life, even if they did talk about the dog. Like saying that Boy needed Justin to survive and exist...yes cos he was made up, duh. But then again Justin needed that dog, I think it made him stay sane.
There was the crazy, the weird thoughts, fate showing up and scaring me, first love, friendship and a wonder how this all would end. A great YA book in the end, with some amazing writing in it.
What can I say, I am a sucker for the weird,
Blodeuedd's Cover Thoughts: Pretty, but pretty girl, but yes looks YA.
Reason for reading: library
Final thoughts: I enjoyed this strange tale, about a boy who lost is footing in the world.
It starts at once. David Case rescues his brother, who get annoyed. His brother tells him (well thinks it) what he wanted to do, of course out of the 1 year olds mouth nonsense comes out. Through out the book we can hear the baby's clever thoughts, and he is sure wondering why no one gets him.
David is dead sure that Fate is out after him, and he has a lot of gloomy thoughts. So he changes his name to Justin, starts wearing new clothes, and thinks that Fate can't find him any more. He also gets a dog, a greyhound, and the dog is of course not real. But he sees him. He gets a new friend, who also plays with the dog. I guess crazy attracts crazy. And then there is the older girl who wants to photograph him, and he falls in love. I think that was all teh crazy stuff.
Or was it? No, this book has a second POV, Fate with short sentences tells us that he actually is after David.
Why did I then like this book? I didn't think I would but suddenly I was drawn in to it and could not stop. David was so crazy, I guess it made me think of that Gyllenhaal movie with the rabbit. But David, or Justin really believed fate wanted him dead. And soon he saw dangers in everything, and that is not a way to live. His love affair with the girl was doomed, and it was rather painful to read who much he wanted her, when one could see her indifference. Even if she did care for him as a friend. Luckily he did meet Peter, who was great, and his little sister. That family was a pillar in Justin's life, even if they did talk about the dog. Like saying that Boy needed Justin to survive and exist...yes cos he was made up, duh. But then again Justin needed that dog, I think it made him stay sane.
There was the crazy, the weird thoughts, fate showing up and scaring me, first love, friendship and a wonder how this all would end. A great YA book in the end, with some amazing writing in it.
What can I say, I am a sucker for the weird,
Blodeuedd's Cover Thoughts: Pretty, but pretty girl, but yes looks YA.
Reason for reading: library
Final thoughts: I enjoyed this strange tale, about a boy who lost is footing in the world.
owls_rainbow's review against another edition
1.0
I'm not sure what to make of this book. It was compelling enough to make me keep reading but the characters didn't develop, David/Justin's relationship with his parents was odd and unrealistic - what parent lets their kid drop out of school and live with a stranger? Charlie's 'speech' and behavior was odd and under-developed and under-used and the whole thing as a criticism on mental health was just poor.
_rachellock's review against another edition
pretty sure i read this book years when i was like 15. only just remembering it now lol.
librariandest's review against another edition
3.0
Having just finished [book: Someday This Pain Will be Useful to You] I don't know why I picked up another story about a depressed young man. Too much depressed young man stuff for one week! Anyway, I think this book will strike your average reader as kind of weird because the titular Justin Case (get it?) has an imaginary dog and Fate talks to him and it's neither fun nor whimsical. It's actually mostly philosophical and troubling.
Maybe Rosoff wrote this book as a kind of meditation on the meaning of life for people who question if it even exists (meaning, that is). Maybe the point of this book is that you must learn to deal with uncertainty to be happy. It's deep stuff with minimal action.
I think I would've loved this book at 16 or 17, during my own philosophically dark days. It's definitely better with the greyhound cover.
Maybe Rosoff wrote this book as a kind of meditation on the meaning of life for people who question if it even exists (meaning, that is). Maybe the point of this book is that you must learn to deal with uncertainty to be happy. It's deep stuff with minimal action.
I think I would've loved this book at 16 or 17, during my own philosophically dark days. It's definitely better with the greyhound cover.