Izzy, Willy-Nilly [School & Library Binding]

Cynthia Voigt (Author), Josephine Tey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1995

Isobel Lindgren -- Izzy -- is a chearleader, the only sophomore on the entire squad. Pretty, blonde, and from a wealthy family, she's the kind of girl who everyone notices. And as much as she hates to admit it, Izzy loves that. So when Marco, a popular senior, asks her to a party, how can she say no? And how can she say no when he wants to drive her home?

But days later, when Izzy wakes up in the hospital, severely injured from a car accident, home has never felt so far away. Izzy's determined not to show how scared she is, but every day it gets harder and harder to accept that things will never be the same again. That's when she meets Rosamunde. Plain and withdrawn, Rosamunde is the kind of girl Izzy never noticed before the accident, but now it seems like she's the only one who can get through to Izzy and help her move on. And as Izzy comes to terms with the past, she can even see that there's a new richness to life, and that she possesses strengths she never dreamed she had.

Poignant and thought provoking, Izzy, Willy-Nilly, by Newberry Award-winning author Cynthia Voigt, is sure to resonate with anyone who's ever felt as if they didn't belong.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In one of the Newbery Medalist's most poignant novels, a teenager learns to accept the changes in her life after she loses her leg in a car accident. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Gr 6-9-Izzy, Willy-Nilly by Cynthia Voight (Atheneum, 1986) is the story of a 15-year-old girl coming to terms with the fact that she has lost her leg in an alcohol-related car accident. Actress Mandy Siegfried brings the story to life for listeners. She brilliantly captures the character of Izzy as she struggles with the realization that her life has been changed forever, and gives voice to Izzy's family, friends, and various members of the hospital staff. The narration is accomplished with just the right amount of emotion and articulation. This thought-provoking story easily gives rise to opportunities for serious discussions of numerous issues affecting teenagers today, such as drinking and driving, friendship, popularity, and disabilities.-Darlene Ford, Dauphin County Library System, PA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• School & Library Binding
• Publisher: Tandem Library (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0833500767
• ISBN-13: 978-0833500762
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (110 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,079,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Cynthia Voigt won the Newbery Medal for Dicey's Song and the Newbery Honor Award for A Solitary Blue, both part of the beloved Tillerman Cycle. She is also the author of many other celebrated books for middle-grade and teen readers, including Izzy, Willy-Nilly and Jackaroo. She was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award in 1995 for her work in literature, and the Katahdin Award in 2004. She lives in Maine.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ** For ALL high school students!**, October 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Izzy, Willy-Nilly (Mass Market Paperback)

Izzy, Willy-Nilly is a good, thought-provoking book directed to high school students. It deals with issues that teenagers face everyday, including drunk-driving, friendship, and indifference. Izzy, Willy-Nilly is about a sophomore in high school, Izzy, who accepts a date with a senior, Marco. They go to a party and Marco drinks too much. On the drive home, they crash into a tree. Although Marco recieves minor injuries, Izzy loses a leg, and her life is changed forever. At 15, Izzy was the pretty, popular cheerleader from a rich family, but the accident changes everything. Her friends and family start treating her differently, and everywhere she goes people stare at her. She is no longer the once popular cheerleader, but the object of everyone's pity. Through hard work and perseverence, Izzy learns to cope and adjust to her disability. This book is definitely for every high school student to read. I could relate to many of the issues discussed in this book. This book totally made me think about how lucky I am to be healthy and fit.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars thought provoking, but not preachy, November 7, 2005

By 

E. M. Bristol "bibliophile" (boston, mass) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Izzy, Willy-Nilly (Mass Market Paperback)

Teenager Isobel "Izzy" Lingard has lost part of her leg in an accident and is faced with the daunting task of reassembling her life. Before the accident, she was known as a pretty and semi-popular cheerleader, along with her three friends. None of them imagined anything would ever change. But when Izzy accepted a date with Marcus, a handsome senior, and then drove home with him after he'd been drinking, her life changed forever. Now her friends are uncomfortable around her and spend less and less time visiting the hospital. Instead, Rosamunde, an intelligent, eccentric girl her age and someone she's always considered a weird outcast, begins to visit. Rosamunde's world view is drastically different from anything Izzy has considered before, and she helps Izzy free herself of self-pity and blame. Eventually the two girls become friends. With the help of Rosamunde and her family, Izzy begins to heal.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Izzy, Willy-Nilly, May 13, 2001

By 

Lauren Shea (Louisiana, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Izzy, Willy-Nilly (Mass Market Paperback)

This novel is about a young girl named Isobelle Lingard, "Izzy", who must pay consequences for a choice she makes. Izzy is a cheerleader and very popular amongst her school. However, her life changes after she suffers severe injuries in a car crash caused by a drunk driver. It takes a girl, Rosamunde, to make Izzy accept what has happened to her. Rosamunde will not let Izzy feel different from anyone else and will not let her be pitied. Izzy comes to know what her real friends are like and she makes a great friend. Because of Rosamunde, Izzy was given the courage to return to school and face her friends and peers that she was once afraid and embarrassed to be seen by. She was afraid of being different and not looking as pretty as everyone pictures her to be. The author wrote this book sending out a message of what can happen with drinking and driving. It is a great message that should be sent out especially to teen-agers. We are forced to pay consequences of our own actions. The author uses literary devices such as foreshadowing and symbolism. The author's overall theme is to be careful of the decisions we make. Our actions can not only affect ourselves, but also the people we are surrounded by. Drinking and driving is a major problem that people are faced with today. Hopefully reading this book will make teenagers, as well as adults, realize that our stupidity can hurt the ones we love most.