Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
by Gabrielle Zevin

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
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Book Summary Information

Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Edition: Hardcover
Published: 2007-08-21
ISBN: 0374349460
Number of pages: 288
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Book Reviews of Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

Book Review: A review of Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
Summary: 5 Stars

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 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.

Summary of Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

If Naomi had picked tails, she would have won the coin toss. She wouldn’t have had to go back for the yearbook camera, and she wouldn’t have hit her head on the steps. She wouldn’t have woken up in an ambulance with amnesia. She certainly would have remembered her boyfriend, Ace. She might even have remembered why she fell in love with him in the first place. She would understand why her best friend, Will, keeps calling her “Chief.” She’d know about her mom’s new family. She’d know about her dad’s fianc?e. She never would have met James, the boy with the questionable past and the even fuzzier future, who tells her he once wanted to kiss her. She wouldn’t have wanted to kiss him back.

But Naomi picked heads.

After her remarkable debut, Gabrielle Zevin has crafted an imaginative second novel all about love and second chances.

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