Izzy, Willy-Nilly

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.

As a high school and middle school English teacher, I have read lots and lots of books for young people. I seem to have read a lot of novels lately about teens who become injured or disabled or ill in some way -- it is a difficult genre to write well without being overly sentimental or unrealistic. Izzy, Willy-Nilly is the best book of this type I have read. I didn't want to put it down, and after reading it, I wanted to read everything Voigt had ever written.

I first read Izzy when I was 12 years old and in the 6th grade. I am now 25 with a daughter of my own, and I can't wait for her to read the book. The subject will forever be relevant, and the words the author uses to describe Izzy's adjustment to her new life are eloquent and real. Fantastic book.

I read this book for the first time in my twenties and absolutely adored it. It's real and true, a morality tale, but also a story about living with disability.The best part of this book is its honesty. The characters all ring true, human, flawed and real, almost as if drawn from the authors own family. In particular, the issue of disability is depicted very truly, for which any voracious reader is eternally grateful because disability is so rarely described with any truth in fiction. There are no easy or pat answers about disability, but there is a glowing portrayal of human survival and growth. Izzy makes you laugh and cry, but mostly she makes you want to stand and applaud. This book is truly a must read. One of my all time favorites.

I absolutely loved this book! It was well-written and the descriptions of the character's feelings were very realistic. I started out by reading the ''Homecoming series'' and when I found out about this book, I just had to read it. I'm glad I did! Even though what happened to Izzy was sad and she feels life will never be the same, she eventually begins to deal with being an amputee and finds a way to be ''normal'' again. I admire her strong and pleasant character!