Just in Case (novel)

Just in Case is a young-adult novel by Meg Rosoff published by Penguin in 2006. Its adolescent protagonist David Case spends the majority of the book attempting to avoid fate. Rosoff won the annual Carnegie Medal, recognising the year's best children's book published in the U.K.[2] In a press release announcing the award, the librarians called it "a story about death, depression, sex, choice and survival."[3]

Just in Case
Front cover of first edition
AuthorMeg Rosoff
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
GenreYoung-adult novel, magic realism
PublisherPenguin Books
Publication date
3 August 2006
Pages231 pp (first edition)
ISBN978-0-14-138078-0
OCLC224849493
LC ClassPZ7.R719563 Jus 2006[1]

Just in Case also won the German Jugendliteraturpreis and made the shortlists for the Booktrust Teenage Prize[4] and the 2006 Costa Book Awards.

Random House (Wendy Lamb Books) published the first U.S. edition, also in 2006.[1]

Plot summary

The book is set in Luton, Bedfordshire[5] where fifteen-year-old David Case saves his younger brother from falling out of an open window. Scared by the experience, he starts to see danger everywhere, believes that Fate is stalking him, and decides to change his identity in order to escape his destiny. He changes his name to Justin, adopts a new wardrobe, seeks out new friends, acquires an imaginary dog, all in the hope of avoiding Fate. His new, moody, self-absorbed persona attracts attention, not all of it good, and Fate is not fooled at all.

The title and David's adopted name Justin Case refer to his preparation phobia.

Translations
  • French: Si jamais..., lit. 'If Ever...'. Translated by Luc Rigoureau. Vanves: Hachette. 2007. ISBN 9782012013537.
  • Dutch: Het toevallige leven van Justin Case, lit. 'The Accidental Life of Justin Case'. Translated by Jenny de Jonge. Amsterdam: Pimento. 2008. ISBN 9789049921668.
  • Swedish: Justin Case. Translated by Helena Ridelberg. Stockholm: Brombergs Bokförlag. 2008. ISBN 9789173370240.
  • Italian: Justin. Translated by Alessia Donin. Rome: Fanucci. 2010. ISBN 9788834716595.
  • Hungarian: Just in Case: Sorsbújócska, lit. 'Just in Case: Hide and Seek'. Translated by Zoltán Pék. Budapest: Európa. 2014. ISBN 9789630797085.
  • Portuguese: Se alguma vez..., lit. 'If Sometime...'. Translated by Fabiana Colasanti. Rio de Janeiro: Galera Record. 2014. ISBN 9788501087348.

See also

References
  1. "Just in case" (first U.S. edition). Library of Congress Catalog Record. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  2. Carnegie Winner 2007. Living Archive: Celebrating the Carnegie and Greenaway Winners. CILIP. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  3. "Releases for 2007 Awards" Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine. Press Desk. CILIP. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  4. Booktrust Teenage Prize.
  5. "Just in Case" Archived 2016-04-20 at the Wayback Machine. Discussion with fans. Meg Rosoff.
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