Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

Pages: 275

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Afterlife Science Fiction

Notes for Parents: Some mature content

The Back Cover

Dear Dr. Fujiyama,

   By now, you have probably heard that I’m dead. This means I won’t be attending this year’s regional science fair, which is a great disappointment to me as I’m sure it also is for you. At the time I died, I felt I was starting to make real progress with those earthworms.

   I really enjoyed your class and continue to follow along from the place where I’m now living I now find myself. Dissecting the pig looked pretty interesting, and I thought I might try it. Unfortunately, there aren’t any dead pigs here for me to dissect.

   I was disappointed not to see you at the funeral as you were my favorite teacher, even including middle and elementary school. Not to give you a hard time or anything, Dr. F J

   Yours,

Elizabeth Marie Hall, 5^th Period Biology

How can fifteen-year-old Liz let go of the only life she has ever known and embrace a new one? Is it possible that a life lived in reverse is no different from a life lived forward?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

Liz dies and goes to an afterlife place called Elsewhere where she has to come to terms with her death and her new life.

What’s good?

This is a light-hearted, fantastical look at a girl’s trip to the afterlife. The writing is beautiful and the characters are well-drawn and likeable, though Liz can sometimes be a little whiny. The whimsical setting is imaginative and unique and the plot develops at a good pace, revealing the heartbreak and the hope of Liz’s situation.

Best Part: The dogs, of course.

What isn’t good?

Some might find this story a little too sappy, and occasionally the author’s writing is a bit awkward. Those looking for a heavy-handed story about death and rebirth will be disappointed.

Worst part: The perspective is in the present tense. I hate that.

Recommendation þþþþo

I loved it! It was beautiful, funny, thought-provoking and very entertaining so long as it’s not taken too seriously.

Zevin, Gabrielle. Elsewhere. New York: Square Fish, 2005.