The book was also included on several "Best of" Lists including School Library Journal, Horn Book Magazine, Kirkus Reviews,, and the American Library Association Notable Children's Book list among others. In the USA, the book was nominated for a 2006 Quill award, won the Borders Original Voices Award, and was a selection of the Barnes & Noble Book Club. Booklist magazine gave the book a 'Starred Review' and called it "a work of powerful beauty". called it "witty and wise" and praised the book for its humour. Literary significance and reception Įlizabeth Spires gave the book a positive review for The New York Times, commending Zevin for her "fresh and arresting" premise, likening it to Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time and Natalie Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting. The novel ends with Liz being sent down the river and being reborn into her new life on Earth. Owen is only 2 when Liz is released, and throughout her journey to Earth, she thinks of Elsewhere. At her release ceremony, she is reunited with her roommate from the ship. Liz continues to age backward and works until age of 6. This time Liz accepts her life in Elsewhere. Liz, meanwhile, is trying to get back to Earth by 'early release', but is stopped again by Owen. Owen realizes that he has developed feelings for Liz. However, after a while, Emily decides to 'break up' with Owen, claiming that since she is in her 30s now and Owen is young, the feeling is very awkward. Emily is surprised to see Owen, and accepts Owen's request for their relationship to continue. Owen, Liz, and her grandmother meet Emily on her day of arrival at the ship. As expected, Emily arrives at Elsewhere a few days later. Liz later learns that Owen was married to a woman named Emily on Earth, and when checking the list of new passengers, she finds Emily's name on it. Owen contacts Liz's brother for her, taking a dive to The Well. She discovers that she can actually talk to animals. Liz picks animals, who, like humans, age backward in Elsewhere. Liz returns to her grandmother and is forced to get an 'advocate,' meet with an adviser, and get something similar to a job to take up her time and hopefully relieve her mind of her tragic depression. She is able to reach out to her brother but is caught by Owen, whom she met on the island. The second attempt, however, is successful. She gets caught by her grandmother right before she enters the water. Liz's first attempt to reach Earth is unsuccessful. While at the OD, she learns of a place named 'The Well' that is rumored to be a place where someone who is in Elsewhere can make contact with someone on Earth. Liz can not get over the fact that she is dead, and spends every day at the OD. Liz watches her own funeral from the 'Observation Deck', or OD in short, and learns that though she is able to see Earth, she is not allowed to make contact with anyone there. Liz meets her grandmother, who is very young by now, and takes care of Liz. In Elsewhere, everyone ages backwards until they reach 7 days old and then are sent back to Earth as a baby to be reborn. The ship arrives to an island called 'Elsewhere'. She meets her idol, who turns out to be dead, like her. When she wakes up, she finds herself in the cabin of a ship named the SS Nile. (Sept.Elsewhere is a 2005 young adult, speculative novel by Gabrielle Zevin.įifteen-year-old Liz is hit and killed by a taxi. Nothing has changed"), MargarettownĪuthor Zevin, in her first novel for young people, bends the laws of physics and biology to create an intricately imagined world. Prudently skirting the issue of God's role in Elsewhere (when she asks about God, Liz is told simply "God's there in the same way He, She, or It was before to you. Liz also falls in love for the first time, while her grandmother (who has progressed back to her thirties) becomes engaged to a famous rock star and readers will likely be intrigued by the "strictly forbidden" Well. something a person does to make his or her soul complete"), celebrate holidays and form friendships. In other ways, Elsewhere resembles the world Liz left behind residents work at jobs (although here, everyone has a chance to pursue an "avocation. When they reach infancy, they are sent down the River to be reborn on Earth. Liz learns that the aging process works differently in this land of the dead: instead of getting older, humans (and animals) grow younger. Her situation gradually comes into focus after she arrives at the island of Elsewhere and is greeted by her grandmother, who died before Liz was born. A surreal atmosphere permeates chapter one as Liz awakens on a ship (mostly occupied by elderly people), unaware of its destination. Even readers who have strong views on what happens after death may find themselves intrigued by the fascinating world of "Elsewhere," the place 15-year-old Liz ends up after she is killed in a bicycle accident.
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