76 pages • 2 hours read
Gabrielle ZevinElsewhere
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2005A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin, after 15-year-old Elizabeth Hall dies in a car accident, she awakens aboard the SS Nile and soon finds herself in a place called Elsewhere, where people age backwards until they become infants and return to Earth. Struggling to adjust to her new reality and the concept of never growing older, Liz eventually finds purpose, forms connections, and makes peace with her new existence. The book discusses death and the grieving process.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin is widely praised for its imaginative and heartwarming take on the afterlife, resonating emotionally with readers through its unique premise and well-drawn characters. Critics note, however, that the pacing can be uneven at times and some plot elements feel underdeveloped. Overall, it's a compelling read that explores themes of love, loss, and healing.
Who Should Read Elsewhere?
Fans of poignant, imaginative tales like The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold or The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom will find Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin captivating. This novel appeals to readers who enjoy exploring themes of the afterlife, self-discovery, and emotional journeys in a unique, heartfelt narrative.
RecommendedReading Age
12-18yearsLexile Level
720LBook Details
Magical Realism
Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Emotions/Behavior: Grief