REVIEW: Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

 Review by Aileen

I read and liked Gabrielle Zevin’s other book, Diary of a Teenage Amnesiac (reviewed here), so I was interested in this book and not just because of the subject it deals with. This book is about death, or rather, what happens after death. But it isn’t morbid or weird or anything - it’s actually really convincing! Gabrielle Zevin has created a whole fictional world of how she imagines the afterlife could be (there are even those touristy binoculars where you can pay money to watch your family on earth!) The story focuses on an almost 16-year-old girl who got hit by a car and is definitely NOT happy about being dead (not that you would expect her to be, of course, but she refuses to accept the fact that she is actually dead). It is written in the present tense which is unusual but somehow appropriate for the story.

"Elsewhere", reached by  boat, is where you go after you die. It’s actually pretty similar to earth - you have a job, currency, houses, friends... with one key difference - you age backwards! So if you die young and arrive aged 16, in 16 years you will be a baby again and reborn. I won’t say any more or else I’ll spoil the story but, once again, all I can say is READ IT!! You won’t regret it and you won’t be able to put it down either! (Although, admittedly, some parts are a little bit too weird.)

Liz wasn’t even 16 when she got knocked of her bike by a hit and run taxi driver and she’s totally devastated that she’ll never get married, never fall in love, never have children etc and she really misses her family but eventually she settles down and meets some very interesting characters, including her favourite singer Curtis Jest. She makes new friends in Elsewhere, as well as meeting her Grandma Betty who died before she was born. It sounds like there won’t be much of a story but there is, trust me!

(If you like this book you might also like “The Innocent’s Story” by Nicky Singer although it is quite a strange book)

Review by Aileen

Read Aileen's review of Diary of a Teenage Amnesiac here.

Comments

[Sophie]

I loved this book. It was so different to anything I'd read before. Great review, Aileen!

[Amber]

That sounds really interesting! I'll have to read it :D

[Sammee]

I have this - I really need to read it! Thanks for the review:)

[Nina]

This story sounds so interesting. I love the whole theme of afterlife and it's nothing like i read before. I am so loving the cover of this book.

ps; Very good review

[Aileen]

Thanks =)

[Kate Pinn]

This definitely sounds interesting. Tourist binoculars? Genius idea! I read and enjoyed "Diary of a Teenage Amnesiac" so I should probably give "Elsewhere" a chance. I never would have guessed what it was about from the title. Great review!

[Meg]

This book is really really good, one of my favourtites absolutly. Its really good. It makes you THINK

[nicole]

interesting but when yuu die don't yuu go heaven but it is still part of ma christmas wishlist