Elsewhere
Review of the young-adult novel by Gabrielle Zevin
At the beginning, the heroine, age 15, is hit by a car and dies. The story is what happens to her next as she learns about the afterlife and adapts to it.
This is YA fantasy, a relaxing change of pace. No real-world struggles and challenges. Just the easy stuff — redefining death and life and what it all might mean.
The plot is silly, with death as a portal to a fantasy world. Relax and enjoy light-hearted treatment of serious matters. Don’t blame a candy bar for not being a steak.
“A teenage girl’s whole life is a collection of odds and ends…” p. 3
“Someone somewhere once told Liz that she should never, under any circumstances, open a door ni a dream.” p. 13
“At random (for she now believes in the power of randomness as only the suddenly deceased can)… p. 66
“Dead… is little more than a state of mind.” p. 86
“But how do you know?”
“I know… because I choose to believe it is so.” p. 261
