Elsewhere

Gabrielle Zevin (author)

Bloomsbury Publishing, UK: 2005; 271pp

ISBN: 0747580340

Genres: allegory, science fiction, surreal

Issues: change, death, family, loss, values

Elizabeth Hall wakes from a strange dream to find herself on a boat called the S.S.Nile on her way to an unknown destination. Her hair is strangely short and there is an odd string of stitches behind ear.

It takes some time for her realise that she is dead, killed in a hit-and-run accident not long before her sixteenth birthday. When Liz finally arrives at Elsewhere, it is to discover that the afterlife is very much the same as what came before except that people grow younger, rather than older, the end is rebirth rather than death, and animals and humans can communicate more clearly. And while Liz will never get married, have children or go to university, relationships are just as complex and loving and existence just as full of wonderful experiences as it was before, especially as there are some unexpectedly familiar faces to help her find her feet. The main difference, in fact, is simply perspective. After death she is inclined to value life more dearly.

This first novel from Gabrielle Zevin examines an interesting concept and challenges readers to look again at the use they are making of the life - and people - they probably take for granted. The ‘after death' aspect adds humour - and pathos - to many of the events but the depth of novel comes from the way it challenges the idea that emotional maturity is linked to chronological age. Liz realises that maturity is in many ways a choice, making age an artificial concept. Love is often taken for granted until it is at risk. People's choices determine who they are. Although other characters are not as well developed as Liz, this is a novel that will appeal to readers who like a thought-provoking narrative.