The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.Īutumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart their mothers are still best friends.

Zevin’s smooth, omniscient third-person narration and matter-of-fact presentation of her imagined world carries readers along, while her deft, understated character development allows them to get to know her characters slowly and naturally. Personal choices still make a difference and characters continue to learn and grow, despite the fact that they age backwards from the moment of their deaths. Love, jealousy, grief, commitment, frustration and friendship all exist “Elsewhere,” making death not that different from life after all. Zevin’s creation of a believable, intriguing afterlife and her depiction of Liz’s struggle to adjust to her new situation will captivate teens ready for a thought-provoking read. Her sudden death in a hit-and-run accident puts an end to her life on earth-and that’s when the story begins.

She’s looking forward to getting her license, enjoying helping her best friend plan for the prom and anticipating a long, full life. An unusual premise and a thoughtful treatment make Zevin’s first effort at writing for young adults a success.

Elsewhere gabrielle zevin pdf