Elsewhere (Zevin novel)
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Book cover | |
| Author | Gabrielle Zevin |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Magic realism |
| Publisher | Farrar Straus Giroux |
Publication date | 2005 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback and Paperback) |
| Pages | 288 |
Elsewhere is a 2005 young adult magical realist novel by Gabrielle Zevin.
Plot
15 year old Liz is hit and killed by a taxi. When she woke up again, she found herself in a room, of a ship named SS Nile. She met her idol even, who turns out is dead, like her. She watched her own funeral from the 'Observation Deck', or OD in short, and learned that though she is able to see Earth, she is not allowed to make contact to Earth. The ship arrived at a place called 'Elsewhere', in Elsewhere, everyone ages backwards until they are 7 days old and are sent back to Earth as a baby. Liz met her grandmother, who is very young by now, and take care of Liz. Liz couldn't get over the fact that she is dead, so she spends every day at the OD. In the OD, she learned of a place named 'the Well' where rumors are that one would be able to make contact to Earth from the Well. Liz's first attempt to reach Earth was successful, she reacher her brother but was caught by Owen. Liz was returned to her grandmother, and was forced to get an 'advocate' and meet with an advisor, similar to a job. Liz picked animals, and animals, like human, ages backward in Elsewhere. She discovered that she could actually talk to animals. Owen contacted LIz's brother for her, taking a dive in the Well. Liz later learned that Owen was married to a girl named Emily on Earth, when checking the list of new passengers, she found Emily's name on it. As expected, Emily arrived at Elsewhere few days later, Owen and Liz and her grandmother met Emily. Emily is surprised to see Owen, and accept Owen's request for their relationship to continue. However, after a while, Emily decide to 'break up' with Owen, claiming that she is in her 50s now and Owen is young, the feeling is very awkward. Owen realized that he probably had a crush on Liz. Liz, meanwhile, is trying to get back to Earth by 'early release', but was stopped again by Owen, and this time Liz accept her life at Elsewhere. After that, Liz aged backwards and worked till age of 6. At her release ceremony, she met her roommate from the ship again, and Owen is there. Owen is only 4 when Liz was released, and throughout her journey to Earth, she thought of Elsewhere. The book ended with a baby being born somewhere on Earth.
Literary significance and reception
Elizabeth Spires gave the book a positive review for The New York Times, commending Zevin for her "fresh and arresting" premise, likening it to Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time and Natalie Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting.[1] Teenreads.com called it "witty and wise" and praised the book for its humour.[2] Booklist magazine gave the book a 'Starred Review' and called it "a work of powerful beauty".[3]
In the USA, the book was nominated for a 2006 Quill award, won the Borders Original Voices Award, and was a selection of the Barnes & Noble Book Club.[4] The book was also included on several "Best of" Lists including School Library Journal, Horn Book Magazine, Kirkus Reviews, Amazon.com, and the American Library Association Notable Children's Book list [5] among others.
It has also won several awards abroad. In Germany, it was awarded the Lufti (Bronze) and the Ulmer Unke, and in the United Kingdom it won the Sheffield Children's Book Prize for Longer Novels[6] and the Stockport Schools' Book Award.[7] It was also longlisted for the Carnegie Medal.
References
- ↑ "'Elsewhere,' by Gabrielle Zevin Review". The New York Times. 4 December 2005. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ↑ "Elsewhere Review". Teenreads.com. 11 August 2005. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ↑ "Elsewhere, by Gabrielle Zevin". Booklist. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ↑ "Barnes & Noble Book Search". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
- ↑ "2006 Notable Children's Books". American Library Association. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ↑ "Sheffield Children's Book Award: Winners' Archive Young Adult". Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ↑ "Stockport Schools' Book Award Past Winners". Stockport Council. Retrieved 31 May 2013.