In My Mailbox (3) & Review: Elsewhere

In My Mailbox is a book meme hosted by The Story Siren

Bought-

Amazon Book Haul,

Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

The Boy Project: Notes and Observations of Kara Mcallister by Kami Kinard

I'm so excited to dive into these two. :)

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

Publication Date: September 9th 2005

Genre: YA Fantasy

Goodreads

Summary

Is it possible to grow up while getting younger?

Welcome to Elsewhere. It is warm, with a breeze, and the beaches are marvelous. It’s quiet and peaceful. You can’t get sick or any older. Curious to see new paintings by Picasso? Swing by one of Elsewhere’s museums. Need to talk to someone about your problems? Stop by Marilyn Monroe’s psychiatric practice. Elsewhere is where fifteen-year-old Liz Hall ends up, after she has died. It is a place so like Earth, yet completely different.

Here Liz will age backward from the day of her death until she becomes a baby again and returns to Earth. But Liz wants to turn sixteen, not fourteen again. She wants to get her driver’s license. She wants to graduate from high school and go to college. And now that she’s dead, Liz is being forced to live a life she doesn’t want with a grandmother she has only just met. And it is not going well.

How can Liz let go of the only life she has ever known and embrace a new one? Is it possible that a life lived in reverse is no different from a life lived forward? This moving, often funny book about grief, death, and loss will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned.

"Every so often a book comes along with a premise so fresh and arresting, it seems to exist in a category all its own."

-The New York Times Book Review

That quote right there pretty much sums it all up. Everything about this book is unique and refreshing. The world building is beautiful and I loved everything about it. Especially the binoculars that can see down to earth and you're able to watch the people you love live. 

Though sometimes this can become an obsession to a dead person- like it did to the main character- Liz. I like Liz. She's just like any fifteen year old girl and she reacted to her dying like any young person would. Because we think we're invincible and we're not, sadly. 

For a while she spends most of her time living her dead life watching over the loved ones she left behind live their lives. Which Betty, her grandmother that died before she was born, is very concern but is giving her space and is waiting for Liz to come to on her own. I like Betty. At first she's worried that she won't be a very good grandmother but in reality she's a natural. She's there for Liz, she's funny in her own way and oblivious when it comes to a certain man (but that's later in the story and very cute. Will put a smile on your face).    

Of course there are others that help make her dead life living (for a while that is, you'll have to read to see what I mean.). Thandi her new best friend- at least on Elsewhere- which she met on the cruise over to their new home. She's fun, mature and no matter how many times Liz dissed her (in the beginning) she was able to forgive her. Sadie, a dog Liz adopts from her job, it's so cool here in Elsewhere you can learn to speak to animals. Me, personally, whom has been surrounded by animals her whole life would love to learn the many animal languages. 

And then there's Owen. A detective whom arrests Liz for trying to make contact with the living. He's sweet but the moment we meet him we just know there's going to be something more between them later on in the pages. 

Overall, this is a place I would hope to end up when I do pass *cross my fingers not anytime soon* *knock on wood*. You age backwards, yet remember til the age you can't. No more school but a job you actually like. You can talk to animals and meet family members that passed before. You might even meet a few rock stars along with hearing Picasso still paints, even in the after life. 

A world that'll leave you breathless for more. 

Happy Reading Everybody!

Two birds, One stone