This one was tough call between a couple of books, but in the end Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin won out. It's about a 15 year old girl, Liz, who passes away unexpectedly, only to find herself in Elsewhere, the afterlife. In Elsewhere, everyone ages backwards from the age that they died until they are an infant again and are sent back to Earth to be reborn.
I loved this idea of the afterlife being just another beginning and the symmetry of life and death. It's poignant as it explores the complicated feelings that come with dying, being a teenager, falling in love, and learning to accept the life that is given.
Liz drags her feet a bit at the beginning; she's sullen and closed off to her grandmother (whom she meets for the first time in Elsewhere), but it's understandable since she died so young. As the story progresses, she grows and matures, and even meets Owen, whom she falls in love with. I found Owen to be a fascinating character since he was an adult and married when he died, but by the time he meets Liz, he has de-aged to his 16 year old self. It's interesting to see him trying to come to terms with himself when someone from his past comes to Elsewhere.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone, not just teen readers. It's very inspiring and optimistic, and portrays life and death in a very original way, no matter what your own personal beliefs are regarding what happens to people when they pass away.
Runner-Up:
I loved this idea of the afterlife being just another beginning and the symmetry of life and death. It's poignant as it explores the complicated feelings that come with dying, being a teenager, falling in love, and learning to accept the life that is given.
Liz drags her feet a bit at the beginning; she's sullen and closed off to her grandmother (whom she meets for the first time in Elsewhere), but it's understandable since she died so young. As the story progresses, she grows and matures, and even meets Owen, whom she falls in love with. I found Owen to be a fascinating character since he was an adult and married when he died, but by the time he meets Liz, he has de-aged to his 16 year old self. It's interesting to see him trying to come to terms with himself when someone from his past comes to Elsewhere.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone, not just teen readers. It's very inspiring and optimistic, and portrays life and death in a very original way, no matter what your own personal beliefs are regarding what happens to people when they pass away.
Runner-Up:
Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown It starts off with a chef, Owen Wedgewood, who is taken prisoner by a rogue gang of pirates who is led by their captain, Mad Hannah Mabbot. She tells him that she will spare his life if he can serve her an exquisite meal once a week. So, it is up to Owen and his ingenuity to cook some very unique and delicious sounding meals every week. I LOVED the descriptions of food and his cooking in this story. I also enjoyed that each of the characters are not quite what they seem at first, Hannah Mabbot especially. She's a really empowering female character who has her ghosts that she's trying to put to rest. |