What an interesting concept of Death is found in elsewhere — living backwards until one may be born once again!¹ Author Gabrielle Zevin handles this scenario involving teenager Liz, recently deceased, with great dignity, humor, and pathos (I cried in several places). A victim of hit-and-run, Liz cannot conceive that she is dead and then when she realizes that she is, she seeks to contact the real world — strictly a "no-no" in elsewhere. Disbelief, anger, revenge-seeking, new love — all these come into play as Liz begins her backwards maturation. It's quite a life!

I recommend this book for 12 and older — there aren't really overt violent or sexual situations but there are thought-provoking events, and deep emotions are called forth. A reader ought to have some concept of death to fully appreciate this book. Happy reading!

¹ T. H. White, in his classic The Book of Merlyn, has Merlin live his life backwards — so the concept as found in elsewhere has famous precedent. The difficulty encountered is that just as King Arthur has the greatest need of Merlin, Merlin is acting like an adolescent undergoing his first teenage crush!