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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Liz wakes up on a cruise ship, with no idea how she got there, or what this new weird scar behind her ear is. It turns out that she's headed Elsewhere, the place where people go after they die, to live out their afterlife. In Elsewhere, people get to reverse-age, getting younger instead of older by the day. That is - people's bodies get younger. Their minds continue to grow and retain their knowledge. When a person has reverse-aged all the way back to a newborn baby, they get sent back to Earth and get to be reborn.
Liz was only 15 years old, and is pretty bitter about having been hit by a car. She's fairly depressed (bodies always heal, but mental illnesses apparently don't? NO FAIR.) and spends much of her time watching friends and family back on Earth. She lives with her grandmother Betty, who died before she was born, and works helping domesticated animals (mostly dogs) find homes in Elsewhere. She also makes friends with a police detective, who caught her trying to contact Earth; a rockstar; and a girl her age, who she met on the ship.
Super interesting premise. But... um...
Okay. So, people retain their mental age. So when Liz - 15 - starts dating a guy who is 17 (but would be 37 if he was still alive), that's super creepy. He's a middle aged man dating a teenager. And when people get *really* young, they lose the ability to read. So... do you retain your mental age or not? It would be much less creepy if you didn't, relationship wise.
Also, I couldn't stand Liz. She's a whiny, entitled, spoiled brat. She lives with a grandma she'd never met, and takes her money and mopes around and makes life miserable. I wanted to shake her - SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE YOU IN, STOP LYING TO HER! She watches her family and friends for hours every day, and gets mad when they don't mention her all the time. She watches her best friend have sex on prom night. She watches her *parents* have sex. OMGWTF?
I listened to this on audio, and actually finished it at 2x speed because I needed to get it over with.
Liz was only 15 years old, and is pretty bitter about having been hit by a car. She's fairly depressed (bodies always heal, but mental illnesses apparently don't? NO FAIR.) and spends much of her time watching friends and family back on Earth. She lives with her grandmother Betty, who died before she was born, and works helping domesticated animals (mostly dogs) find homes in Elsewhere. She also makes friends with a police detective, who caught her trying to contact Earth; a rockstar; and a girl her age, who she met on the ship.
Super interesting premise. But... um...
Okay. So, people retain their mental age. So when Liz - 15 - starts dating a guy who is 17 (but would be 37 if he was still alive), that's super creepy. He's a middle aged man dating a teenager. And when people get *really* young, they lose the ability to read. So... do you retain your mental age or not? It would be much less creepy if you didn't, relationship wise.
Also, I couldn't stand Liz. She's a whiny, entitled, spoiled brat. She lives with a grandma she'd never met, and takes her money and mopes around and makes life miserable. I wanted to shake her - SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE YOU IN, STOP LYING TO HER! She watches her family and friends for hours every day, and gets mad when they don't mention her all the time. She watches her best friend have sex on prom night. She watches her *parents* have sex. OMGWTF?
I listened to this on audio, and actually finished it at 2x speed because I needed to get it over with.
Afraid this one was not for me.
I couldn't really engage with the main character but the premise and idea of the story was interesting.
I couldn't really engage with the main character but the premise and idea of the story was interesting.
Certainly didn't mean to read two books in a row about kids dying and going to an alternate afterlife but oh well, at least they were very different.
I picked this up from big Sainsbury's because I loved tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow so much (and it was £5) and didn't realize it was YA until I got home with it.
I don't usually read YA but I will say this was a treat. I read it from start to finish in about 3 hours and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. I think it has enough substance to still be enjoyable to older readers, and brings up some concepts I think would be challenging for young adults/teens.
It's a sweet and sometimes sad little story and I recommend it to any young readers or any adults that want a quick easy read.
I picked this up from big Sainsbury's because I loved tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow so much (and it was £5) and didn't realize it was YA until I got home with it.
I don't usually read YA but I will say this was a treat. I read it from start to finish in about 3 hours and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. I think it has enough substance to still be enjoyable to older readers, and brings up some concepts I think would be challenging for young adults/teens.
It's a sweet and sometimes sad little story and I recommend it to any young readers or any adults that want a quick easy read.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
This was just a very easy enjoyable read! I for the most part dont enjoy young adult books but although the main character is 15, it is not too on the nose young adult. Although I do like reading about main characters who are 40+ more. What i loved about this book was that although it is SF but very accessible and the world building is done beautifully and doesnt take very long to fully understand. I did think the part where the main character is treating those around her badly went on a little long, but mainly bc i just really like lovable characters. Overall; just a lovely read and enjoyed it a lot!
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug abuse
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Very sweet and a unique concept!