CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES

HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
1

ELSEWHERE
by: Gabrielle Zevin

A Book Review
Presented to the
Faculty of Senior High School
Central Colleges of the Philippines

In partial fulfillment of
the requirements in EN11–III:
Reading and Writing.

Submitted by:
Romar V. Allid
Submitted to:
Reynaline Ann S. Corcuera

March 23, 2018

 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Background of the Author …………………………………………….3

II. Vocabulary Words……………………………………………………4

III. Setting ………………………………………………………………..5

IV. Character List…………………………………………………………6

V. Plot…………………………………………………………………….8

A. Introduction

B. Rising Action

C. Climax

D. Falling Action

E. Denouement

VI. Theme…………………………………………………………………..10

VII. Motif.......................................................................................................10

VIII. Symbols……………………………………………………………….13

IX. Remarkable Lines……………………………………………………….13

X. Conclusion……………………………………………………………….14

XI. Reference………………………………………………………………..14
 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
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I. Background of the Author

Gabrielle Zevin is is an internationally bestselling author whose books have been translated into
over thirty languages. Gabrielle has always has a passion for bookstores and for writing. Ever since
she was a child she loves the atmosphere and the soothing feeling that nothing bad ever happen in a
bookstore.

Zevin is a graduate of Harvard University. She lives in Los Angeles. Her debut novel, Elsewhere,
won several awards and it was translated into more than twenty languages. Gabrielle Zevin is an
award-winning novelist and young adult author whose works include Elsewhere and Memoirs of a
Teenage Amnesiac, She also worked as a screenwriter.

Gabrielle Zevin is the New York Times Bestselling author of eight novels, includes The Hole
We`re In, Margarettown, and her debut novel Elsewhere, an American Library Association Notable
Children`s Book. Her 2014`s novel The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, spent four months on the New
York Times Bestseller List. She also wrote the original screenplay for Conversations with Other
Women, starring Helena Bonham Carter and Aaron Eckhart, for which Zevin received an
Independent Spririt Award.
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HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
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II. Vocabulary Words

sob – to cry noisily while taking in short, sudden breaths

forbidden –not permitted or allowed

avocation –an activity that you do regularly for enjoyment rather than as a

contemplate –to think deeply or carefully about (something)

ineptitude –a lack of skill or ability

shrink –to quickly move away from something shocking, frightening, or disgusting

cradle –a bed for a baby that s usually designed to rock back and forth when pushed
gently.

futile –having no result or effect

cashmere – a green fabric made from cashmere wool

extravagant –more than is usual, necessary, or proper

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HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
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III. Settings

SS Nile

SS Nile is the name of the ship where in Liz wakes after the accident happened, this a ship
travel from Earth to Elsewhere. SS Nile is responsible in bringing people who already passed away.
Liz met a girl named Thandi and eventually they became friends, she also met her idol Curtis Jest but
the most significant thing happen here is when Liz think that this is all just a dream, until she finally
understand the truth after finding out the truth, Liz find herself fighting to the reality, and suddenly
Liz received an invitation, but the occasion is not specified, it says there ‘Dear Passenger Hall, your
presence is requested: Observation Deck Binocular #219 Today NOW!’ Liz does not have any idea
until she go there, and she refuses to disembark in hopes that she can return with the ship to her
previous life.

Elsewhere
On Elsewhere, Liz met her grandmother, Betty, who died in the months before she was born.
Liz live a new life here, she is starting over again, she make her life busy, she also has a new dog
named Saddie. In Elsewhere Liz spending most of her time in observation deck on a light house near
her grandmother`s house. The next few weeks Liz became obsessed, even she start a new life Liz still
miss her life on Earth desperately. Elsewhere witness the life of Liz from fifteen year old girl until
she became a baby again and sent to Earth.

In the Well
The Well is located at the bottom of the ocean outside the Elsewhere, in the well people who
passed away like Liz is allowed to speak with the living, it is the saddest, quietest place she has ever
been. Try to send the message for her dad will to find where it is the give located. It is a perfect sea
green sweater for her dad.
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IV. Character
A. Major Character

Elizabeth Marie Hall

Was the protagonist, a fifteen year old girl who was hit by the taxi cab, a girl
who will do everything just to go back in her previous life.

B. Minor Character

Alvy Hal
Liz`s younger brother, the only one who listens to the voice of Liz when she try to
tell the message about her gift.
Betty
Liz`s grandmother, she was died one month before Liz was born, her caused of death
is breast cancer.
Thandi
Liz`s best friend on Elsewhere, she met Liz on the SS Nile, died after being shot in
head.
Zooey
Liz`s best friend on Earth, the who invited Liz to the wedding.
Aldous
Liz`s acclimation counselor, he is a teacher, died in a plane crush with his wife.
Curtis
Liz`s idol and eventually became friends, drug overdose is his caused of death,
member of band called Machine.
Amadou
The taxi driver who hit Liz and killed her, died because of lung cancer.
Sadie
Liz`s dog on Elsewhere, died when she got hit by a car.
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Owen
Liz`s love interest, Emily`s husband, he was a firefighter, became detective and work
at the Well.
Emily
Owen`s wife on Earth, was a doctor, became a bookkeeper.
Dolly
a release nurse the one who send Liz on earth to rebirth.
 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
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V. Plot

Exposition

Liz a fifteen year old girl has been killed in a hit and run accident on her
way to the mall. She was on her way to the mall to help her best friend Zooey in
picking a dress for the prom but because of what happen she was not able to meet her
bestfriend, because of what happen the dog of Liz named Lucy is in grief. Liz was in
coma after that she wakes in the ship called SS Nile and the ship is heading on the
place called Elsewhere.

Rising Action

After the accidents Liz wakes on the ship and met a girl named Thandi. As the time
goes by Liz and Thandi became friends but Liz still think that she is just dreaming
until Liz start to panic and tears in her eyes start falling. She screws her eyes shut and
screams, ‘MOM! MOM! I`M HAVING A NIGHTMARE!’ Liz waits for her mother
to wake her up any moment, her mother should arrive at her bedside with a
comforting glass of water. Liz opens one eye but she`s still on the ship`s main deck,
she take a deep breath and tell herself to calm down. She decides that the best
strategy will be to try to remember as many details of the dream as possible so she
can tell her mother about it in the morning.

Liz racks her brain. She remember now. The dream began at her house on Carroll
Drive. She was riding her bike to the Cambridgeside Galleria. She was supposed to
meet her best friend, Zooey, who needed to pick a dress for the prom. Liz could
remember arriving at the intersection by the mall, across the street from the bicycle
racks. And out of nowhere a taxi came speeding towards her. She could feel the
sensation of flying through the air. Liz still fighting the reality.
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Climax

Liz accepting the her struggle a little bit, until SS Nile arrive at Elsewhere. The local
temperature in Elsewhere is 67 degrees with partly sunny skies and a westerly breeze,
they arrive at 3:48 pm. Liz met her grandmother Betty, in the First weeks of Liz she
still want to come back on her old life, until she started to like Elsewhere but then she
still longing for her family and friends. The next few weeks of Liz, She become
obsessed in observation deck near her grandmother house, Liz started to heal in
Elsewhere she also started to forgive Amadou the taxi driver who hit and killed her.

Falling Action

In Earth we get older as the time goes by but in Elsewhere , people their becomes
young or their aged decrease and turn into a baby as the time goes by, Liz enjoying
her stay in Elsewhere but because she is only fifteen when she get there, Liz tend to
become a baby in just 15 years and the right time came, Liz turned into a baby and
Dolly a release nurse sent up her in to the river back to Earth. The waves cradle the
babies and rock them to sleep.

Denouement

She was sent to the Earth and Liz is born again. A baby girl is born at 6:24 a.m. She
weighs six pounds, ten ounces. The mother takes the baby in her arms and ask her,
‘Who are you, my little one? And in response, this baby, who is Liz and not Liz at the
same time,
A.
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HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
10

VI. Theme

Positivity

Elsewhere talks about the positivity even there are a lot of challenges in life still we
need to stay positive just like what happen to Liz she died in a young age but it is not a
hindrance for her to be happy. Another is even though there is a happiness inside we still
need our love ones, they are one of the factor why we are happy.

Progress

Aside from positivity the book also talk about progress not progress in other things
but progress with in our self. Liz improves a lot she became wiser and strong in her young
age she handle the pain, the longing for her old life.

Forgiveness

Amadou committed a sin he hit Liz because of that Liz died but at the end of the
story Liz forgive Amadou, in short all of must forgive someone who committed mistakes or
sins maybe not today but maybe soon.

VII. Motifs
The motifs of the story Elsewhere is that no matter what problem or struggle you face you
still need to be positive, and that positivity will help you to heal and start over again, maybe
Liz did not found that energy inside her but because of the positivity that comes from people
around her she was able to heal and start a new life in Elsewhere.
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HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
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11

VIII. Symbols

I think that elsewhere symbolize the heaven where people go after their death but it is another
version of heaven. It made me realize that helping other people should not be mandatory but we
should at least try to look forward in doing good deeds to other people because it is what God wants
to see in us, being united as one child of him and solidifying the relationship we have as his children.

C-shaped arc stitches symbolize her connection to the Earth and it reminds her the tragedy
happened to her in Earth. It is her lasting remembrance that will remain to her.

Liz dive into the Well, in life we really need to make ways in order to communicate to our love
ones even it is forbidden we will do everything to talk to them, specially Liz, she is longing for the
presence of her family.

IX. Remarkable Lines

“My advice to you is to stop being lonely and to stop hating it here.” (A circle and a line)

“ Elsewhere is actually very large, it only depends on your perspective” –Owen (Arrivals)

“No one actually needs another person or another person`s love to survive. Love, Lissie is
when we have irrationally convinced ourselves that we do” – Curtis (Liz in Love)

“Young people tend to think they`re immortal. Many of them conceive of themselves as
dead.” –Aldous (A circle and a line)

“I don’t want to lose our friendship.” –Owen (Arrivals)

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HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
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X. Conclusions

I like the story and I learned a lot, this is awesome. Elsewhere tackles about our life
after death and what will happen to us, I gain positive energy after I finished reading this
book . It helps me realized how precious life both here and in heaven, I would love to see
people reading this book. This book is actually for all, it helped me to not be scared about
death for you may be dead physically but you will be happy seeing your loved ones safe from
harm. This story didn’t just opened my mind about next life but also to embrace the fact that
all of us will be there with him. We must live our lives to the fullest because we only live
once so do anything that makes you happy before all of it come to end.

XI. References

www.webbiography.com
www.famousbirthday.com
www.gabriellezevin.com
www.quizlet.com