The Lovely Bones ~ Anne Sebold

Publisher: Back Bay Books (2002)
ISBN: 0-316-16881-5
328 pgs

Classification: Fiction
Genre: Fiction/literature
Age Level: 15+

Reader’s Annotation: After her own murder, Susie Salmon observes her family from heaven as each person tries to cope with her disappearance.

Summary: In the opening chapter, Susie Salmon is brutally raped and murdered by her neighbor, George Harvey. She watches over her family from “her heaven” as each one copes with her disappearance in different ways. The underlying question that propels the reader forward through the grisly details is, how will each of the remaining characters make peace with the tragedy, particularly since there is no closure to the case? Can Susie’s family hold on to hope as the years pass? Can they ever truly confront reality: that Susie is dead and not coming back? And what will become of neighbor George and any other would-be victims?

Notes: Sebold brings a unique form of omniscience to the story through her narrator, Susie. Content to be aware of—graphic rape/murder of child, sexuality.
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