Elsewhere

Liz Hall is Elsewhere’s protagonist. A high school sophomore with blonde hair, “very pale skin and greenish blue eyes” (12), Liz is stubborn and smart, with a particular aptitude for math and science and a fondness for animals (particularly dogs). She dies in a hit-and-run accident not long before her 16th birthday; she was biking to the mall to help her friend Zooey choose a prom dress when a taxi driver (Amadou Bonamy) accidentally struck her.

Because of her young age, Liz initially finds the transition to life in Elsewhere very difficult. Back on Earth, Liz had been eager to grow up and become independent; she dreamed of getting her driver’s license, moving out of her parents’ house, getting married, and becoming a veterinarian. As a result, she finds the idea of growing younger distressing, and she continues to cling to her old life for some time after arriving in Elsewhere. However, as Liz comes to terms with her new existence, her moodiness falls away, revealing her generous and joyful nature; she finds meaning in her work counseling newly deceased pets, in her friendships with Thandi and Betty, and eventually in her relationship with Owen.