This book was very touching the way she watched her family and friends from her Heaven. It was a coming-of-age story that took place after death for Susie and for her parents and siblings had to in life. It presents a new view of the afterlife. Once her family is back …more together and done grieving, Susie moves on to live her own life in her Heaven. It brings the dead to life again. It tells how death affects everyone around it, near and far. It makes you really thankful for the life you have. It tells of the long and painstaking process of grieving and that no one will ever get over such a tragic loss but that it is ok to move on with your life. Sebold’s view of the afterlife is very optimistic; she believes that everyone has their own version of Heaven with the things they want, in Susie’s case, a duplex, athletic field, the high school, and no boys.It does have a happy ending, but with the death of Susie’s murderer and her family moving on. It makes you re-think the usual fantasy “happy ending” as something other than, “they all lived happily ever after.” It talks of good and evil living side-by-side in a community with most not knowing. . It is ironic how the author makes you feel as if you are a member of the community where this took place and you can feel the love, loss, happiness, grief and every emotion in between coming from all the characters. It is so touching it does bring tears to your eyes at some points. It makes you realize how terrible life can be, yet still wonderful at the same time. Telling the story from Susie’s view in her heaven is taking a bit of a risk but she does it so well, you’d think many books were written like that. (less)