99 pages • 3 hours read
Alice SeboldThe Lovely Bones
Alice SeboldFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2002A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Book Brief
368
Novel • Fiction
Pennsylvania • 1970s
2002
Adult
18+ years
890L
Super Short Summary
The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold, tells the tragic story of Susie Salmon, a 14-year-old girl from Norristown, Pennsylvania, who is raped and murdered by her neighbor, George Harvey. Narrating from heaven, Susie watches her loved ones cope with her death and eventually find ways to move forward, while her killer remains at large for years until he ultimately meets his demise.
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Mysterious
Emotional
Nostalgic
Reviews & Readership
2,404,818 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Sebold's The Lovely Bones is praised for its unique narrative perspective and emotional depth. Critics applaud the novel's evocative storytelling and exploration of grief and healing. However, some feel the pacing drags and the shifts in tone can be jarring. Overall, it remains a poignant, albeit polarizing, read.
Who Should Read The Lovely Bones?
Readers who appreciate The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold typically enjoy emotionally intense narratives with elements of mystery and the supernatural. Fans of novels like The Lovely Bones would likely connect with books such as The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger or Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn for their similar blending of gripping plotlines and deep character exploration.
2,404,818 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
368
Novel • Fiction
Pennsylvania • 1970s
2002
Adult
18+ years
890L
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.