Liz, meanwhile, is trying to get back to Earth by 'early release', but is stopped again by Owen. This time Liz accepts her life in Elsewhere. Liz continues to age backward and works until age of 6. At her release ceremony, she is reunited with her roommate from the ship. Owen is only 2 when Liz is released, and throughout her journey to Earth, she thinks of Elsewhere. The novel ends with Liz being sent down the river and being reborn into her new life on Earth. Literary significance and reception Elizabeth Spires gave the book a positive review for The New York Times, commending Zevin for her "fresh and arresting" premise, likening it to Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time and Natalie Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting. Teenreads.com called it "witty and wise" and praised the book for its humour. Booklist magazine gave the book a 'Starred Review' and called it "a work of powerful beauty". In the USA, the book was nominated for a 2006 Quill award, won the Borders Original Voices Award, and was a selection of the Barnes & Noble Book Club. The book was also included on several "Best of" Lists including School Library Journal, Horn Book Magazine, Kirkus Reviews, Amazon.com, and the American Library Association Notable Children's Book list among others. It has also won several awards abroad. In Germany, it was awarded the Lufti (Bronze) and the Ulmer Unke, and in the United Kingdom it won the Sheffield Children's Book Prize for Longer Novels and the Stockport Schools' Book Award. It was also longlisted for the Carnegie Medal. References External links Gabrielle Zevin's website Official Tumblr blog for Elsewhere 2005 American novels American young adult novels 2005 debut novels