Summary
The Lovely Bones is a 2002 novel by American author Alice Sebold. The story unfolds from the perspective of Susie Salmon, a 14-year-old girl who is raped and murdered by her neighbor, George Harvey, in Norristown, Pennsylvania, on December 6, 1973. Following her brutal death, Susie finds herself in her personal version of Heaven, from where she observes her family and friends as they grapple with their grief and struggle to move on with their lives without her.
Susie's afterlife is depicted as a place that resembles her school playground, including the "good kind of swing sets." From this vantage point, she watches over her loved ones—her father, Jack, who becomes obsessed with finding her killer; her sister, Lindsey, who exhibits bravery and determination; her young brother, Buckley, who constructs a fort in her memory; and her mother, Abigail, who battles with her grief and personal demons. The novel delves into the family's dynamic, highlighting their individual and collective attempts at healing.
As the story progresses, it explores themes of loss, longing, and the quest for justice. Susie's family suspects George Harvey and embarks on a mission to prove his guilt. Meanwhile, Susie, in her celestial realm, encounters other victims of Harvey and gains insight into his troubled past. The novel also touches on the impact of Susie's death on her school and community, showing how tragedy can bring people together or tear them apart.
The Lovely Bones is ultimately a story about hope, resilience, and the human capacity for love and forgiveness. Sebold crafts a moving narrative that achieves a balance between the bleakness of the crime and the beauty of the protagonist's poignant observations from beyond. The novel concludes with a reflection on the connections and moments—"the lovely bones"—that form in the aftermath of Susie's death, suggesting the possibility for redemption and the continuation of life.
Themes
Processing grief and loss
Family dynamics and resilience
Murder and its impacts on the community
Adolescence and the loss of innocence
Spirituality and the afterlife
Justice and vengeance
Healing and hope amidst tragedy
Strength and survival of the human spirit
Transcendence of love beyond death
Setting
The Lovely Bones, takes place in the suburban town of Norristown, Pennsylvania, during the early 1970s. Alice Sebold sets her story within a specific historical context, markedly before the onset of widespread public awareness campaigns and the inclusion of missing children's photographs on milk cartons, indicating a period where the disappearance of a child could still shock the societal conscience. Its setting, specifically the year 1973, reflects a time characterized by a deceptive veneer of tranquility in American suburbs, beneath which lurks the potential for unspeakable violence. This temporal placement grounds the story in an era prior to the digital age, where community dynamics and law enforcement approaches to missing persons cases were significantly different from those today.
The geographical backdrop of Norristown, along with references to specific sites such as the cornfield that Susie Salmon, the young protagonist, takes as a shortcut walking home from her school, which ultimately leads to her tragic fate, adds layers of textured realism to the narrative.
Characters
Susie Salmon: A 14-year-old girl who is raped and murdered. Susie narrates the novel from Heaven.
Jack Salmon: Susie's father, who is deeply affected by his daughter's death and determined to find her killer.
Abigail Salmon: Susie's mother, who struggles with her daughter's death and eventually leaves her family.
Lindsey Salmon: Susie's younger sister, how is proactive in seeking justice for Susie.
Buckley Salmon: Susie's younger brother, who sometimes senses Susie's presence.
Grandma Lynn: Abigail's mother, who provides support to the family after Susie's death.
George Harvey: The Salmon's neighbor, a serial killer who murders Susie.
Ruth Connors: A classmate who becomes connected to Susie after her death.
Ray Singh: Susie's school crush and later Ruth's friend; they share a connection through Susie.
Ruana Singh: Ray's mother, a minor character who interacts with Abigail.
Samuel Heckler: Lindsey's boyfriend and later husband.
Hal Heckler: Sam's older brother who runs a motorcycle repair shop.
Len Fenerman: The detective investigating Susie's death who has an affair with Abigail.
Clarissa: Susie's best friend, involved in a traumatic incident with Jack Salmon.
Nate: Buckley's friend, involved in a dramatic scene at the Salmon household.
Brian Nelson: Clarissa's boyfriend who mistakenly attacks Jack Salmon.
Holly: Susie's friend in Heaven.
Franny: A mentor figure for Susie and Holly in Heaven.
Mr. Dewitt: The soccer coach who encourages Lindsey.
Mrs. Dewitt: An English teacher at Susie and Lindsey's school.
Holiday: The Salmon family dog.
Principal Caden: The principal of Susie and Lindsey's school.
Quick facts
Alice Sebold based The Lovely Bones on her own traumatic experience with sexual violence. She was raped during her first year at Syracuse University, an event she later described in her memoir, Lucky.
Before its official publication, an excerpt of The Lovely Bones was featured in the magazine Seventeen, sparking early interest in the novel.
The novel was an immediate success, remaining on The New York Times bestseller list for over a year and selling nearly three million copies.
The character Susie Salmon's Heaven was deliberately designed to be non-religious, as Alice Sebold wanted to focus on themes of hope and resilience rather than presenting a theological viewpoint.
In addition to The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold has published other works, including the aforementioned memoir Lucky and the novel The Almost Moon.
Adaptations
The Lovely Bones was adapted into a 2009 film, directed by PeterJackson, famous for directing The Lord of the Rings, who also purchased the film rights to the novel. Featuring Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon, the film earned Stanley Tucci an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of George Harvey. The novel also inspired a stage adaptation, which premiered in Northampton, England, in 2018, followed by two UK tours.
About the author
Alice Sebold (1963-) is a critically acclaimed American author, whose works include three bestselling books—a memoir, Lucky, and the novels The Lovely Bones and The Almost Moon. Recognized for exploring themes of violence and loss with stark honesty and emotional depth, her books resonate with readers worldwide and have been translated into more than 50 languages.
Born in Madison, Wisconsin, Sebold was raised in the Paoli suburb of Philadelphia. She graduated from Great Valley High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania, in 1980 and went on to earn her bachelor's degree from Syracuse University. Her college years marked a turning point in her life and career. During her freshman year, she suffered a brutal rape, an experience that profoundly influenced her writing. She later attended the University of Houston and the University of California, Irvine, where she earned an MFA.
Sebold's first book, Lucky, published in 1999, recounts her ordeal as a victim of rape and the subsequent trial, which led to the wrongful conviction of Anthony Broadwater, who spent 16 years in prison before being exonerated in 2021. However, it was The Lovely Bones, released in 2002, that catapulted Sebold to international fame. Told from the perspective of a 14-year-old girl who is raped and murdered, the novel explores the toll of grief and the aftermath of violence. Honored with the American Booksellers Association's Book of the Year Award for Adult Fiction in 2003 and the Bram Stoker Award for First Novel, The Lovely Bones remained on The New York Times bestseller list for more than a year, sold nearly three million copies worldwide, and was adapted into a 2009 film directed by Peter Jackson.
Alice Sebold's subsequent works, including short stories and the novel The Almost Moon, further delve into the complexities of relationships and the darker aspects of human nature. A member of the National Leadership Council for RAINN.org, she is a committed advocate for survivors of abuse and sexual assault.
