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The Lovely Bones Study Guide

by Alice Sebold

The Lovely Bones study guide contains a biography of Alice Sebold, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

Susie Salmon is killed on December 6, 1973 by her family’s neighbor, George Harvey. Mr. Harvey lures Susie into a hole he dug in the cornfield. When she tries to leave he rips off her clothes, gags her with her hat and rapes her. He kills her, cuts her up, and puts her in a bag that he takes with him before he fills in the hole. He puts the bag with her body in a safe and takes the safe to the local sinkhole.

When Susie gets to heaven she observes her family. Susie soon realizes that everyone has different heavens that fit what each person wants. She is grateful that Len Fenerman, the detective assigned to her case, is helping them. Upon finding Susie’s elbow, the police search the cornfield and find the hole and some of Susie’s belongings…

Read the full The Lovely Bones Summary

• The Lovely Bones Summary
• About The Lovely Bones
• Character List
• Glossary of Terms
• Major Themes
• Quotes and Analysis
• Summary and Analysis of Epigraph & Chapters 1-3
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 4-7
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 8-11
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 12-14
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 15, 16 & Snapshots
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 17-20
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 21-23 & Bones
• Narration from Beyond the Grave
• Related Links on The Lovely Bones
• Suggested Essay Questions
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 3
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 4
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources

• The Lovely Bones: Major Themes
• The Lovely Bones: Questions
• The Lovely Bones: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
• Alice Sebold: Biography