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November 22nd, 1973
On this day, Susie kisses Ray Singh. Before this event occurred, Ray had a crush on Susie. After Susie’s death, Susie begins to miss Ray in heaven. Susie also meets Ruth Flanagan and they become friends.
This date is important to the plot because this is the day that Ray and Susie began to fall for each other. Including to that, throughout the book, Ruth and Susie connect with each other while Susie is in heaven. Ruth begins to write about Susie and her death which connects them more -
December 6th, 1973
This is the day that Susie died. She got raped and then got murdered. Susie was a white 14 year old girl with mousy-brown hair. This date is important to the plot because this is the day we find out what happened to Susie and how she died. On this day, she also goes up to heaven and struggles with being there. She struggles with missing her family and friends. -
December 9th, 1973
This day is the day Detective Fenerman finds Susie's elbow in the cornfield where she was murdered. He finds only her elbow and not a body. He then goes to Susie's house and tells her parents that Susie is probably dead since the elbow was found.
This date is important because the elbow discovery helps her family know that she's gone and they don't need to keep worrying if she'll be home. -
December 15th, 1973
On this day, Detective Fenerman finds Susie's hat (that her mom made her) and brings the hat to her family. He then continues to tell her family that the hat was used in Susie's murder because her saliva was found on it.
This date is important because now her family truly knows that she is dead. This date also allows the reader to know that her family is struggling with Susie's death, especially her mom. -
December 23rd, 1973
On this day, Susie's dad, Jack, sees his neighbor, Mr. Harvey, building something in his backyard. Jack decides to help Mr. Harvey build the ceremonial tent for his late wife. While building this tent, Mr. Harvey says stuff about Susie that her dad finds weird and since this, Susie's dad suspects George Harvey for the death of his daughter.
This is important to the plot because this date helps the reader understand that Susie's family is starting to suspect her actual killer. -
The Fall of 1974
On this day, Susie's sister, Lindsey, saw Mr. Harvey leave his house. She then decided to sneak in his house. She ended up almost getting caught and before she jumped out the window, she ripped a sketch of Stoltz Cornfield (where her sister was likely murdered) out of a sketchbook. Lindsey then gave the picture to her father.
This is important to the plot because this event allows the reader to know that Lindsey also believes that Mr. Harvey killed her sister and she tries to prove it. -
The Summer of 1974
The Summer of 1974 was when Susie's mother, Abigail, left her husband and children. Abigail packed up her stuff and stayed at her fathers cabin in New Hampshire for some time. Forthwith, she moves to California for 7 years
This event is important to the plot because Abigail moving lead to her becoming distant with her two other children and all they wanted was a mother. -
December of 1981
December of 1981 is when Detective Len recieved a call from a Delaware detective. The Delaware detective told Len that George Harvey was connected to other murders in Conneticut and Delaware. The detective also said that they found a Pennsylvania Keystone charm in Conneticut and they believe it's Susie's.
This event is essential to the plot because Detective Len finally got a "lead" on Susie's case and he begins to believe that George truly did kill Susie. -
Closer to The Summer of 1981
At this moment in time, Susie's dad has a heart attack. Meanwhile, her mother makes her way home from California. Her parents end up reconnecting after 7 years and Abigail moves back to Pennsylvania.
This event is essential to the plot because after 8 years since Susie's been gone, her familie's life on Earth was "falling" apart. Now, it is finally starting to become good again, even though Susie isn't there. -
The Summer of 1981
During the summer of 1981, Ruth comes home from NYC after moving there. Her and Ray meet up and go to the sinkhole. At the sinkhole, Ruth sees Mr. Harvey drive by and she sees all the people he has killed. She ends up passing out and Susie and her "switch" bodies for a little.
This event is important to the plot because it allows the readers to get understand Susie's feelings for Ray and how she misses him up in heaven. -
Years Later
Years later, George Harvey died. Samuel and Lindsey got married and had a baby. They named her Abigail Suzanne.
These events are important to the plot because it helps the readers understand that Susie's family continued to live their lives, even though they will always miss Susie.
