Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) of Norristown, Pennsylvania narrates a story that begins in 1973, when she was a typical fourteen-year-old in a loving family to which no bad things ever happened. That year, special things going on in her life were the beginning of her aspirations to become a wildlife photographer, and her burgeoning romantic feelings, seemingly reciprocated, for senior British transfer student Ray Singh (Reece Ritchie). If she was not preoccupied with these thoughts, Susie believes she would have noticed or felt the creepiness of neighbor George Harvey (Stanley Tucci), a serial killer of females of all ages who ends up murdering her. In telling the story, Susie does not remember the exact method of her death or where her body is located, which the authorities do not find, but who have evidence that Susie is most likely dead. She died without ever getting her first romantic kiss. Her mother, Abigail Salmon (Rachel Weisz), is not dealing with her death well, keeping her bedroom as a sealed up memorial. Her father, Jack Salmon (Mark Wahlberg), cannot let go of ever finding out what happened to her, although he, along with their two other younger children, Lindsey (Rose McIver) and Buckley (Christian Ashdale), feel like they can occasionally feel Susie's afterlife presence. Indeed, Susie, currently in-between heaven and Earth, is looking over her family, as well as Ray. Another neighborhood girl, Ruth Connors (Carolyn Dando), who most deem weird, is also able to feel those in the hereafter, including Susie. However, another young female who Susie meets in her current location tells Susie that she must advance forward to the next step. But Susie seems somewhat determined to try and lead those that can feel her presence to the fact of George being her murderer, especially when his next potential victim seems to be Lindsey. If Susie is able to let go, she may learn that she and her fellow travellers have a higher purpose in needing to move forward.