Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Leaving Time. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Thirteen-year-old Jenna Metcalf, searching for her mother Alice, an elephant researcher who vanished ten years ago after a death at an elephant sanctuary, discovers that she herself died that night, and that her helper, former detective Virgil Stanhope, is also a ghost. Alice is alive in Botswana, and the psychic Serenity Jones helps Jenna say goodbye.
Quick facts
– Book: Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
– First published: 2014
– Type: A literary mystery novel
– Tone of the ending: Shocking and moving
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Jenna lives with her grandmother. Her father, Thomas, is in a psychiatric hospital. She recruits Serenity, a disgraced psychic, and Virgil, now a drunken private investigator, to find Alice. Alice's journals about elephant grief are woven through the story.
What Happens at the End of Leaving Time
The investigation keeps returning to the night at the sanctuary when a keeper, Nevvie Ruehl, was found trampled and Alice vanished. Jenna learns about the tensions of that night: Alice's affair with the keeper Gideon, Nevvie's anger, and an elephant, Maura, fiercely protective after losing her own calf. Piece by piece, the truth comes out: Jenna did not survive that night. She died at the sanctuary as a small child, and Alice, in shock and grief, fled to Botswana and began a new life studying elephants. Virgil, it turns out, also died years ago in a car crash, and Serenity, whose psychic gift was real all along, is the only living member of the trio. Jenna has been a ghost, held back by her need to find her mother. Serenity travels to Botswana, finds Alice and tells her that her daughter loved her and is at peace. Jenna, at last, lets go.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Jenna is a ghost.
- Virgil is a ghost.
- Alice is alive.
- Jenna moves on.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Jenna Metcalf | Revealed as a ghost |
| Alice Metcalf | Alive in Africa |
| Virgil Stanhope | Revealed as a ghost |
| Serenity Jones | Helps Jenna |
What the Ending Means
The ending explores grief and letting go.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers debate whether the twist works, and many reread the book to spot the clues, such as how no one but Serenity ever speaks directly to Jenna. The elephant research is based on real studies of how elephants grieve.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Grief. Elephants and humans grieve.
Memory. Remembering loved ones.
Motherhood. Mother-daughter bond.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Leaving Time as shocking and moving. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Jodi Picoult to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are shocking and moving will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Jodi Picoult closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Leaving Time with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about grief, and do you agree with Jodi Picoult's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as shocking and moving, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces grief and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Jodi Picoult leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in Leaving Time often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Leaving Time earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of Leaving Time on Amazon
Books to Read After Leaving Time
- My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
- The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
Related: Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult: Summary and Key Takeaways · Leaving Time Book Club Discussion Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Leaving Time?
Thirteen-year-old Jenna Metcalf, searching for her mother Alice, an elephant researcher who vanished ten years ago after a death at an elephant sanctuary, discovers that she herself died that night, and that her helper, former detective Virgil Stanhope, is also a ghost. Alice is alive in Botswana, and the psychic Serenity Jones helps Jenna say goodbye.
Is the ending of Leaving Time happy or sad?
Most readers call it shocking and moving.
What does the ending of Leaving Time mean?
The ending explores grief and letting go.
Who wrote Leaving Time and when was it published?
Leaving Time was written by Jodi Picoult and first published in 2014.
Is Leaving Time worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy literary mystery novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Jodi Picoult prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read Leaving Time before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.