Is "The Lovely Bones" based on a true story?

The novel "The Lovely Bones" is based on the true story of a 14-year-old girl from Norristown, Penn., who was kidnapped, raped and murdered in 1973. Written by Alice Sebold, this novel was published in 2002.

The book is narrated by 14-year-old Susie Salmon, from up in heaven, where she watches her loved ones grieve over her death. The book spans several years, starting with Susie's death on Dec. 6, 1973. Throughout the book, Susie wanted to be alive and back with her family to ease their grief. The themes present in the book are rape, adultery, violence, grief and forgiveness,