Customer Reviews

The Line

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Far away from the overcrowded cities where the oppressive government tyrannizes its people and the only thing that ensures a decent life is money, Rachel and her mother live and work quietly on The Property, owned by the distant and aloof Ms. Moore. Bordering the Property is the Line, the most notorious section of the invisible boundary that borders the country. No one is allowed in or out. No one knows what is beyond the Line...until Rachel receives a mysterious recording, begging for help. Now everyone on the Property will have to decide to do what is right, or what is safe.

Teri Hall's debut novel is absolutely captivating; her smooth storytelling and completely convincing and authentic voice bring the story to life and make it all the more chilling and believable. Hall presents the history of the country in a detailed (but certainly not boring) manner that highlights political struggles, a domineering government, and the horrors and terrors that are bred with war, relating them to a society that is not unlike our own and subtly warns against the use of nuclear weapons.

Those messages aside, the novel is full of strong female characters as well; resourceful Vivian who had to raise Rachel on her own, the secretive Ms. Moore, who knows more about the Line than anyone would ever suspect, and Rachel, who is torn between standing up for what is right and following in her mother's footsteps of playing it safe and becoming invisible.

The Line is a complicated knot of twists and secrets, surprises and revelations that only becomes more and more complex as you delve deeper into the story. And once you believe you've untangled it all, it is then that the biggest mysteries of all are revealed. Hall's debut novel is stunning, and it will leave you hanging in anticipation of a sequel and pondering the outcomes for many hours after the final page is turned.

Cover Comments: This cover is unbelievably amazing--I love how creepy it feels! The greenhouse is perfect, as it is relevant to the story, and I just love the colors used. The font is very modern, which fits as the book is a futuristic read. This is one of the best, most outstanding covers I've seen in a long time!

As a teacher, I have to read quite a bit of YA fiction before finding something that can truly challenge students and get them thinking. "The Line" is that book. It'll be required reading in my classes for years to come. Hall manages to render a very believable and fascinating world. Yes, it's set in the future, and yes it's dystopian, and yes, there's a big, bad government. But Hall never lets her novel devolve into a "1984" knockoff or some cheesy sci fi romp. She always keeps human emotion at the forefront.

It begins with Rachel, a young woman living with her mother just on the verge of "Home," the only safe part of America left. Beyond Home, "Away" is said to be a brutal place, full of immoral savages capable of anything. Rachel soon finds a tape recorder with a message that challenges everything she once believed about Home, Away, and the Line. What transpires next is a series of revelations and plot twists that will keep readers entertained right up to the last page.

It's hard to believe this is Hall's first novel. She has a superb sense of pacing. It starts off at a relaxed pace, but as you read, you find small, seemingly trivial elements, grow and fester until you realize just how monumental they are. It's like a snowball rolling down a mountain, gaining momentum as it goes. The more you read, the more you're going to want to read. And let me say this now: the ending will give a very satisfying payoff.

Entertaining... fast paced and not incredible wordy or descriptive, which

I appreciated.... it's nice sometimes when an author just tells a story and allows the reader to creative the visual texture of the book.

If you've read other dystopic lit. it follows a relatively similar trajectory.

An estranged cousin to books like the giver or the hunger games.

Easy read... read it in the span of four hours. i recommend.

An invisible and uncrossable barrier encloses the United States. The Line is part of the border that lopped off the country and doomed the citizens to a mysterious fate, when the enemies used a banned weapon. There are rumors about bizarre creatures and mutant humans live on the other side of The Line, in Away. Nobody would be strong enough to live there, except the old, yet tough Ms. Moore. Rachel and her mother work for Ms. Moore. They went to live there after Rachel's father died in the last war. It is a safe and quiet life by The Line. That is until Rachel finds a recording from Away and they are asking for help. Who sent the message? Why is her mother so protective? And to what lengths is Rachel willing to go in order to do what she thinks is right?

Rachel was a sweet and naive girl. She didn't know a lot about what was happening with the government, after she found that recording and I also liked that she asked a lot of questions. She also grew a lot during the book. I really like how strong she became. Ms. Moore was also a strong character and I liked her attitude about life. She had a really strong personality. Jonathon was an interesting character and I could tell that he felt sorry about what he did in the past. Rachel's mom had a lot secrets and it was awesome to see into her pass.The plot of this book started out slow, but it gained speed as it went on. I found the way that the government ran to be similar to 1984's system, which while complex was interesting and simple. I found this Dystopian to be well though out and original. Hall created a well written book, with amazing characters and a fantastic plot. I can't wait for the sequel to come out in 2011, because there are so many questions that I have about what will happen in Away.

The Line: read it, keep it, remember it, recommend it. It took me back--way back--to middle school and junior high with memories of what it means on life's threshold to find a mystery, a thriller, a coming-of-age story that knows its readers from the inside. It understands that good kids aren't guaranteed perfect rapport with even the best adults under ordinary circumstances. Add secrets and dangers in a near-future USA that could be our own, pace disclosures to reward curiosity but not cut off suspense, and you've got it all. You've got The Line.

I just finished "The Line" and absolutely HAD to review it here ASAP. I won't go into details about the plot, since other reviewers have captured the basics.

First off, there's been a lot of insider buzz on Teri Hall's first novel. I'm usually very skeptical about this sort of industry buzz, especially when it involves a newcomer (This is Hall's first novel.). So, I was surprised that within the first paragraph, Hall shredded all my trepidation. This is one of the most well-written books I have come across.

There's such a beautiful interweaving of characterization, plot and writing style. Usually a novel will have one of these in spades while other elements are less than robust. Not so with "The Line." It is jaw-droppingly good.

I have to admit that although this book turns into a page turner, it doesn't really start off as one. It took about four chapters until I was at the point where I was just furiously devouring pages. But all in all, "The Line" is a rare gem--in any genre, but especially in YA. The buzz is all true!

The Line started off slow, and it took a while to pick up speed. Over the first half of the book introduces the characters and describes the Unified States. I found the world that Teri Hall has created to be very interesting. The way the government controls its citizens and the secrets of the world was exciting to read about.

Rachel is a great main character who is easy to relate to. I definitely liked her. Rachel lives near the Line on the Property. She is a curious girl that wants to know more about the land on the other side of the Line known as Away. Away is not explored too much in this book, so I am curious about it. There are other things that I want to know more about. Like the maps that Vivian, Rachel's mother, has been protecting all these years. I am curious to discover what they are maps of exactly.

Ms. Moore, the owner of the Property, was an intriguing character. At first, I found her to be snobbish and hard. After hearing her back story, I found her to be likable, which surprised me. She has valid reasons for why she is the way she is.

A person I want to know more about is Pathik. Pathik is an Other, a person who lives in Away. As soon as we meet Pathik, the story picks up speed. I found it interesting that some of the Others have extra abilities. It makes them mysterious and exciting. I could not help but like Pathik. How could you not when his gorgeous blue eyes are described? It is obvious that a romance will begin to brew in future books between Rachel and Pathik.

The Line was a fun and easy read. Plus, at only 219 pages it is fairly short. Do not the slow start keep you from reading this book because the second half of the book more than makes up for it. There is a cliffhanger ending, of course. I love dystopian novels, and this one is a definite keeper. I am looking forward to reading the next book when it is released because I have a feeling that the next book in this series will be better.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Line. The plot is totally engaging from page one, and the characters are interesting and well developed. I was completely engrossed in the story, and read it straight through waiting anxiously to find out what would happen next. Unfortunately, the book's ending left me not just wanting more (I will definitely read the sequel) but a bit peeved. The book has no culminating point and feels like it ends mid-chapter. It should be called The Line:Episode One . . . then, at least, this reader would have known what to expect. So, buy it, read it, as it is a great read, but be aware that if you want any semblance of a satisfying conclusion, you will have to buy the sequel when it comes out.

The Line was intriguing, mysterious, and wonderfully suspenseful!

When I first started, I had no idea what to expect. Hall fills the reader in easily on the details of the world Rachel lives in. Naturally, the intro takes awhile to explain some details about the way life is, and how Rachel's mom Vivian works on The Property for the fabulously sassy-and-sorta-mean Ms. Moore. Vivian has always encouraged Rachel to be strong, smart, and to always question what the real truth is (which completely rocks). Rachel is brave, and a great heroine for this novel.

Rachel ends up working in the greenhouse, tending to Ms. Moore's flowers after an incident. I really enjoyed Ms. Moore's character, I never really knew quite what to expect from her.

As soon as Rachel finds the tape recorder with a message pleading for help, the true story begins. There are honestly moments that surprised me, the perfect sense of suspense filled the pages, and it had a very shocking ending that has me curious for the next installment!

Highlights: Once the action began, I was completely captivated by the story. I literally could not put the book down. I don't want to say much more plot-wise in this review, because I do not want to ruin the story for anyone.

Lowlights: The beginning was kind of slow, as it did the set-up. It took quite awhile to finally get to the suspense, the mystery and the action, but it was well worth the wait.

RATING: 4.5

Rachel has lived on The Property since before she can remember. Her mother works for Ms. Moore, the owner, as a housekeeper of the large house. Rachel enjoys living far from town and away from the strong governmental control most other people must suffer. People living in towns deal with unfair and random taxes and, when they can't pay, are taken to jail.

Most people would hate living on The Property because it backs up to The Line, a small section of the National Border Defense System that separates the people of the Unified States from Away and the Others. The Line is an invisible barrier that can only be crossed if the government grants permission and deactivates The Line.

Rachel doesn't feel fear when she thinks of Away. She even tried to cross it once, but simply bounced back from The Line and landed flat on her back.

Rachel's quiet life is turned upside down when two things happen.

First, she finds a battered digital voice recorder with a partial message requesting help. Then, during a trip to town with her mother for the weekly supplies, they witness the arrest of a woman her mother recognizes.

Rachel discovers she doesn't know her mother as well as she thought she did, that Ms. Moore has some unbelievable secrets, and the Away and the Others are closer than she thinks. She must use her wits and bravery to get through a dangerous and exciting time in order to save an important historical document and people she doesn't even know.

THE LINE by Teri Hall is a fascinating dystopian novel full of strong female characters and a dark, creepy plot. The end, while a bit abrupt, is satisfying. Readers will definitely want to read more about the adventures Rachel is sure to find. The author leaves the story completely open for a sequel, and I for one can't wait to read it.

The synopsis isn't the only thing I found intriguing about THE LINE. Just take a look at the cover and tell me you don't want to read it! Fantastic art choice!

Reviewed by: Karin Librarian