This book is good for juvenile readers. While the novel takes place in a futuristic world with a post-apocalypse type area outside its borders, there is nothing horrifying or scary in the book. My only problem is that the ending doesn't have a nice wrap up but instead sets you up to read the next installment. I will probably continue this series if my library purchases it.

This is half a book. Or, really, a prologue. It's all set up and then when something finally happens...it ends. It's not even 200 pages! It didn't need a sequel, it needed the other half of the book.

The idea isn’t bad, if uninspired in the sea of dystopia the book market is currently drowning in. America has become a dictatorship, and there’s a forcefield blocking out the part of America that’s been struck by a nuclear bomb. Of course, this doesn’t make the nuked America inhabitants cancer-filled or radiation burned or deformed; it gives them superpowers, and possibly makes them more attractive.

Protected America (and I wish they’d tell us WHICH STATE this is supposed to take place in; it would be more fun, but instead it’s in Random, USA) is in some kind of really dumb totalitarian society which has things like strict work castes and lack of freedoms, but still lets people who are obviously living off the grid and not going to school and are known associates of suspected rebels go to college (or maybe the gov is actually smart, and the mom’s expectations are just dumb. Also likely).

The genericness and plotholes of the dystopia world could've been forgiven more easily if ANYTHING HAD HAPPENED. But, really, girl lives near forcefield. Girl learns about the totalitarian gov (mostly through exposition), gardens, talks with elegant old lady and deals with her jittery mom. Girl eventually helps mutant boy. Girl crosses forcefield and joins mutant boy. End. That sounds…like a beginning. That entire part of the plot could’ve been 100 pages and the rest of the book could’ve been about exploring mutant land and then taking out the forcefield and fighting the government or something. Seriously, why did the author only give the beginning of the plot? I’m more confused than angry, here. But I also don’t know if it’s worth it to read the next book, because there is still no certainty the plot will appear in there. Maybe it will be another book-length introduction, this time about life in mutant land.

I was attracted to this book because of its cover. After reading a few reviews I decided to give it a try, worse case scenario I won't finish it, right?

Well, I did finish the book. The story is good but I feel the author just couldn't find the right way to share it. The author focused a lot on describing every single movement in the story line. At times I could skip a chapter without missing any vital information.

I liked the whole premise though. I just wished it would have been performed better, faster. This book felt like a prequel to a bigger story.

I will not be reading the whole series.

Since she can remember, Rachel has lived near The Line, a force field erected to protect the United States from attackers - and to keep The Others out. She's always been fascinated by Away and often wonders what could be out there. But when she receives a message from Away, Rachel begins to uncover the terrible truths that her mother has been hiding from her.

This is an intriguing addition to the genre of dystopian lit and it will please fans of The Giver and Among the Hidden. Recommended for sci-fi fans.

http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/2010/02/book-review-line.html

Read for the 2016 Teen Reading Challenge.

I've been captivated by The Line's cover since it was released in early 2010 and have been waiting to get my hands on it for ages. I had such high expectations especially after receiving several recommendations from other bloggers. While I did enjoy the book, I was mainly disappointed with the characters and young reading level.

I am hesitant to categorize The Line as a middle-grade read. While Rachel's age was never stated I gathered from her language and thought process that she'd be around 12-13. I was really thrown off when chapters would alternate with Vivian, her mother. To me YA is a perspective not a reading level, so to read a YA novel with an adult and a middle-grade perspective was very odd.

Many of the characters seemed stereotypical and cliched rather than original and refreshing. The silent old man in the greenhouse, the strict old lady in the mansion, the Mom with secrets, the rebellious daughter. I felt like I'd already read this book before I even finished the first few chapters. Most of the dialogue between the characters seemed forced, especially when the plot history was conveyed in "history lessons" rather than in thoughts, explanations, or memories.

I absolutely loved the premise of The Line. Novels with such a rich history especially a focus on political strife are favourites on my bookshelf. This book had such promise with a totally realistic plot about military action, a pinch of supernatural/paranormal activity, and an old fashioned mystery. Unfortunately, tied with the overdramatic characters and unrealistic plot line I didn't really connect to the story as a whole. I found the pacing too fast, then too slow, too focused on history, then too focused on irrelevant characteristics. I found the ending very abrupt and sudden. I was finally invested in the plot and intrigued to see where it would lead when it just ended. Hopefully the sequel will pick up exactly where The Line left off.

Constructive criticism aside, I am eager to read the sequel to see if the plot improves and see what becomes of Rachel.

Arghhhhhhhh! The next book in the series doesn't come out until SEPTEMBER!!!!!

Full review to follow

This book was extremely slow, and the writing was clunky. The characters were flat, and had weird personality changes that didn't fit in with the story. The point of view jumped between practically everyone, and it was just confusing and boring. Sadly, I really disliked this book. Definitely not a good read for me.

very disappointing dystopian fiction. it had the bones of a good story but the execution was incredibly clumsy and just altogether lacking, reading more like a first or second draft instead of a finished product. the characters were not at all engaging and lots of bits very predictable and the world building really, really awkward (i.e. okay, daughter, why don't i quiz you on how our society got this way?).

eta: originally, i gave this two stars, but the more i think about it, the worse i think it is, so i'm knocking it down to a paltry one.

I picked up this book randomly in the library and boy do I have to say that I picked wrong. The book has been really dry and boring so far and I've made it through around like 65% of the book and do not intend on reading any further. I could probably guess the outcomes of whats going to happen and the possible "shocks". The 65 percent that I have read have been boringly dry and dull, I don't even know how I got past the first few pages. I guess I was hoping for too much but this book hasn't exactly delivered. The character's are also boring and dry. Maybe sometime in the future I might pick this book up again but only to complete it.