Review: The Line by Teri Hall

Publication Date: 3/4/2010

Publisher: Dial

Pages: 224

Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased

Challenge: N/A

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Goodreads Summary:

An invisible, uncrossable physical barrier encloses the United States. The Line is the part of the border that lopped off part of the country, dooming the inhabitants to an unknown fate when the enemy used a banned weapon. It's said that bizarre creatures and super humans live on the other side, in Away. Nobody except tough old Ms. Moore would ever live next to the Line.

Nobody but Rachel and her mother, who went to live there after Rachel's dad died in the last war. It's a safe, quiet life. Until Rachel finds a mysterious recorded message that can only have come from Away. The voice is 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?

Imagine the United States enclosed in an invisible, physical barrier that no one can cross.  The Line is basically the unknown.  No one really knows what lies beyond the Line, if anything.  It is suspected that there are super creatures and humans with special abilities, but no one knows because no one is allowed to go across.

Ms. Moore lives near the Line, and Rachel and her mother have moved in with Ms. Moore.  They now live on the Line too.    Rachel has been curious about the Line and about life before this invisible barrier.  Then, one day while out in the sun reading a book she finds a recorded tape asking for help.  She doesn’t understand everything the voice says, but she understood enough to know that the person needs medicine and help in general.

Rachel’s Mom is very protective and not at all happy to find out about any of what’s going on.  The plan that Ms. Moore, Rachel, and her mother come up with is an interesting one that was unexpected.  The three of them are working together in hope of helping those that are in Away.  They know what could happen to them, but are focused on helping those that could possibly be someone they once knew.

This was a thrilling novel full of twists and turns.  I was constantly worried for Rachel and the stupid decisions she seemed to be making, but that was due to her naivety.  Yet, those decisions were so exhilarating!  You learn a lot about this terrifying world they live in from the lessons Rachel receives from her mother.  The government is in total control over every aspect of each citizen’s life.  You also learn more about Ms. Moore, her life, and what kind of woman she can be.  The characters grew in the novel, and there is definitely more room for growth in the future.  The ending was thrilling and I can’t wait to pick up the next book in this series.  A great dystopian novel!