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monetp 's review for:
The Line Tender
by Kate Allen
SPOILERS!!!
This book wrecked my soul emotionally. For a middle grade fiction book, this was a dark one. I went to read "The Line Tender" as a new book in the children's library. I hoped that I'd be able to recommend it to the kiddos. I would recommend this book to someone who likes sad stories like [b:The Notebook|33648131|The Notebook (The Notebook, #1)|Nicholas Sparks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1483183484l/33648131._SY75_.jpg|1498135] or someone who watches "Titanic" on repeat. This book reminded me of [b:A Dog's Purpose|7723542|A Dog's Purpose (A Dog's Purpose, #1)|W. Bruce Cameron|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441219933l/7723542._SY75_.jpg|10479953] so if you didn't ball your eyes out reading that book or seeing the movie, then you can appreciate "The Line Tender."
The synopsis misled me. Gladly I was warned that the main character's parents were either dead or depressed so no surprise there. However, I had no idea that this was the kind of book that killed off a kid out of nowhere. Few books of middle grade fiction actually kill off a main character - let alone a kid! Then, as the book progresses, we find out information about that character that makes us love them more. Yes bury the knife deeper!
What's even most heart wrenching is that the character continues to be referenced. We learn more and more things about them, thus making the reader care more. We learn about all the things the character wanted to do and feelings they had for others that they never got the chance to act on. When Lucy finds the necklace, oh my gosh, I teared up. It was too much emotion for one book!
This book wrecked my soul emotionally. For a middle grade fiction book, this was a dark one. I went to read "The Line Tender" as a new book in the children's library. I hoped that I'd be able to recommend it to the kiddos. I would recommend this book to someone who likes sad stories like [b:The Notebook|33648131|The Notebook (The Notebook, #1)|Nicholas Sparks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1483183484l/33648131._SY75_.jpg|1498135] or someone who watches "Titanic" on repeat. This book reminded me of [b:A Dog's Purpose|7723542|A Dog's Purpose (A Dog's Purpose, #1)|W. Bruce Cameron|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441219933l/7723542._SY75_.jpg|10479953] so if you didn't ball your eyes out reading that book or seeing the movie, then you can appreciate "The Line Tender."
The synopsis misled me. Gladly I was warned that the main character's parents were either dead or depressed so no surprise there. However, I had no idea that this was the kind of book that killed off a kid out of nowhere. Few books of middle grade fiction actually kill off a main character - let alone a kid! Then, as the book progresses, we find out information about that character that makes us love them more. Yes bury the knife deeper!
What's even most heart wrenching is that the character continues to be referenced. We learn more and more things about them, thus making the reader care more. We learn about all the things the character wanted to do and feelings they had for others that they never got the chance to act on. When Lucy finds the necklace, oh my gosh, I teared up. It was too much emotion for one book!