Teri Hall's Blog, page 6
June 18, 2010
The Line nominated for lists!
The Line has been nominated for YALSA's Best Fiction for Young Adults list (http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yal...), and for their Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers list (http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yal...)
March 10, 2010
Want a Skype visit discussion of The Line for your classroom or book club?
Want a Skype visit for your classroom or book club? http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/pag...
March 1, 2010
Some Publisher's Weekly Love for The Line!
The Line Teri Hall. Dial, $16.99 (224p) ISBN 978-0-8037-3466-1
In this atmospheric dystopian story, Rachel and her mother live with her mother's chilly and withdrawn employer, Ms. Moore, at the edge of an invisible barrier—the Line, part of the oppressive government's National Border Defense System—which encloses the Unified States. Rachel is homeschooled by her mother (a device Hall uses to give readers history lessons), and spends time tending orchids in Ms. Moore's greenhouse. But she is deeply curious about Away, the land beyond the Line, and about the Others, who were displaced after the Line was erected. When Rachel discovers a recording device and a voice on the tape asks for help, she decides to approach the Line, leading to an encounter that will disclose her family history. Debut author Hall's clear, controlled prose builds burgeoning tension (“Perhaps someone with less imagination, or more friends, could have resisted the pull of something so forbidden... but Rachel was not that person”) while unraveling carefully conceived plot twists, which address themes of totalitarianism, nuclear war, and xenophobia. Dimensional characters and compelling questions unveiled at the dangling finish will have readers awaiting the next installment. Ages 12–up. (Mar.)
http://www.publishersweekly.com/artic...
In this atmospheric dystopian story, Rachel and her mother live with her mother's chilly and withdrawn employer, Ms. Moore, at the edge of an invisible barrier—the Line, part of the oppressive government's National Border Defense System—which encloses the Unified States. Rachel is homeschooled by her mother (a device Hall uses to give readers history lessons), and spends time tending orchids in Ms. Moore's greenhouse. But she is deeply curious about Away, the land beyond the Line, and about the Others, who were displaced after the Line was erected. When Rachel discovers a recording device and a voice on the tape asks for help, she decides to approach the Line, leading to an encounter that will disclose her family history. Debut author Hall's clear, controlled prose builds burgeoning tension (“Perhaps someone with less imagination, or more friends, could have resisted the pull of something so forbidden... but Rachel was not that person”) while unraveling carefully conceived plot twists, which address themes of totalitarianism, nuclear war, and xenophobia. Dimensional characters and compelling questions unveiled at the dangling finish will have readers awaiting the next installment. Ages 12–up. (Mar.)
http://www.publishersweekly.com/artic...
February 16, 2010
First Two Chapters of The Line on Penguin's Site!
Penguin has the first two chapters of The Line posted here:
http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/Bo...
and B&N online is shipping The Line NOW! Right here:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-...
http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/Bo...
and B&N online is shipping The Line NOW! Right here:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-...
February 2, 2010
Kirkus Review for The Line
Yay for my Kirkus Review (see it in the Jan 15 2010 edition)
This interesting dystopic series opener from debut author Hall follows the fortunes of Rachel, whose mother, Vivian, is “Gainfully Employed” by Ms. Moore, owner of an orchid business, a “Private Enterprise.” They live close to “the Line,” the border of the Unified States, and everyone fears what lurks in Away, across the Line. Vivian homeschools Rachel to insulate her from the lies of the repressive U.S. government schools, and Rachel does her best to help her cherished Mom, but she really loves working in the greenhouse, even if the severe Ms. Moore frightens her. However, when a boy appears across the Line asking for help, Rachel and the entire complex become embroiled in activities that might get them all arrested. The author trims her prose for an upper-elementary audience, but the story easily can appeal to teens. Without any hint at current politics, she encourages young readers to think about the tension between freedom and security while keeping them engrossed in a suspenseful story. Well done indeed. (Science fiction. 10 & up)
This interesting dystopic series opener from debut author Hall follows the fortunes of Rachel, whose mother, Vivian, is “Gainfully Employed” by Ms. Moore, owner of an orchid business, a “Private Enterprise.” They live close to “the Line,” the border of the Unified States, and everyone fears what lurks in Away, across the Line. Vivian homeschools Rachel to insulate her from the lies of the repressive U.S. government schools, and Rachel does her best to help her cherished Mom, but she really loves working in the greenhouse, even if the severe Ms. Moore frightens her. However, when a boy appears across the Line asking for help, Rachel and the entire complex become embroiled in activities that might get them all arrested. The author trims her prose for an upper-elementary audience, but the story easily can appeal to teens. Without any hint at current politics, she encourages young readers to think about the tension between freedom and security while keeping them engrossed in a suspenseful story. Well done indeed. (Science fiction. 10 & up)
November 9, 2009
SNEAK PEEK - Read the first chapter of The Line!
Go to http://www.terihall.com and check it out!
