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The Laura Line
A touching and funny story of one girl’s journey to discover where she came from and the unlimited possibilities of who she can become, from Crystal Allen, the acclaimed author of How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy and The Magnificent Mya Spirit Week Showdown. Laura Dyson wants two things in to be accepted by her classmates and to be noticed by ultracute baseball star Troy Bailey. But everyone at school teases her for being overweight, and Troy won’t give her a second glance. Until one day, their history teacher announces a field trip to the run-down slave shack on her grandmother’s property. Heck to the power of no way! Her grandmother insists that it’s more than just an old shack; it’s a monument to the strong women in their family—the Laura Line. But Laura knows her classmates will never accept her once they see the shack. So she comes up with the perfect plan to get the trip canceled . . . but when a careless mistake puts the shack—and the Laura Line—in jeopardy, Laura must decide what’s truly important to her. Can Laura figure out how to get what she wants at school while also honoring her family’s past?
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 23, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 26, 2013
I LOVED this book! I especially like the way Crystal Allen's way of weaving history into the story and making it accessible and engaging.
April 18, 2013
Author Crystal Allen says the moral of the story is: “Love yourself. Love your ‘Line.’ Live your dreams.”
Your “Line?” What’s that, you say?
Stay tuned.
In the meantime, know that those words sum up the many messages contained in “The Laura Line,” Allen’s second book for folks ages 8 to 12. Her first for that age group is "How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy."
“I seem to naturally write for middle graders,” Allen says. “Their voices flow so easily for me, and I love that age group.”
“The Laura Line” protagonist is Laura Eboni Dyson, who uses the vernacular in the modern manner of a 13-year-old. She emphasizes her thoughts emphatically with “heck to the double yes!,” her analogies are reflective of an early teen’s mindset, and her language, in general, is colorful and expressive, and conveys grown-up thoughts just as an adolescent would. From Laura’s feelings and self-assessments to her crush on her “hunky chunky,” Troy, to the realization of her ancestry – her “line,” Allen transforms herself into an early teen, not only with language, but with imagery.
For example, Laura imagines herself in the facial dimple – yes, inside the dimple – of her “ultra-cute” crush, Troy. Silly, perhaps, but typical for a seventh-grader. Or, in describing her grandmother’s hallway, Laura paints a picture: “The walls leading down the hall are painted a green I’ve never seen in any crayon box … It’s not gross-green or even puke-green, but it definitely belongs in the sick-green family.” (Is this not the voice of a 13-year-old?!)
Not only is Allen keyed into the lingo of an early teen, she is also aware of the mentality. She hones in on the initial stages of teen angst, the time when appearance – in this case, weight – begins to supersede important things like others’ feelings, or the wealth of one’s ancestry.
Laura and her BFF Sage are overweight. They have a loyalty that is strong, perhaps strengthened by their … “well … you know,” as they would say. And while their weight doesn’t prevent them from being adolescent fashionistas or from emulating models, or from applying and re-applying lip gloss, “just in case,” they do strategize to avoid attention.
They are tops in their hobbies: Sage is a talented photojournalist – yes, in middle school, and Laura has a mean arm. She even teaches her baseball beau Troy a thing or two … or three. And the girls eventually get it! They realize their abilities and backgrounds make them, not their weight. When Laura does get it, it is then that we root for her constantly, turning the pages proudly and triumphantly because she is “handling hers.”
We see Laura’s weight as an issue skulk backstage, as more substantive matters like others’ feelings come forward.
As the story progresses, loyalty and the alliance among the girls is increasingly prominent. Laura’s pitching talent is highlighted. Her self-estimation increases, as her dependence on others’ opinions of her decreases.
That blossoming is fun to watch. But the best part is watching Laura’s confidence crest when she discovers the Laura Line. She detaches herself from the “Fat Larda” label and assumes her position in a lineage of Lauras – eight predecessors named Laura whose stories are housed in a shack and cemetery on her grandmother’s farm.
At first, Laura Eboni is afraid of “the shack,” – in fact, she didn’t want to go to stay with her grandmother because of it – and she regards it ashamedly as a slave shack that she does not want her classmates to see.
“There it is representing a gazillion different levels of wrong and, worse, the number-one reason I didn’t want to come here,” Laura laments.
But upon her eventual entrance into the shack and investigation of it and its stories, she quickly comes to know and appreciate the Lauras and their legacies as altruistic slave, teacher, restaurant owner, athlete, seamstress/model, journalist, loan officer and scientist. This is when Laura begins to love her “Line,” as Allen so instructs readers.
While the story has some similarities to Allen’s early life (the scenery is the same as her grandmother’s farm on which there was a shack-like house), it isn’t really autobiographical, she says. Unlike Laura who entered the shack under the influence of infatuation, Allen “never ventured inside and to this day, I regret it,” she shares.
Reminiscing about that, she “began to put several ‘what ifs’ together concerning the little shack-like house, the cemetery, and my own personal actions. Soon thereafter, Laura visited my thoughts and the journey began to 'The Laura Line',” Allen says.
One suspects Allen had a good time writing this book, as it is a book with U.S. history and family history. It has a heroine and positively frames African-American families, Allen says. She believes to paint the African-American family as lopsided with heavy negative leanings is “unfair.”
“I write books where race is not the issue or the focus,” she says, “yet my main characters are African American. In 'How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy,' Lamar could have been any boy or any race, but I chose him to be black. In 'The Laura Line,' Laura could have been of any race dealing with her ancestry.
“To me, this genre of book offerings depicting young black characters as normal, with everyday problems that all young people face, (is) sorely underwritten.”
Your “Line?” What’s that, you say?
Stay tuned.
In the meantime, know that those words sum up the many messages contained in “The Laura Line,” Allen’s second book for folks ages 8 to 12. Her first for that age group is "How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy."
“I seem to naturally write for middle graders,” Allen says. “Their voices flow so easily for me, and I love that age group.”
“The Laura Line” protagonist is Laura Eboni Dyson, who uses the vernacular in the modern manner of a 13-year-old. She emphasizes her thoughts emphatically with “heck to the double yes!,” her analogies are reflective of an early teen’s mindset, and her language, in general, is colorful and expressive, and conveys grown-up thoughts just as an adolescent would. From Laura’s feelings and self-assessments to her crush on her “hunky chunky,” Troy, to the realization of her ancestry – her “line,” Allen transforms herself into an early teen, not only with language, but with imagery.
For example, Laura imagines herself in the facial dimple – yes, inside the dimple – of her “ultra-cute” crush, Troy. Silly, perhaps, but typical for a seventh-grader. Or, in describing her grandmother’s hallway, Laura paints a picture: “The walls leading down the hall are painted a green I’ve never seen in any crayon box … It’s not gross-green or even puke-green, but it definitely belongs in the sick-green family.” (Is this not the voice of a 13-year-old?!)
Not only is Allen keyed into the lingo of an early teen, she is also aware of the mentality. She hones in on the initial stages of teen angst, the time when appearance – in this case, weight – begins to supersede important things like others’ feelings, or the wealth of one’s ancestry.
Laura and her BFF Sage are overweight. They have a loyalty that is strong, perhaps strengthened by their … “well … you know,” as they would say. And while their weight doesn’t prevent them from being adolescent fashionistas or from emulating models, or from applying and re-applying lip gloss, “just in case,” they do strategize to avoid attention.
They are tops in their hobbies: Sage is a talented photojournalist – yes, in middle school, and Laura has a mean arm. She even teaches her baseball beau Troy a thing or two … or three. And the girls eventually get it! They realize their abilities and backgrounds make them, not their weight. When Laura does get it, it is then that we root for her constantly, turning the pages proudly and triumphantly because she is “handling hers.”
We see Laura’s weight as an issue skulk backstage, as more substantive matters like others’ feelings come forward.
As the story progresses, loyalty and the alliance among the girls is increasingly prominent. Laura’s pitching talent is highlighted. Her self-estimation increases, as her dependence on others’ opinions of her decreases.
That blossoming is fun to watch. But the best part is watching Laura’s confidence crest when she discovers the Laura Line. She detaches herself from the “Fat Larda” label and assumes her position in a lineage of Lauras – eight predecessors named Laura whose stories are housed in a shack and cemetery on her grandmother’s farm.
At first, Laura Eboni is afraid of “the shack,” – in fact, she didn’t want to go to stay with her grandmother because of it – and she regards it ashamedly as a slave shack that she does not want her classmates to see.
“There it is representing a gazillion different levels of wrong and, worse, the number-one reason I didn’t want to come here,” Laura laments.
But upon her eventual entrance into the shack and investigation of it and its stories, she quickly comes to know and appreciate the Lauras and their legacies as altruistic slave, teacher, restaurant owner, athlete, seamstress/model, journalist, loan officer and scientist. This is when Laura begins to love her “Line,” as Allen so instructs readers.
While the story has some similarities to Allen’s early life (the scenery is the same as her grandmother’s farm on which there was a shack-like house), it isn’t really autobiographical, she says. Unlike Laura who entered the shack under the influence of infatuation, Allen “never ventured inside and to this day, I regret it,” she shares.
Reminiscing about that, she “began to put several ‘what ifs’ together concerning the little shack-like house, the cemetery, and my own personal actions. Soon thereafter, Laura visited my thoughts and the journey began to 'The Laura Line',” Allen says.
One suspects Allen had a good time writing this book, as it is a book with U.S. history and family history. It has a heroine and positively frames African-American families, Allen says. She believes to paint the African-American family as lopsided with heavy negative leanings is “unfair.”
“I write books where race is not the issue or the focus,” she says, “yet my main characters are African American. In 'How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy,' Lamar could have been any boy or any race, but I chose him to be black. In 'The Laura Line,' Laura could have been of any race dealing with her ancestry.
“To me, this genre of book offerings depicting young black characters as normal, with everyday problems that all young people face, (is) sorely underwritten.”
June 7, 2013
I went into this book expecting to like it because I’d read and loved Crystal Allen’s first book, HOW LAMAR’S BAD PRANK WON A BUBBA-SIZED TROPHY. And I did like it, but by the time I reached the big, bad crisis, I loved it. I was so worried for Laura and her friend Sage. When The Really Bad Thing was about to happen, I couldn’t stand it, but I couldn’t look away. Crystal Allen really knows how to torture her characters! And with a character as lovable as Laura Eboni on the rack, I had to hang on tight until the very end to make sure there would be a happy ending for THE LAURA LINE. :)
September 30, 2020
While reading this book it was nothing like I expected. Laura only wanted two things in school: to be accepted by her classmates and to be noticed by the baseball star Troy. Her grandma spoke words of wisdom that made me think more about my life. The girls journal was to discover who she is as a person and all the possibilities of who she can become. This book was very interesting to me because I related to it, from young love to finding out who you are as a person.
January 11, 2014
Crystal Allen took the time to celebrate those who have gone before and this book was a stellar collection of great people in both person and spirit. The book was heartfelt, refreshing and emotionally honest and reminds me that we should never short sell our young folk. Your ancestors are not the only ones nodding their approval.
April 15, 2013
Laura Dyson is a sassy, heart-warming character who finds her true self in the last place she wanted to look. Just buy it!
April 18, 2013
Absolutely loved it!
July 22, 2019
I'm so glad I read this! What a delightful book.
First of all, the voice is defined...to the point of almost being grating, but you definitely know a pre-teen girl who is trying to shape her voice this way. Laura is relatable, her family history is interesting and memorable, and it all ties together in a really nice way.
I think this book was trying to be body positive and almost made it...Laura makes it clear that while her classmates make fun of her her doctor describes her as being on the high end of normal, so the fact that she hoards Almond Joys and ultimately decides she doesn't need to eat as money feels unnecessary to the point of being harmful...you can be on the high end of normal for weight without any food issues.
The baseball element of this makes up for that, though, at least for me. I love reading about girls who can play and who get accepted by boys who can play. And I love her grandma getting into baseball because she loves her.
All and all, so fun!
First of all, the voice is defined...to the point of almost being grating, but you definitely know a pre-teen girl who is trying to shape her voice this way. Laura is relatable, her family history is interesting and memorable, and it all ties together in a really nice way.
I think this book was trying to be body positive and almost made it...Laura makes it clear that while her classmates make fun of her her doctor describes her as being on the high end of normal, so the fact that she hoards Almond Joys and ultimately decides she doesn't need to eat as money feels unnecessary to the point of being harmful...you can be on the high end of normal for weight without any food issues.
The baseball element of this makes up for that, though, at least for me. I love reading about girls who can play and who get accepted by boys who can play. And I love her grandma getting into baseball because she loves her.
All and all, so fun!
October 4, 2013
I first picked up this book because of the cover. I adore books that teach a bit of history and figured that the family tree on the cover was a good indication. When I flipped to the back, I read that it was the same author who wrote HOW LAMAR'S BAD PRANK WON A BUBBA-SIZED TROPHY, and then I knew I was destined to read this book because I love Lamar.
Crystal Allen nailed the voice in this MG novel. Here's a sample: "Sweet Mother of Teen Vogue magazine, I'm model-marvelous in this new outfit!"
Our protagonist, Laura Dyson, is not your typical heroine. She's overweight and the other kids call her "Fat Larda." What I love about Laura is that she has spunk. Sure, it bothers her that the other kids tease her, but Laura likes herself. She knows she's special.
My one criticism of THE LAURA LINE is that I didn't find the plot totally believable. Laura's grandmother has a slave shack sitting on her property. Laura doesn't live very far from her grandmother, close enough that she can stay with her grandmother and still attend the same school when her parents are away, yet we're supposed to believe that Laura doesn't know her family history, that she hasn't ever read the journal inside the slave shack. That didn't ring true for me. Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed THE LAURA LINE, and will definitely be on the lookout for the next Crystal Allen novel.
Crystal Allen nailed the voice in this MG novel. Here's a sample: "Sweet Mother of Teen Vogue magazine, I'm model-marvelous in this new outfit!"
Our protagonist, Laura Dyson, is not your typical heroine. She's overweight and the other kids call her "Fat Larda." What I love about Laura is that she has spunk. Sure, it bothers her that the other kids tease her, but Laura likes herself. She knows she's special.
My one criticism of THE LAURA LINE is that I didn't find the plot totally believable. Laura's grandmother has a slave shack sitting on her property. Laura doesn't live very far from her grandmother, close enough that she can stay with her grandmother and still attend the same school when her parents are away, yet we're supposed to believe that Laura doesn't know her family history, that she hasn't ever read the journal inside the slave shack. That didn't ring true for me. Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed THE LAURA LINE, and will definitely be on the lookout for the next Crystal Allen novel.
September 21, 2021
The Laura Line is the first Crystal Allen book that I have read. After hearing her speak so highly of it and the story behind it, I had to read it for myself. Laura Dyson is a typical 13-year-old girl. She faces problems with her peers, has a crush on a baseball player, and has a great best friend. She is also unsure of the shack and graveyard at her grandmother’s house. She absolutely refuses to discover the inside of the shack, that is until a certain someone takes particular interest in it. It is then that she discovers the Laura Line, which includes her mother, grandmother, and the women in their family before them. Laura is amazed by their stories and desires to know more about them.
The novel is suitable for middle school grades, specifically but not limited to ages 11 to 15. It shows readers the importance of our histories. Not only is our family history relevant to our individual families, but also holds importance in major studies of history. In the novel, the Laura Line included a figure relevant to their history course, but had Laura not explored the shack herself, she may not have learned this information. Crystal Allen did an excellent job relating the book to middle school children’s experiences as well.
The novel is suitable for middle school grades, specifically but not limited to ages 11 to 15. It shows readers the importance of our histories. Not only is our family history relevant to our individual families, but also holds importance in major studies of history. In the novel, the Laura Line included a figure relevant to their history course, but had Laura not explored the shack herself, she may not have learned this information. Crystal Allen did an excellent job relating the book to middle school children’s experiences as well.
July 8, 2014
I really admire how The Laura Line takes superficial beauty standards and smash them to pieces. This was an enjoyable read with a true-to-life main character who faced true-to-life teen issues: weight, identity, popularity, bullying, rejection, etc.
Crystal Allen's heartwarming story seamlessly weaves history into this contemporary tale, as Laura discovers how the past, that she's reluctant to learn about, becomes the beacon of strength, defining who she could become.I also appreciated how Ms. Allen created unique catch-phrases to portray Laura's own unique character, and also produce a YA novel with "clean" language and scenes (not too common in today's YA novels). I had no problem passing this novel on to my teenage and pre-teen daughters.
The empowerment of the Laura line, raised from the pride and struggle each one of them faced, makes this book an excellent read for ANY girl or woman coping with their own battles with society.
Crystal Allen's heartwarming story seamlessly weaves history into this contemporary tale, as Laura discovers how the past, that she's reluctant to learn about, becomes the beacon of strength, defining who she could become.I also appreciated how Ms. Allen created unique catch-phrases to portray Laura's own unique character, and also produce a YA novel with "clean" language and scenes (not too common in today's YA novels). I had no problem passing this novel on to my teenage and pre-teen daughters.
The empowerment of the Laura line, raised from the pride and struggle each one of them faced, makes this book an excellent read for ANY girl or woman coping with their own battles with society.
February 2, 2016
For multiculturalism, The Laura Line has everything including a bit of mystery added with history. In this amazing novel, the reader is introduced to an African American young girl in grade school named Laura who becomes the center point that draws in such a rich story as she explores her family's roots. Laura is your typical archetype: bullied for her weight, made to feel like an outcast and embarrassed by her family's legacy particularly the slave quarters of her grandmother's estate. That all changes when she uncovers the truth particularly her ties to the famous Amistad slave ship and being descended from a long line of "special" Lauras.
The Laura Line is such a wonderful grade school to middle grade read and the protagonist is engaging and relatable. Since February is Black History Month, I high recommend this book as a supplement to teaching children about slavery and the importance of family history.
The Laura Line is such a wonderful grade school to middle grade read and the protagonist is engaging and relatable. Since February is Black History Month, I high recommend this book as a supplement to teaching children about slavery and the importance of family history.
August 2, 2016
This was a good book. Laura's voice through the whole story stayed true. I could hear one of my student's voice as I read ("heck to the double no" and my hunky chunky" along with so many other phrases). Laura is a great friend whom I would wish to have as a middle schooler. It was fun to tag along with Laura on her journey to discovering herself.
My favorite quote from this book in on page 219. "As long as you get up more times than you fall down, you'll be a winner."
My favorite quote from this book in on page 219. "As long as you get up more times than you fall down, you'll be a winner."
January 11, 2013
One Sentence Review: A bit disappointing (particularly when you consider Ms. Allen's particular skills at twisting a turn of phrase) in light of the dislikable characters and the fact that the main character's crush never abates in the face of verbal abuse.
September 1, 2025
Crystal Allen writes Laura Dyson in a way that takes me back to middle school. The Laura Line follows the everyday issues of an unpopular middle schooler with painful accuracy. Laura faces the challenges of being an African-American girl and being bullied for her weight.. Over the course of the book, she finds herself in her family history. It's an uplifting story about finding confidence and security at a difficult age and despite great adversity.
I'd recommend this book for ages 10-15, but I really enjoyed it at 20 years old. I think anyone who has experienced or is experiencing middle school will find this book relatable and motivational with sprinkles of humor.
Educators might read this book to their class during free time, as Laura Dyson's battles with her feelings of insecurity turn into a success story. The book is a great size to finish within the first couple weeks of school, perhaps as an introduction to middle school and a confidence-booster for shy new preteens.
I'd recommend this book for ages 10-15, but I really enjoyed it at 20 years old. I think anyone who has experienced or is experiencing middle school will find this book relatable and motivational with sprinkles of humor.
Educators might read this book to their class during free time, as Laura Dyson's battles with her feelings of insecurity turn into a success story. The book is a great size to finish within the first couple weeks of school, perhaps as an introduction to middle school and a confidence-booster for shy new preteens.
July 28, 2017
I read this with my son who is reading it for a summer reading project at school. I really liked the idea of a female protagonist with a long line of strength behind her. Her discovery of where she came from and who she is is a great message for the intended audience. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because the voice of Laura grated on my nerves, like the author was trying so hard to make her sound like a teenager, she came across as a stereotype.
June 23, 2017
Great, realistic story about a girl who grows from learning about her roots. Highly readable for middle school kids.
September 18, 2017
I read this book because my daughter chose to complete her Summer reading project on this book. I thought it was really good.
May 9, 2013
Realistic/Historical Fiction
328 pgs
Laura Eboni Dyson is a 13 year old girl who is teased by her classmates. The only things that she wants in her life is for her classmates to stop teasing her for being overweight and to be noticed by Troy Bailey, the cute baseball star. Laura Eboni comes from a long line of Lauras, the Laura Line, and the first Laura's home, an old slave shack, is still on her grandmother's property. Laura hates the shack, and thinks it stands for bad things like shackles and death: Her grandmother insists that she's wrong. Grandma says that the shack is a monument to all the strong women in their family, and that the shack has only good things. When Laura's teacher schedules a trip to the shack, Laura is desperate to cancel it. However, she finds the true meaning of the shack and the Laura Line, and realizes that it's something to be proud of.
I really liked this book because it showed how generations of family can be connected, through life and death. Laura thinks that her heritage is something to be ashamed of, but it isn't. I think it's cool that her family keeps the Laura Ledger to show future Laura's all about the Laura Line. That way they can see who their ancestors were and all their accomplishments. I loved learning about the different Lauras and how each one did something different. The book really shows you how to honor your family's roots. Overall The Laura Line is a really great book that teaches you how important family is.
328 pgs
Laura Eboni Dyson is a 13 year old girl who is teased by her classmates. The only things that she wants in her life is for her classmates to stop teasing her for being overweight and to be noticed by Troy Bailey, the cute baseball star. Laura Eboni comes from a long line of Lauras, the Laura Line, and the first Laura's home, an old slave shack, is still on her grandmother's property. Laura hates the shack, and thinks it stands for bad things like shackles and death: Her grandmother insists that she's wrong. Grandma says that the shack is a monument to all the strong women in their family, and that the shack has only good things. When Laura's teacher schedules a trip to the shack, Laura is desperate to cancel it. However, she finds the true meaning of the shack and the Laura Line, and realizes that it's something to be proud of.
I really liked this book because it showed how generations of family can be connected, through life and death. Laura thinks that her heritage is something to be ashamed of, but it isn't. I think it's cool that her family keeps the Laura Ledger to show future Laura's all about the Laura Line. That way they can see who their ancestors were and all their accomplishments. I loved learning about the different Lauras and how each one did something different. The book really shows you how to honor your family's roots. Overall The Laura Line is a really great book that teaches you how important family is.
October 26, 2014
Crystal Allen's second novel is a hit! And in the main character, Laura's life, a "hit" in baseball is an important thing! Laura is an ace pitcher, has a crush on the cutest neighborhood boy, is a loyal best friend, and is uncertain about a shack in the backyard of her mother's house.
This novel takes readers on a journey with Laura through her contemporary 'tween' woes, back in time to the Laura Line--the line of women in her family that Laura knows nothing about until she finally enters the shack. During the journey, we meet other characters who Allen makes sure make mistakes and learn their own lessons along with Laura. Readers will adore, Sage, Grandma, Laura's teacher, Nathan (the hunk), and the Pink Chips. Reading this took me right back to middle school and to the many tough lessons we all experienced in those days.
Middle school readers need books like this--they need to know how our family histories can help us in modern days. They need to read about friendship, overcoming struggle, and bonding through difficulties. Crystal Allen, one of my new favorite authors, brings all of this to us, and we are lucky to have her work among us. This book and her other about Lamar are MUST-HAVES for any middle school library and/or classroom! Bravo, Crystal! Where's the next book already? I want more.
This novel takes readers on a journey with Laura through her contemporary 'tween' woes, back in time to the Laura Line--the line of women in her family that Laura knows nothing about until she finally enters the shack. During the journey, we meet other characters who Allen makes sure make mistakes and learn their own lessons along with Laura. Readers will adore, Sage, Grandma, Laura's teacher, Nathan (the hunk), and the Pink Chips. Reading this took me right back to middle school and to the many tough lessons we all experienced in those days.
Middle school readers need books like this--they need to know how our family histories can help us in modern days. They need to read about friendship, overcoming struggle, and bonding through difficulties. Crystal Allen, one of my new favorite authors, brings all of this to us, and we are lucky to have her work among us. This book and her other about Lamar are MUST-HAVES for any middle school library and/or classroom! Bravo, Crystal! Where's the next book already? I want more.
December 22, 2014
The Laura LineCrystal Allen
I just finished the Laura Line by Crystal Allen. I thought that it was pretty good.The Laura Line is about a girl named Laura who is bullied because she is fat and is called Fat Larda by most of her classmates except Sage who is also fat. Laura has to stay with her grandma for two weeks because her parents have to go to a meeting but she doesn't want to stay there. More problems arise and Laura must figure out what to do. I thought this book was okay. On a scale of 1 to 5, I would give this book a 4.
I just finished the Laura Line by Crystal Allen. I thought that it was pretty good.The Laura Line is about a girl named Laura who is bullied because she is fat and is called Fat Larda by most of her classmates except Sage who is also fat. Laura has to stay with her grandma for two weeks because her parents have to go to a meeting but she doesn't want to stay there. More problems arise and Laura must figure out what to do. I thought this book was okay. On a scale of 1 to 5, I would give this book a 4.
May 25, 2016
Read this review on my blog:The Book Return Blog
Laura is African-American and is ashamed of the shack and what it represents.I like the idea of this book, teaching children to appreciate their genealogy and the struggles of their ancestors . Also, it helps them understand who they are and helps builds their self-esteem.
This book fell well short of my expectations. It started out fairly interesting, with Laura going to stay with her grandmother's farm. Then the book began to get drawn out and repetitive (it took me way too long to finish). Added to this was the extensive use of such annoying phrases such as 'heck to the double no' .
In the end It was hard for me to believe that Laura would make such a full turnaround. Also,the end felt very unresolved and predictable.
My take is that this would be a good book to teach middle schoolers to appreciate where they come from and who they are . Other than that, I would probably give this a skip.
Laura is African-American and is ashamed of the shack and what it represents.I like the idea of this book, teaching children to appreciate their genealogy and the struggles of their ancestors . Also, it helps them understand who they are and helps builds their self-esteem.
This book fell well short of my expectations. It started out fairly interesting, with Laura going to stay with her grandmother's farm. Then the book began to get drawn out and repetitive (it took me way too long to finish). Added to this was the extensive use of such annoying phrases such as 'heck to the double no' .
In the end It was hard for me to believe that Laura would make such a full turnaround. Also,the end felt very unresolved and predictable.
My take is that this would be a good book to teach middle schoolers to appreciate where they come from and who they are . Other than that, I would probably give this a skip.
June 24, 2015
I would give this book a 4 or 5 for the subject matter and themes. I enjoyed a lot of things about it, particularly the Grandma character. But in crafting the story, the set up felt slow and I never really quite believed why Laura was SO adamant about hating the shack. Why wouldn't the family have made sure that she just grew up knowing it's history and importance? Some awkwardness in constructing the story...also the mean bully girls were just so stereotypical and a little too much in their Mean-Girls pink. I like knowing this solid book that will be a great recommendation for a reader looking for a strong girl character who is not defined by stereotypes or who can relate to girls struggling with friendships.
July 23, 2015
Recommendation from Allison. : ) I loved how Laura Eboni was so true to herself (re: her career aspirations) and to Sage (her BFF) and didn't let peer pressure drag her down. It was refreshing to see that she was savvy enough to understand the mean girls true intentions (although I'm not so sure that's actually typical of your average 7th grader...but I suppose the point is that Laura isn't an average 7th grader because she's part of the Laura Line). I loved her confidence and spunk. I felt like some of the dialogue was stilted. But maybe it's just current slang and it means I'm getting old. I liked the message of being part of something bigger than you (i.e. your family). I wish I could have given this 3.5 stars. For me, it wasn't quite to 4 stars, but I would recommend it to people.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2013
I read every middle grades book with African-American characters that I can find, in hopes of finding something that the kids at my library might connect to, but this does not fit the bill. The character of Laura definitely has a unique voice, but it rang a little false to me, with far too many catch-phrases scattered throughout the text. I don't know a lot of 13-year-old girls who say "heck" that often. (Granted, this may be because I live and work in an urban setting far, far away from Texas.) The author did a wonderful job with young Laura's character development, and the book was interesting enough to hold my attention for an evening.
March 24, 2013
Thanks to HarperCollins for providing an ARC at a publishers' book buzz.
A bit of a slow starter, but got more interesting once the main character starts discovering more of her family history. The stories of the Lauras and the empowerment they give are the clear strength of this book.
Typical mean classmates, crush, best friend issues dealt with in a predictable way. Likely comfortable and familiar for most kids, allowing them to focus on other aspects of the story. Laura's voice was strong but didn't feel unique to me.
Overall, good but not great.
A bit of a slow starter, but got more interesting once the main character starts discovering more of her family history. The stories of the Lauras and the empowerment they give are the clear strength of this book.
Typical mean classmates, crush, best friend issues dealt with in a predictable way. Likely comfortable and familiar for most kids, allowing them to focus on other aspects of the story. Laura's voice was strong but didn't feel unique to me.
Overall, good but not great.
November 15, 2013
Three and a half stars. Laura is the 13-year-old latest in a long line of Lauras, but has never been able to handle the shack on her grandmother's property--and so doesn't understand the legacy that the other Lauras (including her mother and grandmother) have passed down to her. Nice story with a good message about being who you are. The stuff with Troy was a little distracting--if he had just become a friend without all the "bestill my heart" stuff from Laura, he would have been a nice addition to the story. My 12-year-old loved it.
December 26, 2013
Great story. I enjoyed Laura's voice, with exception of using 'heck' in her vocabulary too much. Youth I work with in the age group this is written for do not use it and would be in big trouble with me if they did. I liked the way the crush was handled, not overdone. This is the next book I am choosing for my daughter's book club. I have been searching for some time for a book that teaches about the subject of American slavery that beams with pride because of the strength of those who endured. Great read!
March 28, 2014
i can't say that i would suggest any the adolescents i know read this book. i know kids that struggle with fitting in, weight issues, gender roles, and challenging family dynamics; but i felt like the narrator was disconnected from the tale. it read as if an older person was writing in a younger person voice instead of a young adult telling her own story. anne of avonlea painted in chocolate. i love anne with an e, but she doesnt pull the reader into the story the way a bluford series novel would.
April 8, 2014
i think Laura and i are the opposite of each..not only physically but on the way we think
At first, i think Laura is the kind of girl who likes to be notice a lot and i was not mistaken. Still, at her age any girl likes to be noticed and appreciated.
The Laura Line intrigues me a little but i wish there'd be more mysteries on it (and more back stories)
The one thing that had grab my interest was actually the cover art and the title (Great job for the artist). i expected more mysteries and thrilling findings which the cover had promised but i don't think the story justifies..
At first, i think Laura is the kind of girl who likes to be notice a lot and i was not mistaken. Still, at her age any girl likes to be noticed and appreciated.
The Laura Line intrigues me a little but i wish there'd be more mysteries on it (and more back stories)
The one thing that had grab my interest was actually the cover art and the title (Great job for the artist). i expected more mysteries and thrilling findings which the cover had promised but i don't think the story justifies..
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