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The Line

(The Line #1)

Teri Hall (Goodreads Author)

3.45 · Rating details · 6,983 ratings · 827 reviews

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 superhumans live on the other side, in Away. Nobody except tough old Ms. Moore would ever live next to the Line.

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Hardcover, 219 pages

Published March 4th 2010 by Dial Books (first published February 26th 2010)

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· 6,983 ratings · 827 reviews

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Dec 14, 2009 Kim rated it did not like it

Shelves: ebook, did-not-like-it, dystopian-fiction, read-in-2011, young-adult, abandoned

TBR Reduce Challenge #4 - 2011 (Lora)

My summary for this book:

I recommend this to anybody who has trouble sleeping and/or with their orchids.

*sighs* ...more

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Jun 13, 2010 Bry rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2010, young-adult, dystopian

"The Line took me 'away' in one page-turning gulp. Hall's writing is seamless, smooth, and compelling..." Review by Mary Pearson

What book was she reading and where can I get a copy of it?? At the very least tell me which single page took her away because for most of the book I was still waiting for some sort of action to arise out of the multitude of pages that consisted of nothing but info dumps poorly masked as history lessons for the main character. And finally when the action really did get "The Line took me 'away' in one page-turning gulp. Hall's writing is seamless, smooth, and compelling..." Review by Mary Pearson

What book was she reading and where can I get a copy of it?? At the very least tell me which single page took her away because for most of the book I was still waiting for some sort of action to arise out of the multitude of pages that consisted of nothing but info dumps poorly masked as history lessons for the main character. And finally when the action really did get under way (around page 180 of 220) and I totally got into the plot THE BOOK ENDED. (Yes, all publishers seem to want series or at least trilogies so they can milk them for every penny they are worth but at least make the books full length and not just 220 pages with no ending whatsoever.) Seriously the cliffhanger totally pissed me off, and it wasn't even about the main character but a secondary character that I cared for much more than Rachel. Just when I was interested it was over.

The writing is seamless? Smooth? Compelling?

REALLY?

More like choppy. Juvenile. Boring.

You have a main character so sheltered she barely speaks to more than 3 people for the majority of her life. Her mother whose past makes her wanted by the government but instead of teaching her child to fit in, not makes waves, etc teaches her all about the corruptness and injustices. Does she want Rachel to get arrested???

You get a plot that while not original is different since it applies to a country modeled after the US - making a nation whose foundation is based on individual freedoms into a martial law type government after near world destruction from world wide wars. But instead of taking this idea of a future dystopia and making it succeed like The Hunger Games you get a a book full of potential that fails to deliver.

Also, I needed a freaking map to explain the geography to me! The US was the only country name that was familiar (except I didn't realize for most of the book that whenever they said the U.S. they weren't referring to the United Stated but the Unified States!) Furthermore, the Line consisted of coastline, forest, and seemed like every terrain in the US, so what part of the country was it actually surrounding?? The called the area outside of the Line 'Away' (and was supposedly affected by weapons of mass destruction) yet all the foreign countries were outside the Line yet weren't affected like 'Away' was. So were they really far away from 'Away'? Do you see how confusing this is?! I feel like I am playing Who's on First with a book!!

Who knows maybe I went into this book with the wrong mindset, or expecting to much, or....I don't know. I really thought I would love it but that just didn't happen. I have to read the second book in the series though (since it will actually be like the end of the first book) because I really want to know what happens. So annoying. The plot didn't grab my interest till the end but now I am hooked. (Yeah, yeah, you win Mr. Publisher man - but I still won't buy it! Yay for libraries!)

Basically this book had so much potential that I want to rate it higher based on that alone. The plot ended with so many posibilities, but because of the lack of characterization and setting detail (oh and lets not forget the agonizing info dumps) I just couldn't give it 3 stars.

My review in one word: Disappointment. ...more

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Apr 27, 2010 Amanda rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya, social-issues, dystopian, middle-school

It's not like there was anything wrong with this book. There just wasn't anything right, either. The writing is really clunky (I am pretty sure some of these paragraphs were "what not to do" examples in my high school creative writing textbooks). The characters are flat and boring. Plus, Hall does that annoying thing where she unnecessarily makes up words to sound more sci-fi ("digim" for "picture," "creds" for "dollars"). Made-up words do not create an interesting world all by themselves. Overa ...more

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Oct 12, 2016 Tink Magoo is bad at reviews marked it as did-not-finish

Shelves: young-adult, dystopian-post-apocalyptic

Really slow (like a Sloth), kinda boring (skimmed to 80% and still not a great deal was going on), the writing was also hard work to get through, so it's a DNF at 18% for me. ...more

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Feb 23, 2010 Jeffrey Baird rated it it was ok

The Line is a young adult dystopian novel set in the futuristic nation of The Unified States. Rachel lives with her mom Vivian on “The Property.” A piece of land owned by Elizabeth Moore that borders the infamous “Line”, an invisible and impassable defense border built by the government. The people that live on the other side serve as boogie man figures for children in the US and the media circulates stories of “the others” committing crimes.

While Teri Hall managed to create an imaginative world ...more

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Jul 09, 2009 Miss Clark rated it it was ok

Shelves: adventure, history-culture

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Part of the 2010 Debut Author Challenge

2.5 stars (Reads like the first half of a single book, not the first book in a series.)

It was better than I had expected it to be after encountering some less favorable reviews. They were mostly concerned with plot and such.

Evil, corrupt tyrannical government set in a futuristic society? Check.
No rights and obscene, excessive taxes? Check
Girl who will somehow bring about the collapse of this unjust regime and inspire a rebellion? Check.

So, clearly we have a Part of the 2010 Debut Author Challenge

2.5 stars (Reads like the first half of a single book, not the first book in a series.)

It was better than I had expected it to be after encountering some less favorable reviews. They were mostly concerned with plot and such.

Evil, corrupt tyrannical government set in a futuristic society? Check.
No rights and obscene, excessive taxes? Check
Girl who will somehow bring about the collapse of this unjust regime and inspire a rebellion? Check.

So, clearly we have all the makings of a dystopian society set in an America years ahead, with all the other countries having different names and borders. To ensure the safety of America's own borders from ground invasion following the passage of international laws making nuclear/missile weapons illegal, the government of the U.S. created a force field around the states and anyone who happened to be on the other side got abandoned there when a neighboring country threw some radioactive weapons at the US. Lots of people died and those that did not ended up gaining some strange abilities down through the generations. (You cannot have radioactive weapons without genetic mutation and super powers. It is some unwritten rule.)

The maps? What are they and why are they so important? How does Pathik know Daniel? Is Daniel still alive? Was not very invested in the fate of the characters, more plot driven. I'll probably pick up the next book to see what happens, but if it is dragged on any farther, I'm out. Publishers need to stop milking stories for more than they have to give.

Cover deserves a mention though because it is a lovely one. It fits the story (the greenhouse being an essential building that figures into the story frequently)and the lighting gives an appropriately mysterious and spooky feel. The font, sparse, thin and rigid speaks volumes, as does the line running down. A cover that fits the book, enhances the attraction of the book and after reading it I was not confused by the cover or feel misled. ...more

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May 30, 2009 Kristi rated it liked it

If you asked me if I'm a fan a dystopian fiction, I'd tell you no. Yet everything time I read a dystopian novel, I end up loving it.... maybe I am just in denial.

The Line is a very diverting novel. Maybe I'm just a dystopian newbie, but the whole concept was very intriguing. The first part of the novel was a little slow for me, the introduction of the characters, the explanation of the world. Don't let that slow start stop you from reading the rest of the novel, because you will be disappointed ...more

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Oct 07, 2011 Reynje rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Unfortunately for me, The Line was a definite case of a premise I loved, and execution that I did not.

Despite it’s recent glutting with offerings (some better than others), dystopia is still a genre I love. Because amid the lacklustre, the poorly conceived, and frankly absurd, every now and then I find a YA dystopian novel that completely blows me away.

This book was not one of them.

The Line takes some familiar aspects: a divided and reconstructed former US, war, heavy restrictions on citizens, Unfortunately for me, The Line was a definite case of a premise I loved, and execution that I did not.

Despite it’s recent glutting with offerings (some better than others), dystopia is still a genre I love. Because amid the lacklustre, the poorly conceived, and frankly absurd, every now and then I find a YA dystopian novel that completely blows me away.

This book was not one of them.

The Line takes some familiar aspects: a divided and reconstructed former US, war, heavy restrictions on citizens, and adds a sinister slant in the form of the invisible barrier that separates the Unified States from Away. Away is rumoured to be populated by the bizarre and superhuman victims of weapons used during the conflict. The Line ostensibly keeps these unacknowledged beings out, while locking citizens in.

The story revolves largely around three female characters, each of a different generation, who live on The Property that backs onto the Line. Vivian and her daughter Rachel have sought the relative safety of isolation after the death of Vivian’s husband, while their employer Mrs Moore harbours secrets of her own.

It was a concept that piqued my interested (*cough* along with the gorgeous cover), yet my initial enthusiasm waned fairly quickly. As with most readers, I have certain preferences when it comes to writing style. That’s not to say that I’m not open to new things, but I know generally what works for me. This didn’t. The writing is clinical and somewhat formal, keeping the reader distant. As a result, I simply could not engage with the characters at all. At the end of the novel, I still feel like I have no real idea who they are, what they’re like as people. Hall frequently tells us what emotions they are experiencing, but at no point did I actually feel this for myself. There was something rather methodical and detached about the manner of storytelling in this case.

Also, to put it bluntly, not a lot actually happens in this book.(view spoiler) This makes me think that the perhaps the purpose here was to build an incredible amount of tension and suspense through a deceptively slow-paced plot and a richly realised atmosphere of menace, keeping readers on their mental toes and unsure of what to expect. That’s all well and good, but there is a fine line between achieving this and.. not. To be completely honest, I spent a large portion of this book feeling vaguely bored and wishing something more would happen.

Despite this, and without spoiling the ending, there is some hope that things may get more interesting in the sequel. I’m keen to see some of the elements that initially drew me to this book be further developed, and I hope this is the case in Away.

Finally, my favourite thing about The Line? “Sheep-cats.” Is that not the coolest thing you’ve heard all day?

Sheep-cats.
...more

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Aug 28, 2018 Cheryl rated it liked it

Book 1 of 3 in a Young Adult dystopian series. The title refers to an uncrossable section of the National Border Defense System, an invisible barrier that encloses the entire United States in the future. The first 30% of this book was a bit awkwardly written, with alot of info dumps about how the Line and the totalitarian government that controls it came to be. The story does pick up, though, and did turn into a compelling read. It does have a cliff hanger ending, so you'll have to read the next ...more

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Jan 20, 2010 Emily rated it really liked it

The Line is a clever mix of dystopian fiction, the paranormal, a slight dash of romance, and a bunch of important lessons- it's a good way to pass the time while we all wait for the third Hunger Games book to come out.

I will say this- The Line takes awhile to get started. It starts off as a fairly typical (if there is such a thing) dystopian novel- the U.S. barely won an all out nuclear war and deals with the huge amounts of collateral damage by enforcing draconian laws, taxes, and punishments. The Line is a clever mix of dystopian fiction, the paranormal, a slight dash of romance, and a bunch of important lessons- it's a good way to pass the time while we all wait for the third Hunger Games book to come out.

I will say this- The Line takes awhile to get started. It starts off as a fairly typical (if there is such a thing) dystopian novel- the U.S. barely won an all out nuclear war and deals with the huge amounts of collateral damage by enforcing draconian laws, taxes, and punishments. Rachel Quillen and her mom, Vivian, live outside of town on The Property, a large parcel of land complete with greenhouse (hence the cover) that's owned by Ms. Moore, Vivian's boss and Rachel's teacher when it comes to growing orchids. Rachel is a likeable enough character- her mom warns her constantly to be vigilant and to think for herself, but Rachel never really understands why.

All that changes when Rachel makes some discoveries about her mom's past, her dad's history, and the truth of what lays on the other side of The Line, which is the boundary between the supposedly safe area and Away, the supposedly vast nuclear wasteland. This is the point in the story (about halfway) where The Line undergoes a transformation and becomes a unique book. Rachel has to make some tough choices and encounters that moment that we all go through when we realize that our parents are not perfect; the secondary characters (especially the Others) get a good share of the attention and their experiences and positions definitely stoked my interest in the next installment, since this is the first book in a series. On an unrelated note, I thought the explanations of the history behind the current political situation in the book were really interesting and, because they took the form of dialogue between Rachel and her mom, didn't bog the story down, which is always nice. A lot of thought obviously went into creating a realistic backstory for the politics and regulations of the world the story is set in.

My main criticism of the book is that the pacing of the book is just a little bit off- we get a whole lot of establishment in the beginning of the book that basically presents the themes of the book, one after the other. Then there's almost a pause, and the action of the story picked up dramatically. I think I would have appreciated a more thorough blending of the two elements. Granted, I read an uncorrected proof and perhaps there are some differences between that and the final product, but the pacing was one thing that stood out in my mind.

With that said, The Line is a good start in what certainly seems to be a promising series. I'm definitely on board for future installments and am excited to find out what happens with the Others and Rachel in the next book.

Overall Grade: B+

Read more reviews at What Book is That?

I will say this- The Line takes awhile to get started. It starts off as a fairly typical (if there is such a thing) dystopian novel- the U.S. barely won an all out nuclear war and deals with the huge amounts of collateral damage by enforcing draconian laws, taxes, and punishments. Rachel Quillen and her mom, Vivian, live outside of town on The Property, a large parcel of land complete with greenhouse (hence the cover) that's owned by Ms. Moore, Vivian's boss and Rachel's teacher when it comes to growing orchids. Rachel is a likeable enough character- her mom warns her constantly to be vigilant and to think for herself, but Rachel never really understands why.

All that changes when Rachel makes some discoveries about her mom's past, her dad's history, and the truth of what lays on the other side of The Line, which is the boundary between the supposedly safe area and Away, the supposedly vast nuclear wasteland. This is the point in the story (about halfway) where The Line undergoes a transformation and becomes a unique book. Rachel has to make some tough choices and encounters that moment that we all go through when we realize that our parents are not perfect; the secondary characters (especially the Others) get a good share of the attention and their experiences and positions definitely stoked my interest in the next installment, since this is the first book in a series. On an unrelated note, I thought the explanations of the history behind the current political situation in the book were really interesting and, because they took the form of dialogue between Rachel and her mom, didn't bog the story down, which is always nice. A lot of thought obviously went into creating a realistic backstory for the politics and regulations of the world the story is set in.

My main criticism of the book is that the pacing of the book is just a little bit off- we get a whole lot of establishment in the beginning of the book that basically presents the themes of the book, one after the other. Then there's almost a pause, and the action of the story picked up dramatically. I think I would have appreciated a more thorough blending of the two elements. Granted, I read an uncorrected proof and perhaps there are some differences between that and the final product, but the pacing was one thing that stood out in my mind.

With that said, The Line is a good start in what certainly seems to be a promising series. I'm definitely on board for future installments and am excited to find out what happens with the Others and Rachel in the next book. ...more

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Jul 12, 2009 Jennifer Wardrip marked it as to-read

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews, series-bk-1, teen, kindle-can-buy, library-bloomington, apocalyptic-dystopian

Reviewed by Karin Librarian for TeensReadToo.com

Rachel has lived on The Property since before she can remember. Her mother works for Ms. Moore, the owner, as a housekeeper of the large house. Rachel enjoys living far from town and away from the strong governmental control most other people must suffer. People living in towns deal with unfair and random taxes and, when they can't pay, are taken to jail.

Most people would hate living on The Property because it backs up to The Line, a small section Reviewed by Karin Librarian for TeensReadToo.com

Rachel has lived on The Property since before she can remember. Her mother works for Ms. Moore, the owner, as a housekeeper of the large house. Rachel enjoys living far from town and away from the strong governmental control most other people must suffer. People living in towns deal with unfair and random taxes and, when they can't pay, are taken to jail.

Most people would hate living on The Property because it backs up to The Line, a small section of the National Border Defense System that separates the people of the Unified States from Away and the Others. The Line is an invisible barrier that can only be crossed if the government grants permission and deactivates The Line.

Rachel doesn't feel fear when she thinks of Away. She even tried to cross it once, but simply bounced back from The Line and landed flat on her back.

Rachel's quiet life is turned upside down when two things happen.

First, she finds a battered digital voice recorder with a partial message requesting help. Then, during a trip to town with her mother for the weekly supplies, they witness the arrest of a woman her mother recognizes.

Rachel discovers she doesn't know her mother as well as she thought she did, that Ms. Moore has some unbelievable secrets, and the Away and the Others are closer than she thinks. She must use her wits and bravery to get through a dangerous and exciting time in order to save an important historical document and people she doesn't even know.

THE LINE by Teri Hall is a fascinating dystopian novel full of strong female characters and a dark, creepy plot. The end, while a bit abrupt, is satisfying. Readers will definitely want to read more about the adventures Rachel is sure to find. The author leaves the story completely open for a sequel, and I for one can't wait to read it.

The synopsis isn't the only thing I found intriguing about THE LINE. Just take a look at the cover and tell me you don't want to read it! Fantastic art choice! ...more

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Nov 13, 2009 Donald rated it liked it

Shelves: goodreads-giveaways, 2009

I've been selected as an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) reader through Goodreads. Exciting, huh? I received it in the mail on November 21st of 2009. The cover states that it is "Advance, Uncorrected Proof, Not For Resale."

The back cover synopsis for this novel lured me in; it did its job nicely.

The story concept—about the people associated with The Property, which is on the inside of the US (Unified States) border—sounds pretty cool. The border—or Line—is a force-field like barrier keeping the citize ...more

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Nov 18, 2015 Alisi ☆ wants to read too many books ☆ rated it did not like it

Shelves: rue-the-day-you-learned-to-read, dnf, arg-the-prose-hurth-me-eyes

This is the first book, in a very very long time, that I am DNF'ing because of the prose and not story. It's just so terrible. The repetitiveness of the prose is so terrible. (See wut I did thar? ;)) The telling is even worse.

Why the hell did the author feel the need to repeat the MCs name over and over and over and (I know you're giving me side eyes for being dramatic, but I'm not) over again. In one paragraph, in a single paragraph of reasonable length (aka, not James Joyce or even single pag ...more

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Jun 07, 2010 Becca Lee rated it liked it

I had high hopes for the book, I LOVE dystopianesque (is that even a word?) books. The book is extremely gripping with its “mesmerizing prose.” A review from Mary E. Pearson (Adoration of Jenna Fox) says, “The Line took me ‘away’ in one page-turning gulp. Hall’s writing is seamless, smooth, and compelling – I can’t wait for the next installment. This is a new author to keep an eye on.” I couldn’t agree with her more. I am anxiously awaiting book two and I found myself extremely satisfied yet wan ...more

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Dec 26, 2011 Donna rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, dystopian, post-apocalyptic

THE LINE is almost all pure set-up for something more to come. It made for a rather dull read. The concept is intriguing but the execution left me wanting more.

The story takes place almost entirely on this property that contained a mansion of some kind, a guest house, and a greenhouse. There are orchids in the greenhouse that Rachel helps take care of, so required by Ms Moore, the crotchety property owner who’s obviously hiding something. It’s told in third person limited and alternates POVs bet THE LINE is almost all pure set-up for something more to come. It made for a rather dull read. The concept is intriguing but the execution left me wanting more.

The story takes place almost entirely on this property that contained a mansion of some kind, a guest house, and a greenhouse. There are orchids in the greenhouse that Rachel helps take care of, so required by Ms Moore, the crotchety property owner who’s obviously hiding something. It’s told in third person limited and alternates POVs between Rachel, her mother, and once or twice, Ms Moore but it’s told in this storyteller sort of way that really detached me from everything that was going on. I had a hard time pinpointing Rachel’s age because she came off so incredibly young and naive. She comes off as maybe 11 or 12 but I think she may be closer to 18 based on her mother’s conversations about college. There was just such a distance there that nothing really stuck with me.

There was a good chunk of ‘as you know, Bob” infodumping going on in regard to how the US ended up in its current situation in the guise of a pop quiz sort of situation. What really irked me about the world, though, was the terminology. It was just so . . . lazy. There was a corder, as in REcorder. Instead of the United States it’s the Unified States. There were multiple instances of this and I just couldn’t help rolling my eyes at each one. It’s different without effort and that really bothers me. As someone who puts a lot of stock in world-building, even when you’re deconstructing today’s society, put some freakin’ effort into it.

Not a whole lot really happens in this first book of the series. It’s just setting up what’s to come in subsequent books and it feels like all this information I got in THE LINE could have been dispersed in other books. Plus there wasn’t a lot of room for Rachel to grow as a character. She’s so tightly controlled by her mother and Ms Moore that she doesn’t have the opportunity to grow until the very end when she’s left to fend for herself. And by this time I’m already lost to the book.

This is a quiet book that I really haven’t heard anything about. I can’t even remember reading much about it when it came out so I don’t know if it gets better or not. But THE LINE was lackluster and kind of a let-down as far as the blurb goes. The moment in the blurb about finding the message? Happens about 85% of the way into the book. So . . . yeah. All set-up, no action, very little real story.

2.5 ...more

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Mar 13, 2010 Cassandra Moore rated it it was amazing

Another enjoyable book! At first the story is slightly confusing with the terms of Teri Hall's society; terms like "Away" and "the Others." It's a dystopian novel which I absolutely adore ever since I read the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld. The story is told in third person, mostly by following Rachel, but sometimes following her mom or Ms. Moore. The pace is superb despite getting used to the terms they use for things. The plot is similar to most dystopian novels. There's a society which wa ...more

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Sep 09, 2009 Allison rated it liked it

Shelves: ya-teen, dystopian

This book got 3 stars mostly because I'm getting mad at books that are obviously written to be the first installment in a series. I mean those books that end on cliff hangers, as if they're a mini-series on TV. There is a way to write a book with an ending that feels satisfying as an ending and still have it be part of a series, and still have your reader dying to see what the next installment is about. Too many YA books these days seem to be composed as if the author is imagining what the story ...more

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Feb 26, 2012 Tomoe Hotaru rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult, coulda-been-better, dystopian, zzzzzzz, post-apocalyptic

I wouldn't say this book was so bad I felt like throwing my iPad across the room, but it was just. so. boring. It's a pity because it had so much promise. Oppressive government, media-dictated society, isolation from other countries, unknown beings scattered outside the borders, covert rebellions budding up from the inside? It had everything that could've made an intense, mysterious, action-filled adventure.

What it came across as, if I could put a name on it, would be fantasy drama. Imagine Harr ...more

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Aug 28, 2011 Melissa rated it really liked it

The Line is categorized as a YA (young adult) novel. With that being said my qualifications on the content are less critical than a book that is geared towards a more mature reader. However, I really don't have any criticisms of this book other than the slower start to lure me in. I'd say I wasn't fully invested in the story until page 70 or so, which was about a third of the way through. But from that point on the story kept building, the tension continued to mount until the final page that lef The Line is categorized as a YA (young adult) novel. With that being said my qualifications on the content are less critical than a book that is geared towards a more mature reader. However, I really don't have any criticisms of this book other than the slower start to lure me in. I'd say I wasn't fully invested in the story until page 70 or so, which was about a third of the way through. But from that point on the story kept building, the tension continued to mount until the final page that left me wanting to know moreand to go further on this journey with the characters. Luckily there was a 7 or 8 page 'tickler' of the next book included.

Although on a different scope, I consider this book a combination of a dystopian society following a mini post-apocalyptic event. Government is in control to the extreme for the U.S. (now referred to as the Unified States), news and propaganda are filtered and changed before being fed out to society. DNA is recorded at birth as a means of keeping track of people. The list of government rules goes on and on, however there is a region of people who are not under this control. They are the Others who inhabit the land on the other side of the Line. They are Away. The Line is a means of border control, keeps people out and keeps people in. The people the Line is keeping, or kept, out though were it's own citizens. Now after many years of being cut off, barely surviving, a young boy makes his way to the Line in order to see if he can communicate with someone on the other side in order to get medicine for his sick and dying father. That's where this story takes off.

Barriers have always existed in our past, continue in our present, so this barrier in the story isn't hard to believe there is a sense of reality. The Berlin Wall, Japanese segregation camps after the Pearl Harbor attack, apartheid in South Africa are all examples of barriers. They seem apalling to us, but at one time they made perfect sense to someone otherwise they would not have existed. And so the Line exists too.

The Line in my opinion represents fear. Fear then builds upon itself and becomes an entity. What would happen if one of the Others crossed over or vice versa? You'll have to read to find out for yourself. ...more

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Jun 17, 2009 Steph Su rated it it was ok

Recommends it for: fans of Margaret Peterson Haddix

Shelves: debs10, dystopian-fantasy

THE LINE is an intriguing but unfortunately very slow start to what could be a great and unique series. It’s extremely hard for me to pass judgment on this book on account of its “first in a series” symptoms. If you have a patient love for dystopian literature, you might really enjoy this book…unless you put it down first due to its slow pace and youngish writing style.

Teri Hall has created a scarily believable dystopian world where the government has taken on a whole new type of authority and p THE LINE is an intriguing but unfortunately very slow start to what could be a great and unique series. It’s extremely hard for me to pass judgment on this book on account of its “first in a series” symptoms. If you have a patient love for dystopian literature, you might really enjoy this book…unless you put it down first due to its slow pace and youngish writing style.

Teri Hall has created a scarily believable dystopian world where the government has taken on a whole new type of authority and people must abide by these strict laws or else risk their lives. The idea of living behind a boundary, forbidden to even wonder at what lies on the other side, can be seen as a metaphoric manifestation of a child’s struggle between staying safe by his/her guardians’ rules or venturing out to learn on one’s own, sometimes breaking serious rules along the way. This comparison is subtle but will likely make THE LINE appeal most to late elementary/middle school readers, who will be enthralled by this dystopian world and not put off by the way the story is told.

Indeed, the story is unfortunately quite slow and often not flavorful enough to make it truly stand out among others in its genre. The first two-thirds of the book is spent slowly explaining the state of their world via long-winded and stationary dialogues, with few discernable scenes that contribute to the plot instead of the background information. And the “turning point”—Rachel’s discovery of the message for help—really doesn’t kick the story into action either. I’ll concede that what we glimpse of the Others is fascinating and will surely make this book’s sequel, AWAY, an interesting read. However, too much time is spent on world-building, and not nearly enough on the development of the actual story.

Ultimately, readers may find THE LINE lacking in aspects of plot, and elementary in its telling-instead-of-showing writing style. However, this book will surely find its audience in young fans of Margaret Peterson Haddix, for it is truly an intriguing concept. ...more

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Sep 18, 2009 Brittany rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, part-of-a-series

Rachel and her mother live on The Property and have for a long time. The Property is right next to The Line (a border to keep the U.S. separate from Away) but none of the government frequents out to this section of the border. Rachel didn't grow up with other kids but her mom has not kept her in the dark about the way things really are in the world. Rachel reads many articles about the mutants and other horrors that live in Away and though Await fascinates her it also scares her. She never gives Rachel and her mother live on The Property and have for a long time. The Property is right next to The Line (a border to keep the U.S. separate from Away) but none of the government frequents out to this section of the border. Rachel didn't grow up with other kids but her mom has not kept her in the dark about the way things really are in the world. Rachel reads many articles about the mutants and other horrors that live in Away and though Await fascinates her it also scares her. She never gives it too much thought until she hears a recording that could only be from someone on the other side of The Line. The recording says that they need help.

This was a great book and I just wanted to keep reading until the end. Unfortunately this book doesn't really end, which means there will be a sequel which is exciting but also really frustrating because I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! It is one of those books, the ones that leave you wanting more. I don't know what to say but I really enjoyed this novel. I loved the idea of this book; an almost dystopian novel which is a cross between M. Night Shyamalan's The Village and Orwell's 1984. They were pretty much only permitted to stay in their section of the world and the government was this big scary creature that was covering up it's mistakes and sending out propaganda. It was a little weird how well adapted Rachel was when she didn't grow up with much social interaction besides her mother and there were no other children. I like all the talk in the greenhouse. This book helps you glimpse into the excitement of breeding plants a little. The writing style flows nicely and keeps you zipping right through the story. The characters are very nicely developed and all pretty like-able. I say read it, but hopefully she comes out with the sequel soon because really, I can't stand the wait.

First Line:
"It seemed to Rachel that she had always lived on The Property, though this wasn't true."
Favorite Line:
"Vivian's voice was low, but as hard as the grip she had on her daughter's wrist." ...more

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Jan 12, 2011 Jan rated it really liked it

Shelves: teenbooks

Summary: A dystopia projecting what might happen if the US builds a defense wall (The Line) around the country. A war with another country interferes before the wall is complete and an area of the country is left undefended. The inhabitants are exposed to bio-weapons and are now considered contaminated. The new repressive government forbids contact with them. Rumors swirl about what has happened to them…are they now mutated monsters? Rachel lives with her mother near The Line and one day meets o ...more

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May 29, 2009 Lauren rated it really liked it

Even before reading The Line, I just knew it had the possibility to be destined for great things. The cover? Creepy yet intriguing. The premise? Creative and had the probability to go in a lot of directions. Sadly, while I did enjoy The Line quite a bit, the execution of the said premise fell a little too flat, in my opinion.

The characters were one of the most rewarding aspects of the story. Since, I admired Rachel, the main character, for always being strong and doing what she thought was righ ...more

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Jul 11, 2020 BookishStitcher rated it liked it

3.5 stars

The beginning of the Line trilogy. Due to a horrible war, a line has been drawn people from the fallout are trapped on one side with little to no resources and people on the other side are under strict military rule with no freedoms. A mother has kept her past from her daughter, while raising her alone with the father maybe alive maybe dead on the fallout side. The past comes back when the daughters encounters a strange boy and must decide how much courage she has to do the right thing.

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Aug 20, 2009 Laura Lulu rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, dystopia

I am giving this 3 stars based on it's potential--it really only deserves 2, but I will read the sequel, so I'll throw a bone and give it three.

This book was only 220 pages of large print, and it ended right when the action started. That's not a cliffhanger, that's a book cut in half. I appreciate the popularity of trilogies & series--I'm a fan myself--but this was a novella.

Also, the writing was amateurish, especially the dialogue. Mom & teenage daughter shopping: "Mom, this fish is going to be ...more

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Aug 07, 2009 Ab rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-ness, post-apocalyptic-futuristic

Buy at left-bank.com
This book reminded me of "House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer, "The Giver" by Lois Lowry, and "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld. If you like those, you'll like this.

It's about a girl who lives in the U.S. (that's "Unified States") years after the Line was set up to keep people in and out. A bomb was dropped during a war that the U.S. really was the bad guy in, though the textbooks and "official" stories have all been changed (sound familiar?), and the radiation caused them to ...more

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Dec 02, 2009 Abby Johnson rated it really liked it

Shelves: blogged

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 sc ...more

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Apr 21, 2010 April*procrastinator and proud* rated it liked it

Shelves: cool-i-dea, series, books-that-killed-my-brain

Okay... I did write a review for this book where I said it was worth a read but..... NO IT ISN'T.
*sigh* Now that I've gotten that out of my system....
The writing wasn't very good (needed more emotion) the characters were bland and the main chick.... i REALLY didn't know what her age was.... HOW OLD WAS SHE! Sometimes I thought she was 16... then i was absolutely convinced she was 10.... then maybe around the 17-ish range... It was all just very confusing for my poor little brain.... ...more

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May 07, 2012 Erikka rated it liked it

Shelves: sci-fi, 2016, dystopia

Meh. If you want to learn about orchid growing and a really long history of a made-up war, this book is totally for you. Looking for a well written and well developed dystopia with relatable characters and a captivating plot? Might recommend looking elsewhere.

But you know. Orchids.

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Jan 30, 2015 Woff rated it did not like it

Shelves: couldn-t-finish

As I was getting to the end and groaning about how awful this was, my girlfriend said "it's never too late to stop reading a bad book". I stopped. ...more

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Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Around the Year i...: The Line, by Teri Hall	1	7	Mar 21, 2019 07:08AM
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. A girl Rachel & her mom Vivian live in a place called the United Border with an invisible, unbreakable border. Her dad went to war years ago & never returned. During a nuclear war, gvt. turned on the border, separating families. Spoilers ahead. [s]	6	68	Jan 27, 2018 02:10PM
WHO ELSE CRIED DURING THIS BOOK???????????	1	19	Dec 15, 2011 05:28PM
Win a copy of The Line!	9	31	Oct 29, 2011 07:12PM

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About Teri Hall

Teri Hall

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Read the first chapter of The Line on my website! www.terihall.com The sequel, Away, is out now! The Island, the third book in the trilogy, is also out! ...more