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The Line Tender

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The Line Tender
Kate Allen
Dutton Children’s Books, 2019. Fiction, pp. 371

Twelve year old Lucy is no stranger to sadness. In the years following her marine biologist mother’s death, she deals with another tragedy that sets in motion a course of events that unfold on the pages of “The Line Tender.” Unlike her mother, Lucy is not a scientist—she’s an artist. And yet she finds an irresistible pull to learn more about her mother’s unfinished research into shark habits. Through the pages of this book, Lucy finds comfort and solace in her community, learns more about her mother and what drove her to do her research, and comes to terms with growing up.

“The Line Tender” is a moving and emotional portrayal of the strange stage between being a kid and being a teenager, with a healthy dose of marine life. Lucy’s confusion about the different events in her life signals a shift from being little to being grown—a shift that everyone seems to understand besides her. But her dance on the precipice of her childhood is balanced with her unyielding enthusiasm to her mother’s work, and to understanding the woman she doesn’t really remember, but who she wishes was still here. To add to the beautiful story, chapters are delineated with lovely drawings of sharks.

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