The Line Tender

Shed some tears with this one though the sad bits were nicely balanced with comforting and uplifting moments.

It should probably be noted that there are some postmortem scenes involving sharks that may be a bit much for some readers however those moments are very much about science, the necessity of the work these biologists do and it’s also an important part of Lucy’s story arc/grieving process as a fascination with and respect for sharks ties in to two losses in this young girl’s life.

I adored Lucy from page one, to have one tragedy followed by another my heart broke for her but the book did a truly lovely job of mending it, giving Lucy a school project to pour her soul into, a bittersweet little love story, and so many show more memorable side characters, the trio of men who take Lucy on a road trip, the neighbors who are like family and enduring their own emotional test, an encouraging teacher, etc., all of whom were crafted with an impressive depth, providing a strong sense of community for Lucy that movingly aids in her healing just as she aids in theirs. show less

Lucy and her childhood friend/next door neighbor Fred are exploring their ocean-side Massachusetts town over the summer for local marine wildlife to put in their extracurricular field guide- their rule is they can only include a creature if they see it. Fred is the scientist, and Lucy is a talented illustrator. Her mother was a prominent marine biologist and Great White shark expert who died of a brain aneurysm 5 years ago.

This book is a very real portrayal of grief, both fresh and old, and how it doesn’t always matter how long it’s been since a loss for it to hurt. The tone is melancholic, but told from Lucy’s point of view it’s also very simplistic and straight forward. She’s learning to carry a heavy weight, and her father show more and community of neighbors help her carry it. The book also provides a very real insight into the dangers and realities of underage drinking, namely that it will not be strangers trying to pressure you, but instead is a choice Lucy and Fred make because people they love and admire are doing it too, and it seems so fun.

Each chapter begins with a different illustration of a shark, which helps bring the field guide to life. show less

Wherever the sharks led, Lucy Everhart’s marine-biologist mother was sure to follow. In fact, she was on a boat far off the coast of Massachusetts, preparing to swim with a Great White, when she died suddenly. Lucy was eight. Since then Lucy and her father have done OK—thanks in large part to her best friend, Fred, and a few close friends and neighbors. But June of her twelfth summer brings more than the end of school and a heat wave to sleepy Rockport. On one steamy day, the tide brings a Great White—and then another tragedy, cutting short a friendship everyone insists was “meaningful” but no one can tell Lucy what it all meant. To survive the fresh wave of grief, Lucy must grab the line that connects her depressed father, a show more stubborn fisherman, and a curious old widower to her mother’s unfinished research. If Lucy can find a way to help this unlikely quartet follow the sharks her mother loved, she’ll finally be able to look beyond what she’s lost and toward what’s left to be discovered. show less

This was a quiet book about loss, grief, and growing up. Grief is difficult to understand and process, but Allen portrayed the grief and confuson that Lucy felt so realistically, it was hard not to feel it also. I loved the setting. The book took place in Rockport, Massachusetts near the cape and there were some moments when I truly felt like I could feel the spray of the ocean and smell the salt of the sea. I also liked the marine biologist aspect. Lucy's mother, who passed away when she was eight, was a marine biologist and it was interesting to read about her research into sharks and what a marine biologist actually does. I loved all of the characters: Lucy, Fred, Lucy's dad, Sookie, Mr. Patterson, and Vern Devine, Lucy's mother's show more research mentor. Vern had dementia and I really appreciated how Allen wrote his character. My grandmother also has dememtia so I could relate to how quickly conversations and names are forgotten. My only critique of the book is that it felt a little long. Towards the end, I was starting to get antsy and just wanted to finish it.

I do recommend this book. It's a great book for those who are interested in realistic fiction that touches on grief but also on finding meaning after difficult times. I don't typically read books that I feel like might make me sad but I'm glad I read this one. show less

This book took me by surprise. The heartache, the healing, and the support system.
Lucy feels the hole in her life in the four years her mom has been gone. When a great white shark is caught off the coast of Rockport, it brings up a lot of memories. She's fascinated, she sees an old clip of her mom the news, and she wants to know more about her mom's last project.
She has this charming relationship with Fred, a quirky interesting kid who is her neighbor and her favorite person in the world (it's mutual). But then Fred has an accident in the quarry and Lucy has a new layer to her grief to navigate.
Lucy was a connection maker. She struggles, but it is clear she has a group of folks she can rely on. She seeks help when she needs it. She show more stops being able to eat because when she does she panics when she tries to swallow.
A quick read, short chapters, compelling (who knew I'd find sharks so interesting). show less

Make sure you are well stocked up with tissues before you read The Line Tender, because this book is about grief and its effect on two families in a small east coast community. Lucy and her father have yet to work through the sudden loss of her shark researcher mother 5 years ago when it is compounded by another loss. This second loss forces them to feel the full pain of grief they have been avoiding. To begin the healing process, Lucy takes on a shark research project that her mother was working on when she died. Her family is lucky to be surrounded by people who act as a line tender to help them through the most difficult moments. A very poignant book for students who have experienced their own losses, or for students to better show more understand their peers that have lost a family member or friend. show less

This was very well done book, I really enjoyed the illustrations and learning about great white sharks. The book does move a bit slow, but I was engaged in the story the whole time. It was weird that I picked this up after reading “The Whispers” by Greg Howard since both books are similar (deal with missing mothers and grief).

Lucy and her best friend, Fred, are working on a Field Guide for their science class and as a result they stumble upon some of Lucy’s mom’s unfinished research. Lucy is determined to see this research project become a reality and her mission enables her to learn a lot about the sharks her mother studied, the people her mother worked with, and herself.

I loved the drawings throughout, they were beautifully show more done. I also enjoyed learning about great white sharks. The story does move very slow though and at parts it is pretty depressing. It is also much more about Lucy dealing with grief, her family, and her friends than anything else. It does end on a hopeful note which was nice.

Overall while I didn't love this, I did enjoy the scientific subject matter and drawings throughout. I would recommend to those who enjoy reading about a preteen dealing with grief, family, and friends with some side notes about the science of great white sharks. show less