Sunday, November 29, 2009

Invisible Lines by Mary Amato


Invisible Lines by Mary Amato
Publication Date/Version: October 2009/Hardcover
Publisher: Egmont USA
Age Group: 10 and up
Received From: Beth at Goodman Media (Thanks!)

For Trevor Musgrove, life isn't always bright and cheerful. His family has just moved to Hedley Gardens, a tough housing project its residents call "Deadly Gardens." He goes to school with rich kids who have everything, while he has to work just to afford soccer cleats. It doesn't help that the best athlete in school, Xander Pierce, happens to have it out for him. Mistakenly enrolled in an advanced science class taught by an odd but engaging teacher, Trevor is thrown headfirst into the world of natural science. Through all this, he will learn that life can spring up in the darkest places - maybe even Deadly Gardens.

Mary Amato has created a touching and genuine novel that's suitable for all ages. Although intended for the target audience of 10 and up, I'm 16, and I thoroughly enjoyed Invisible Lines.

Trevor Musgrove comes from a poor family where he has to struggle and fight for everything he has. The book starts out with a rather sad event, setting the tone for the rest of the novel. Trevor and his family don't have it easy at all. The poor guy could barely afford second-hand soccer cleats. It seemed that he would never get a lucky break.

He does, however, get lucky when he's accidentally placed in a Summit Science class, one for smart kids. His teacher, Mr. Ferguson, makes learning interesting. I love teachers like that - ones who make you want to be at school. Anyways, Mr. Ferguson really helps Trevor try harder in school. I especially enjoyed this teacher. He seemed fun and very energetic. I even learned a few cool facts.

Trevor had a lot to face, but he persevered and attempted to push through it. I enjoyed seeing him try hard to do good. His story was an inspiring one that all readers will enjoy. We didn't learn much about the secondary characters, but it wasn't too bad. I knew just enough about each of the characters to be able to picture them and their mannerisms. I really enjoyed Trevor's mom when she finally let go of her rough exterior.

I really liked reading Trevor's "Kingdom of Fungi: Identification Notebook." The facts were really interesting. I'll have to pick up a finished copy so I can see the drawings. With drawings throughout, this will definitely engage wary readers.

Overall: Invisible Lines was touching, emotional, and funny. A good read for all ages.

My Advice: Borrow this from your local library when you need some inspiration.

Cover Thoughts: The cover doesn't catch my eye, but it does make sense in relation to the story. The graffiti is kind of cool though.

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