blo Teens Read and Write: Invisible lines (Giveaway Points Post)

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Feb 6: Seeing Creative Guest Post: Characterization through Banter Hex Boy Style

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Feb 8:The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia: Review Demons At Deadnight

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Monday, February 22, 2010

Invisible lines (Giveaway Points Post)

**Giveaway ALERT! A comment on this post (within 7 days of post date) gets you 5 extra entries in our MegaBook Giveaway. If you haven't entered yet, go to the contest post (or click on the contest link on the upper right sidebar) to enter! Good luck!

Invisible Lines
by Mary Amato
pub: Nov 2009
336 pages

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 star athlete in school, Xander Pierce, happens to have it out for him. Mistakenly enrolled in a advance science class taught by a 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 in Deadly Gardens.

I love soccer. I've been playing on teams since I was four and now play on a club team so when a book came along that had a soccer player as a protagonist, I was happy to dive in. While not my usual urban fantasy read, I wasn't disappointed.

I like the way that Ms. Amato combines art, soccer and science (learning about mushrooms, of all things) into an endearing story that takes you through a roller coaster of emotions with an interesting cast of characters.

Trevor has a gift for drawing and playing soccer. He's very poor so he makes money by drawing awesome designs on people shoes in order to pay for cleats for the club soccer team he wants to join, but can't afford.

His mom is struggling to make ends meet and support the family but it isn't easy. Trevor deals with one bad break after another. Life just isn't fair. The one positive thing he has in his life is his science teacher who is pretty cool. I wish I had him for my teacher.

Invisible Lines is a well written contemporary. So well written that it can be hard to read, emotionally. This kid has it rough. At times it seems like nothing can go right for him. And since you like Trevor, you connect with Trevor, and it's difficult to read about his trials and pain.

But ultimately Invisible Lines is a book about hope, perseverance and the beauty and strength of the human spirit. This is a great inspirational middle grade novel. I highly recommend it!

Posted by Gregory @ Teens Read and Write at Monday, February 22, 2010
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90 comments:

  1. I'm not sure whether I'd want to read this book or not. I'd have to read more reviews because it has things I do like but things I don't like so much.
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  2. well the book sounds so interesnting for the mix of themes, i don't like soccer but i love another sports like basket etc but the review see nice and hope a can read this book someday cause is like self help, so thankyou nad again sorry my english XD
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  3. I'm not a great football fan but I was a poorish kid in a rich kid's school so I can probably identify with the protaganist.

    Not a dead cert for my TBR list but I'd read if it crossed my path
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  4. This the first time i have heard of this book, so ill definitely check it out. I do love sports too.
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  5. I would probably watch this if it were made into a movie but not my kind of book to read. I'm a fan of football and I like stories that sort of revolve around it.

    I do love the cover though. Very nice!
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  6. I don't know why, but I have some doubts about this book. Maybe it's because of the title design...
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  7. I'm not sure if I would read the book now that I'm 24. BUT, it definitely sounds like a book I would read if I were in middle school. When I was in middle school I loved books that incorporated sports into it. Great review Gregory!!!
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  8. Sounds really good! I love playing soccer and drawing (but I'm not that good), so this book might be something for me!
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  9. I always love the theme of a story which tells the audience that there will always be light at the end of the tunnel. And I absolutely thrilled to read books that are emotionally engaging, and this certainly feels like one.

    Thanks Gregory, for such a fantastic review. I've never heard of this author before but the book seems like one that worth reading =)
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  10. Great review! I haven't heard about this one, but sounds like something I'll enjoy! Thanks!
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  11. Great review! Not sure it's my cup of tea, though. It's sounds pretty depressing, and I can only take so much depression from a book. I don't think I'll check it out, but thank you for the review! :)
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  13. Invisible Lines sounds like a great book. I really love those that give messages of inspiration and help us to the true blessings in life and all that we can achieve. I'll be on the lookout for it!
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  14. Normally I don't read this type of book but based on your review I think i may have to give this book a try!
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  15. Altough the cover isn't very cute, I think the book might be good :)
    I've heard some good reviews!
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  16. Thanks for the review! I think the book will be nice...
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  17. Sounds like a good book and one I think my son might like. Thanks for the review.
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  18. Oh. This book seems nice.. quite interesting. I'll check it out once I've the time. Thanks for the review. :)
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  20. It doesn't seem like my kind of read, but good review nonetheless !
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  21. This doesn't sound like my kind of book, but I have a cousin I could recommend it to. It sounds right up his alley. Nice review!
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  22. I am not into sports, but great review!
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  23. Great review. What an intriging cover!
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  24. Guess I'll have to have a look at it. As I constantly struggle with conflict in my own books, and feel I need to be meaner to my characters.. I may learn a thing or two about that with this one.
    Thanks for sharing the review!
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  25. Great review - it's not the kind of book I usually read so I'll probably give it a miss but it does sound interesting
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  26. Good review! Not really my type of book, but the cover's kinda cool.
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  27. I'm probably a little too old for this book, but if I was younger, I'd check it out!

    Thanks for the great review :D
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  28. I dont like the cover so much! But i like the argument! I am tired of vampires!!!!

    kisses!
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  29. I've never heard of the book before.great review.
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  30. I'd probably enjoy a book about hope, perseverance and the beauty and strength of the human spirit if it's written well. I've had some bad breaks lately myself, so I'd probably connect with Trevor's struggle. Thanks for the review!
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  31. Not my typical kind of reading but i love the cover
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  32. Great review! I have a lot of soccer fans who will enjoy this.
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  33. I like the cover but sports isn't my thing so I don't think this would be my kind of read.
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  34. Im not really into sports but this review is great:) The book sounds quite interesting:)
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  35. Cool, and I especially like that it is about soccer too:)
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  36. Sounds interesting. I was interested from the book cover since it had some sort of art in it. Great review. Makes me want to check this one out. :)
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  37. sounds really good ... thanks for the review
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  38. Sounds interesting. The cover catches my eye, but I still don't know if I like it or not, haha :)
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  39. Not something that I would normally read, but it definitely looks interesting. Great review!
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  40. I just reviewed this book as well! I was really impressed with how she dealt with difficult issues in kids' lives without becoming too depressing.
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  41. Great review. This is the first I have heard of this one. Not really my type of book but it does sound like it was well done.
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  42. Sounds like a fun book, I enjoyed your review!!
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  43. This sure sounds like a fun book!

    But how do you manage to count all the comments to the right mega giveaway entries?
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  44. This comment has been removed by the author.
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  46. Sounds like a comming of age book. I don't really like those, but I love sports so i'll prob give it a try. If only the protagonist played volleyball...lol
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  47. Looks interesting. I´ll keep it in mind.
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  48. This isn't quite up my alley, but if it continues to get good reviews I may have to rethink that.
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  49. I'd be happy to read this one.

    And 5 extra entries! Yippee! And thanks!

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
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  50. Sounds good thanks so much for the review!!
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  51. I don't really know if I would like a non-fiction book... anyway, thanks so much for the review! ^^
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  52. Well I'm more of a softball person myself but my sis in law was in soccer (I think or it was her brother). I haven't heard about this book until now but it looks cool anyways. (I love science!)

    +20 now I think (I'm trying to keep track lol)
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  53. I love your blog & I have an award for you: http://my-book-obsession.blogspot.com/2010/02/one-lovely-blog-award.html
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  54. Great review! The cover looks very cool.
    My brothers also play soccer, I'm sure
    they'll like this book!
    Sounds great =)
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  55. Oh this sounds like an awesome book. I loved the review. I know several students who could probably relate to this book.
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  56. Sounds like something my sister would want to read. And the cover looks nice too! :)
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  57. Unfortunately this book doesn't seem like my cup of tea. I do love enlightening storys of struggle won happy endings but I think my sister may find this one more her style than mine. Thx so much for the review though!
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  58. I agree compeletly with your review. Mine was pretty similar. I did almost stop reading it because of the dumpster scene right at the beginning. I just didn't know if I could read something that emotional! But I'm glad I stuck with it.
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  59. i can take this book as my reading. well, i'll try :)
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  60. It sounds like a great book, but it's not my type. :P Wonderful review, though.
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  61. It's not my type of book but I can't help gazing at the cover.
    It's sooooo cool!
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  62. I wouldn't normally go for it when reading the plot, but a book about hope and perseverance would be a nice read :)
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  63. Great review--this looks really interesting x
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  64. Hmm looks good but it's not really my type...
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  65. This sounds interesting, but I usually don't read middle grade novels.
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  66. Great review but I'm not much for younger reads--it sounds like a great book for my younger sister though! Thanks for the review!
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  67. i might recommend this book to my younger brother !
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  68. This one seems a little bit younger than my general reading choices but I'd recommend it to younger guys.
    This review made me want to read it a little bit which is an accomplishment because it is a long way from my regular reads.Very well done.

    Seahn
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  69. I haven't heard of this book. Thanks for the heads up.
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  70. I'm not into soccer and this doesn't really sound like my kind of book... but I enjoyed reading your review. haha :)
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  71. Love the cover of this one. Thanks for sharing another new title!
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  72. Such a great book with a message in it for teens/tweens! SO many good books are in English, wished they where translated into dutch so I could use them at my internship! :)
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  73. Thanks for the review Gregory!
    Well-written contemporary stories really can suck the reader in so much. I haven't read this, but I can understand how it could be difficult to read at times.

    I'm happy you enjoyed it.
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  74. This sounds a lot more interesting than the cover led me to believe. It sounds sorta depressing, but only reading happy monster books doesn't prepare you for the harshness of life very well. I'll have to see if my library has it, and of they don't, I'l suggest that they get it. :)
    Nice review!
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  75. Now that I think about it, soccer and drawing make a pretty ecletic combination.
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  76. Never heard of this book before. Thanks for the review. Another one I don't think I'd read, but it does sound like a good one for sports lovers.

    Thanks again,
    -Lisa
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  77. All of my kids play soccer - I will have to put this one on a list for when my son gets a little older though. . .
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  78. Not the type of book I would normally read. Still undecided about wanting to read it or not.
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  79. I'm not really a soccer fan but might recommend it to my younger cousins.
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  80. I'm a big soccer fan because my son plays. I wonder whether this one being focused on soccer player would be enough to convince my 16 year old to pick it up. He doesn't like reading but read Goal after watching the movie :-)
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  81. This doesn't sound like my kind of book. It seems more for middle grade kids.
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  82. It sounds like a good book, but i don't think it's a book for me...
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  83. The cover seems so retro. Sounds like a great YA book maybe even a little younger
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  84. It certainly sounds like an interesting read.
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  85. thanks for your review - I will keep that one in mind!!!
    greetings, Ina
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  86. I'm a little confused by the cover. Maybe you have to read it to understand.
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  87. I love soccer, but haven't read many books based around it. Could be interesting.
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  88. Aw, what a great cover! I'll look for this.
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  89. I love soccer too. This looks like a fun read, I'll have to try it out. :)
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  90. Oh yes this is really going to be a great book. I will have to add to my to buy list.
    Thanks for your great review,

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
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