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    Invisible Lines
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    Invisible Lines
    Unavailable
    Invisible Lines
    Ebook239 pages2 hours

    Invisible Lines

    By Mary Amato

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    "If there's one thing I'm good at it's making people laugh because when I'm standing up I'm what you call a stand-up comedian, and when I'm sitting down, I'm just plain funny."

    It's lucky that Trevor is funny, because this year he needs a sense of humor. Moving to his new home is hard enough—the sign for his neighborhood reads Hedley Gardens, but everyone calls these projects Deadly Gardens. And the move to a fancy new school is even harder. All the kids from Deadly Gardens seem to be in the same classes and keep to themselves, but somehow Trevor's ended up in an advanced science class with kids who seem to have everything and know everything, including how to please their strange new teacher.

    Someone else might just give up, but Trevor has plans. This is going to be his year. And he is going to use whatever he has, do whatever it takes, to make it at this new school. Trevor knows he's got some stuff to show. No one is better at juggling in soccer, and he knows he can draw—he calls himself the Graffiti Guy. But Xander, a star in the classroom and on the soccer field, has other plans for Trevor. He doesn't like anyone trespassing on his turf and begins to sabotage Trevor at every opportunity. Who is going to believe Trevor over the school star? Is there any way that Trevor can achieve his goals against a guy who is as good at bullying as he is at everything else?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLerner Publishing
    Release dateAug 1, 2009
    ISBN9781606845295
    Unavailable
    Invisible Lines
    Author

    Mary Amato

    Mary Amato is an award-winning children's and YA book author, songwriter, and poet who lives in Maryland. Her books have been translated into foreign languages, optioned for television, and produced onstage.

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    Reviews for Invisible Lines

    4/5

    24 ratings5 reviews

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    • 3/5
      A good story about how actions effect many people. The main focus is how connected we are. The narrative style is first person and works well at making the story more believable. Very well written story that younger readers will like.
    • 5/5
      WOW am I glad that Beth contacted me at first I was very iffy because it didn't seem like my type of book, also it's rated for younger kids not teens, but once I started reading I forgot all my worries. I mean I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR YOUNGER KIDS AND TEENS A ND EVEN ADULTS. I mean the book is such a realistic view of the world. It has realstic dialogue too. Mary Amato tackles a lot of issues that are big in our world. For example: Bullying, not getting everything we want, domestic violence, and ect. This book was simply amazing. It's fast paced and is funny. Trevor is a very relatable character, he has problems that most of us face: trying to fit in and not having a dad around 24/7. Trevor learns that it doesn't matter if your rich or poor or where you come from. Also you shouldn't judge people on status either. I'd probably could write 10 pages of what I liked but you guys probably would get bored so all I'm going to say is I seriously recommend this book. I had a bad week this week, mainly bullying issues, so when I read Trevor's story I could relate to Trevor somewhat and I really liked his mother's advice to raise above it. The next time I face my bulliers I'm going to raise above it. The only complaints I have is I wish they could of had less science stuff *even though I do realize that was a main part in the story* because I'm not smart in that area so it was hard to keep up and understand it. The other thing I wish the bullying could of started earlier between Xander and Trevor then later. That all I have to complain about.
    • 5/5
      Invisible Lines has a narrator quite unlike any other, though comparable to Julius Zimmerman, titular character of Claudia Mills' You're a Brave Man, Julius Zimmerman. The book reads in a warmly funny and stingingly honest style reminiscent of Andrew Clements, with a highly likable and humorous narrator in Trevor Musgrove. While parts were slightly predictable in a way often found in children's books, there are plenty of completely unforeseen plot elements. Everything about this book is enthralling, the humor and realness keeping the readers' attention the whole way through. There is a perfect balance struck between seriousness and humor. Issues such as a missing father figure and domestic violence are dealt with, but in a child-friendly way that is both honest and appropriate. Interestingly enough, many scientific facts are easily picked up through reading this book, and the reader learns about the fascinating world of mushrooms right along with Trevor. There are some inappropriate words used for a book whose target age group is about 8-12 year olds, but if you can look past that, this is a book that should definitely be on classroom library shelves.Rating: 5/5
    • 3/5
      Grades 6-8
      Trevor’s used to hardship: his dad is in jail, and his mom relies on him to watch his little brother and sister while she moves from job to job. But when they move to an even shabbier housing project and he starts at a new school, it’s hard to keep his trademark sense of humor. Things seem to be looking up when he hits it off with some guys on the soccer team—even though he’s never played on a formal team, he has always had a natural flair for the game. But these guys are from Buckingham Heights, where wealth is taken for granted, and when they invite him along to a high end soccer store, there’s no way he can tell them that the only cleats he can afford will have to come from a thrift store. As he tries unsuccessfully to convince his mom that he can juggle soccer and homework and babysitting, his one saving grace comes from an unlikely source. Accidentally enrolled in a “gifted” science course, Trevor meets Mr. Ferguson. The teacher’s knowledge of mushrooms and fungi is surpassed only by his skill at sparking curiosity. The scheduling error is soon discovered and Trevor is placed in the “correct” science class—but Mr. Ferguson, recognizing Trevor’s disappointment, encourages him to challenge the rules and submit an application for the gifted program: “If you want something badly enough, you owe it to yourself to try to get it.” In this story about overcoming obstacles, Amato shows a real flair for middle school voices. She does not back away from tough issues: abandoned children, abusive parents, and kids who steal are all part of daily life in Trevor’s housing project. While the “invisible lines” of the title could refer to class and racial barriers, Amato’s subtle sense of humor is at work, and the wordplay is her nod to the theme of connectedness among family and friends—not unlike that found in mycelia in the fungal kingdom. This fresh story is enhanced by notes and drawings from Trevor’s “Kingdom of Fungi Identification Notebook.” It should find a wide audience with its short chapters, snappy dialog, and scientific extras.
    • 5/5
      Seventh-grader Trevor Musgrove has just moved with his mother and two younger siblings to a run-down apartment complex called Hedley Gardens, which everyone calls “Deadly Gardens.” Trevor’s life—full of money worries, babysitting, and hand-me-downs—is a far cry from his well-off classmates, especially the popular soccer stars Xander and Langley. But Trevor is determined to use his optimism and ever-present sense of humor to give himself a new start, despite his family troubles.Unfortunately, Trevor’s humor both helps him (by helping him make friends and earn his cool science teacher’s respect) and harms him (by making an enemy of Xander). When assumptions based on his poverty land him in trouble, Trevor must learn to hold his head high and do the right thing—which is not usually the easy thing.INVISIBLE LINES surprised and delighted me with its compelling voice, age-appropriate humor, and heartfelt story line. This is a true middle-grade winner that deserves to be read by everyone!To start, Mary Amato slips easily into the voice of a seventh-grade boy. Trevor makes all the funny comments that we wished we could’ve made in middle school to be well-liked, and yet he does everything without the least hint of malice. He is genuinely compassionate with his brother and sister (both of whom have lively and memorable personalities of their own) while simultaneously having the typical adolescent concerns about being accepted, having the right friends, and owning brand names.Every component of this novel is well put together, from fully fleshed-out characters to the science lessons on mushrooms to the bumps in Trevor’s relationships with his new friends and family. Parents will want their sons to be like Trevor, while younger readers will clamor to be Trevor’s friend. This is the first of Mary Amato’s books that I’ve read, but with the quality and cohesiveness of INVISIBLE LINES, I know it won’t be my last!