Lucy was just seven when her mom, a marine biologist, passed away. Since then, she and her dad seem to be muddling through life in a fog of grief. When a second tragedy strikes, Lucy finds herself following in the footsteps of her mother's research on sharks. Slowly, Lucy uncovers clues about her mother's passion, and in the process learns something about herself as well.

Allen's quiet, thoughtful novel on grief and healing is exactly the kind of middle grade book that is proof that good writing is good writing--no matter the intended audience. The story is emotional without being cloying and honestly portrays the struggle to keep going even in the darkest of times. The gorgeous drawings of sharks throughout the book help develop the love and reverence for nature and science that both Lucy's mother and her best friend Fred held.

Dealing with the death of her mother, a marine biologist and helping her rescue diver dad to deal with his depression, Lucy hopes this summer will be different. Working with her friend, Fred to make a field guide to native species for an extra credit assignment, the two get excited when a great white shark washes up on shore.  After finding some of her mother’s stuff, she decides the great white sharks are the perfect way to finish her mother’s research. Will the great white sharks help her figure out who she really is? Will she be able to find some closure for her and her dad? The text is well-written, clear, and engaging. The characters are easy to relate to. The difficult topics, however, may turn off some readers. People who enjoy realistic fiction dealing with death or who like science will enjoy reading this book.

This was a story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Lucy's story of friendship, love and grief was well told by Kate Allen. Learning about sharks and seeing the great artwork of those creatures was an added gift to a well written tale.

(spoiler) Sharks off the coast—one caught in fishing net, another washes ashore. Sounds like the start of an exciting adventure, but Kate Allen’s novel is a beautifully slowly paced look at friendship, grief, and healing. Lucy’s mother, a shark biologist, died five year’s ago. Lucy and her still-grieving father continue to live in the same house where her mother grew up in a small town on Cape Cod. Nearby are her best friend, Fred, and his family, elderly Mr. Patterson, and fisherman friend Sookie. Lucy and Fred are working on an extra-credit field guide over the summer, but Fred tragically drowns swimming in the quarry at night. Once again, Lucy’s world is in shambles. She decides to carry on their field guide work, mostly focusing on sharks. Fred had been the scientist in that endeavor and Lucy the artist, but she tackles both the learning and the drawing with her whole heart. As she digs into the project, she learns more about her mother and her work, which helps her cope with the loss of Fred and her easy relationship with some of Fred’s family.  She exhibits physical and emotional reactions to her grief, but many caring adults from the town help. Lucy’s relationship with her father has always been strong yet tender. As she delves into her late mother’s work, the two share more and more about her and their feelings. The text is long and unhurried, but the short chapters and two-page spreads of different sharks at the beginning of each chapter make it seem less so. Occasional humor also helps. Through Lucy’s voice, readers are treated to a multi-layered look at the intersection of art, science, love, and grief. It’s both honest and hopeful.

The Line Tender by Kate Allen is one of those books that hooked me from the very first page, and the equal parts humor, heartbreak, and nostalgia held me until the very last. 

Set in the 1990s in coastal Massachusetts, The Line Tender is the story of 12-year-old Lucy Everhart, whose marine biologist mother passed away suddenly when Lucy was seven. Since then, Lucy and her father, a rescue diver, have just been trying to survive in a world turned upside down by loss. Her father buries himself in work, while Lucy has her best friend, Fred, to keep her distracted with adventures and their latest project: a field guide of the animals who live in their town of Rockport. Fred, a budding scientist, supplies the descriptions of the animals while Lucy draws them. 

One summer day, a great white shark arrives on the shores of Rockport, sparking a renewed interest in Lucy’s late mother’s research into the enigmatic creatures. But just as Fred and Lucy begin their work of researching the great white so they can add it to their field guide, tragedy strikes and Lucy suffers another sudden loss. As Lucy navigates her grief, she rallies those who knew her mother best — her father, her elderly neighbor, and a surly fisherman — to help her finish the research her mother started. 

This novel is a heart-wrenching exploration of grief, the physical and emotional reactions we have to it, and the different avenues people use to cope. It is the best book on loss I’ve read for middle grade readers, and quite possibly for any age group. 

In addition to being an important book, it is also an all-around beautiful and riveting story. The writing is gorgeous, with vivid descriptions and authentic, endearing characters. I also love that science, animals, and the environment take center stage in this story. And, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the stunning illustrations by artist Xingye Jin that are included throughout the book. Jin did such a superb job of capturing the essence and heart of Lucy’s work on the field guide. 

Overall, Kate Allen’s debut novel, The Line Tender, is the best book I’ve read so far this year, and is one I’ll definitely be reading again, and recommending to everyone.

#netgalley #TheLineTender #review
It hit me about halfway through that The Line Tender reminds me of Madeline L'Engle's Vicky Austin - from the ocean and the animals that inhabit it being characters themselves (without always being fully present) to a main character grappling with love, family, grief, and a quickly changing landscape of friends and world views. 

I would definitely put this at upper middle grade (10+, due in part to language and young teens  drinking). While I have greatly enjoyed it, I'm not sure how kids will react: I know students that could love it if they get it at the right time, but reading enough to get hooked may be an issue.

The Line Tender by Kate Allen was listed as a middle school read, but it had elements that could hold the attention of a range of readers.  The main character is Lucy Everhart.  She is a middle schooler who is being raised by her Dad, after the death of her mother (a famous marine biologist).  Lucy’s dad gets called out a lot as he is a detective and a rescue diver for coastal town.  Lucy is just figuring out her body and all the new parts of her growing and coming to understand how the grief for her mother is cyclical.  Her best friend, Fred is the seriously nerdy boy next door.  They spend everyday together and take care of each other.  They both are fascinated by the Great White Shark Scooter brought in and get into Lucy’s mother’s books in order to research the shark for their summer science project.  

Another tragedy happens and Lucy is thrown hard.  Her father, Scooter (fishman) and Mr Patterson (older neighbor) all work together to help Lucy find her balance.  It is through them and her dogged determination that she is able to refind her passion and find her way forward.  

The Line Tender by Kate Allen is poignant, tender, heart-breaking, reaffirming, exciting and wonderful. Oh and the cool part is there is so much information about the Great White Sharks and Cape Cod.  This is a book, I will highly recommend!

Lucy is a talented young artist who lives with her widower father in Rockport, Massachusetts. When a great white shark is caught off Cape Cod during Lucy's 12th summer, it sparks vivid, heartbreaking memories of Lucy's late mother, a respected marine biologist who specialized in studying shark behavior. When another unthinkable tragedy strikes close to home, Lucy, in the midst of her sorrow, must seek out some deep truths in hopes of attaining healing for herself and her dad. For children in upper elementary grades and younger teens who like fiction about families and modern life, this novel set in the mid-1990s will be a welcome recommendation. Note: The publisher supplied an advance reading copy via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

A middle-grade coming of age story about a very resilient girl trying to make sense of her mother's death, her father's pulling back from the world and the sudden loss of her best friend.  There are so many things a young girl has to deal with - her feelings towards boys, changes in her body and her independence from her parents but Lucy could not have been more unprepared to deal with this or anything else after she loses her best friend (and potential boyfriend) just a few years after losing her mom.  Thankfully, she lives in a small town that takes care of their own.  In dealing with her grief, Lucy becomes obsessed with finishing the work on a study of sharks that her scientist mom began.  As she investigates the shark study, she learns more about her mom and finds a way to overcome her loss.  Not only is this a great book for anyone who is fascinated by sharks but it is also a heartwarming book about loss, love and handling grief in your own way.  Lucy is a force of nature and one of the toughest kids I have ever read about.  The shark pencil sketches are an added bonus.  My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Beautifully written book, that deals with grief and loss in a really unique way.  I loved the premise, (without giving spoilers), and it deals with emotions without getting ‘mushy’.  
It’s suitable for boys and girls, and had enough action for me to breeze through this in one sitting. I may have shed a tear or two!

Shark! The capture of a Great White close to Rockport, Massachusetts sets the tone for this new middle grade book about Lucy and her quest to learn about her dead mother, a renowned biologist specializing in sharks. This book contains some really great shark facts as well as a good bit of tragedy. Love the little band of folks that Lucy accumulates as she sets a goal of continuing her mother's work. The shark illustrations throughout are top notch. Would recommend to older kids.

A big thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this debut middle grade novel in exchange for an honest review.

According to the folks in town Lucy and Fred share a friendship that is devoted and meaningful. It’s the type of friendship every middle schooler longs for. The Line Tender is a beautiful story which channels a little bit of Kate DiCamillo and Katherine Patterson in all the best ways. It tells the story of 12 year old Lucy, her best friend Fred, and a summer of sharks, tragedy and discovery.  In this debut novel Kate Allen brings laughter and tears, quirky characters that are 100% likable, and a sense of community that we all need a little bit more of.

Narrated by Lucy one summer in Rockport, Massachusetts The Line Tender is an enthralling coming of age novel. Fred and Lucy are working on a field guide to native species as an extra credit assignment, when  they hear of a great white that was caught and is down at the harbor, They race to see it. 

Lucy's mom was a marine biologist who studied sharks  and died when Lucy was seven. She and her dad survive the loss with the help of their friends (Fred's family) and neighbor (Mr. Patterson). Through the death of the shark and a terrible accident, Lucy comes to know her mother and her work, igniting a desire to see it continue. 

This book is perfect for middle grade readers who love art, science, and/or sharks. I will be happily recommending this book in my STEM middle school library. It will reach a broad spectrum of readers. 

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review an advance copy. I've already ordered a hard copy for my school library.

I received this ARC from the publisher through SLJ'S Middle Grade Magic virtual conference in exchange for an honest review. There was a lot to love about this book. When the book opened in Rockport's Bearskin Neck I was immediately hooked. A place I spent a lot of time as a child, all the details were spot on. I loved so many of the characters in this book. It's rare to find a book where all of the characters bring meaning and depth to the story - not just the main characters. This is a hard review to write without spoilers, but suffice it to say it was well worth the read.

An absorbing coming of age tale of a girl in turmoil. Tragedy has struck twice in Lucy's life and nobody is coping with it well. Her father is withdrawn. She can't eat. Her neighbor is lashing out. With no one to talk to about her grief, Lucy starts writing postcards with no stamp or address and begins looking seriously into the life works of those she has lost. This is a lovely tale of love and loss, friendship and fish guts, grief and growth.

The Line Tender resonated deeply with me right from the start. The first time I saw the cover and read the book I somehow knew exactly what I was in for. Not plotwise, simply the overall feeling. It's a sorrowful and hopeful, quiet and ultimately tender story.

At the centre of the story is Lucy, who loves her dad and misses her mum, a marine biologist with a passion for sharks. Her best friend, Fred, is the coolest guy on earth. There is a moment when Lucy gets her first period, so she runs across the street to Fred's house because he's got two older sisters and a mother that could help her out. But Fred is home alone so he matter-of-factly hands her something against period pain and stays cool in a situation that would easily freak out any other boy that age - and many adult men as well. Anyway, Lucy and Fred work on a project for school, a field guide where they document all the living things they find around town, especially on the beach. Lucy is the artist; she studies the creature and draws it while Fred is responsible for the research; he adds all the necessary information. And when a shark turns up at the coast, Lucy's adventure is just beginning.

What struck me the most is that this book sends such a simple message without having to spell it out: be kind. Maybe that's just what I personally take away from it, but it's there. There is not a single person in this book that is unkind. Even though there is grief and loss, even though people make small and big mistakes, every word and gesture carries kindness. This sounds like utopia but it was exactly the right tone for the story. People simply cared for one another, and it filled my heart with warmth.

This is such a great book for children and parents alike. I would recommend it for kids age 10+ because it does get quite complex at times, but I know that they will love Lucy, her friends and family just as much as I did. Not only does it feature a myriad of role models, like female scientists and artists, it's also a touching story about friendship and loss. Furthermore, it talks about anxiety and how it's okay to not always be okay. AND you learn so many cool things about sharks. I immediately wanted to watch shark documentaries and learn even more about them.

This book can't get any better but I still have to mention Xingye Jin, who did the cover art and the illustrations inside the book. I've only read an eGalley of the book, which wasn't ideal when it came to the shark drawings, but they were breathtaking.

I can see why librarians like this, because it feels like the heir to Katherine Paterson during her Newbery era. The writing is beautiful and spare, and while the characters felt very REAL, they didn't feel entirely plausible. The imagery was so vivid that reading this was like watching an independent movie, but the plotting also felt like an independent movie, with quick cuts and abrupt transitions. 

I liked it, even as I'm still forming opinions on it. Will kids like it? Maybe those who liked The Thing About Jellyfish. (I liked The Thing About Jellyfish.) But the narrative felt like looking at childhood through the lens of adulthood, and I don't know if that will have the most middle-grade appeal.

This story is about Lucy, who is dealing with a tragic loss.  She's also trying to make sense of her budding romance and all the people who are part of her extended community.  She's finding a study of sharks very interesting.  But the story has a lot of moving pieces, including coping with grief, global warming, fashion, art, finding your own voice and some romance and teen behavior that seem too mature for an elementary audience, but middle and high schoolers might find more interesting.   It was an interesting story, but not the right thing for my elementary library.

This may be my favorite book of all time.  The Line Tender is about  small family in Rockport, Massachusetts.  Lucy and Fred have been friends for ever, about 13 years since they were both born in Rockport and lived across the street from each other..  Lucy is tall, has a lot of freckles and likes to draw, while Fred is a little shorter, very smart and a budding jazz musician.  Lucy is starting to notice that her feelings for Fred are changing as they ride around town and end up checking out a great white shark that was caught by their fisherman friend, Sookie.  Lucy especially is fascinated with sharks since her her mother studied them and shared her love of science with Lucy until she died suddenly when Lucy was 7.  Fred is just fascinated with everything.  They are working together on a summer field guide full of animals they encounter over their summer rambling.  Fred's mother, Maggie, steps in and helped with things like periods, shopping, the kind of things you need a mom for when you're reaching your teens.  So it was no big deal for Maggie to send Lucy and Fred along with Fred's sisters to a movie night that turned into swimming at the quarry.  A horrible accident changes their lives forever and Lucy has to learn to cope with her grief, help her father manage his badly broken leg, and come to terms with her mother's death.  Her Rockport family includes Maggie and Fred's sisters, Sookie who had been estranged from her Dad since her mom died, and Mr. Patterson, the old man who lives next door and spends most of his time on the front porch listening to the police band.  Lucy stumbles upon some old papers of her mother's which inspires her to  delve into her mother's research.  Her investigation helps her to learn a lot about her mother, her father, Mr. Patterson and Sookie, and Fred in the process.  She also learns a lot about great white sharks - enough to be included in some ground breaking research begun by her mother.  The Line Tender is a diving term and you understand the meaning as you read further into the book.  You'll find its a great title for a satisfying, enchanting read.

Kate Allen wrote an heartfelt, heartbreaking book.  She's crafted an amazing young girl in Lucy and writes so well that you feel like you're hanging out in Rockport and can smell the salt and hear the surf.  She also starts each chapter with a beautiful, detailed, sketch of a different type of shark.  I will definitely buy this book for our library - probably several copies.  I'm already making a list of kids who will love it - its a very long list!

Middle school friends Lucy and Fred are intrigued by the great white shark that was accidentally caught by a local fisherman and hauled to shore. As the events of the summer unfold and a tragedy occurs, the lessons learned about great white sharks play a huge significance in the emotional growth of Lucy. Memories of her mother, a marine biologist who passed away when Lucy was seven, guide Lucy in her quest to make sense of the mysteries surrounding the reappearance of great white sharks off the eastern U.S. coast. Along the way, Lucy learns some important life lessons in this poignant and moving story. This book would be a valuable addition to any middle school library collection.