Between+the+Lines

//Between the Lines// by Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer

As a big Jodi Picoult fan, I was excited for this book. I devoured it in less than 24 hours. If you like fairy tales, you will like this book; but that is not it's only appeal. Oliver is desperate to get out of the pages between his book and Delilah, who is a bit of a loner, is more than obliged to help him do so. Their romance unfolds between the pages, and the topic of fate is examined. I'm sure it has been done before (though I'm not sure where), but I was intrigued by the idea of the characters in the book having a different life while the pages of the book are closed. Oliver and Delilah are believable characters and will touch the romantic, wishful part of anyone who reads this book. I recommend it for those teens (mostly girls) who want something fun to read that isn't too heavy (like most of Picoult's books). I went and saw Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer talk about this book in their hometown of Hanover, and it was really interesting to hear them answer questions about the book and read aloud from it. Sammy does a great Delilah! Also, I very much enjoyed the parallel of one chapter being from the storybook Oliver is in, and the next being about Oliver and Delilah. It was almost as if I was reading two books at once. The illustrations were beautiful. -Tanya Robbins Youth Services Pease Public Library Plymouth, NH

This was a great take on fairy tales! What an interesting idea for a story! Definitely a girl book. I loved the banter between Oliver and Delilah and couldn't wait to finish the book to see if Oliver figured out a way to make himself real for Delilah. It was also fun to read that the storybook characters had a life behind the story. With the different colored type for the main characters and the illustrations, this was a fun read. Once again, hail to Jodi Picoult! Denise E. Schaaf Goffstown Public Library

I'm a huge Jodi Picoult fan, but I found this far too young for high school readers. Kelly Budd, Keene High School

Please don't hate me, but I really did not care for this book. I am a big Picoult fan, but not this one. I loved the concept of this book, but less than half way through I stopped caring. I only kept reading to see how it ended. The character development was weak. The ending was decent but it went too quickly--it felt like suddenly the authors decided to finish. I also agree with Kelly and think it is too juvenile for high school. Kathy Watson, Kimball Library