The Line Tender

"Kate Allen writes with lyric grace, and her beautifully textured narrative, of a girl struggling to understand and move beyond tragedy, is a triumph."--Buffalo News

"Allen's understated but richly detailed story will help young readers dig into their resilience to see how they, too, can draw connections in their lives."--Minneapolis Star Tribune

"A masterful blend of exuberant life and its accompanying tragedy."--Florida Times Union

"Allen's debut novel is, indeed, tender. Also funny, poignant, sad and filled with hope."--St. Paul Pioneer Press

"A celebration of our ability to survive."--Gary Schmidt, Newbery and Printz Honoree and National Book Award Finalist

"This richly textured story calls us to our most pressing business on earth: to understand and respect the stunningly complex creatures around us before they disappear forever." --Margi Preus, author of Heart of a Samurai, a Newbery Honor book

"Holy fish, this is a graceful, honest, special book. The Line Tender is a story of resilience. It's about how unbelievably strong and resourceful kids can be. About the real magic in the world--the magic of science, the magic of survival, and the magic of love." --Laurel Snyder, author of the National Book Award longlisted Orphan Island

"The Line Tender captivated me. From page one through the end of the book, I couldn't stop turning pages. I was completely lost in the book when I was reading it, and obsessed with trying to get back to the book when I was not. You MUST add this book to your reading list."--Colby Sharp, Nerdy Book Club co-founder and editor of The Creativity Project

"I have gasped and cried multiple times while reading Kate Allen's deeply moving debut."--Mr. Schu, school and library childen's literature advocate

★"Rich, complex, and confidently voiced."--Kirkus Reviews, starred
★"Allen tackles the complexities of grief with subtly wry humor and insight in this richly layered middle grade debut about the power of science and love."--Publishers Weekly, starred
★"There's no art or science to navigating loss, but Allen blends both into a hopeful path forward."--Booklist, starred
★"This book will appeal to just about everyone." --School Library Connection, starred
★"Allen writes with tenderness and confidence. . . .a classic life-affirming weeper, and readers will pick up some respect for sharks along the sniffling way."--BCCB, starred
★"Numerous middle grade books deal with grief, but few do it so beautifully-and hopefully-as The Line Tender." --Bookpage, starred
★"Kate Allen has created a landscape that, in spite of being filled with big, heartbreaking themes of loss, is understated and exquisitely, beautifully real."--Shelf Awareness, starred