Teen Review by Hafsah. . .A Crack In The Line by Michael Lawrence

Alaric and Naia are closer than siblings - even closer than twins. They are two versions of the same person, living in two, alternate dimensions, and when their lives are suddenly and inexplicably brought together by a carved model known as Lexie's Folly, they are forced to rethink everything they know about the universe, their families, and themselves.

Alaric's mother, Alex Underwood, was involved in a terrible train crash when he was fourteen. She had a fifty-fifty chance of dying. She died. Naia's mother, Alex Underwood, was also involved in a train crash when she was fourteen. This Alex also had a fifty-fifty chance of dying. She lived.

Because of this difference, Alaric and Naia's lives are completely different. Naia is carefree and lively, a lot like her mother, while Alaric is sullen and withdrawn, living an almost speechless life with his father in their old, Victorian house in the outskirts of London. His only source of happiness is his Aunt Liney, who comes as a sort of babysitter while his father is away, but Alaric rejects her as well, still bitter over his mother's death.

A Crack in the Line by Michael Lawrence is incomplete on its own - it needs to be read with its sequel - Small Eternities (which also leaves you dangling). But I've heard The Underwood See (I still haven't read it, but I'm dying to) will tie all the loose ends together beautifully. One thing's for sure - these three books form a thought-provoking, intriguing trilogy that you just can't miss!

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This is a great review of a book many of you may have missed when it first came out in 2003. If you've read an older book that you'd like to review, email us! In the meantime, try these titles:

The Named by Marianne Curley

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Everlost by Neal Shusterman