Crossing Lines by Melanie Weiss

Crossing Lines by Melanie Weiss – 162 pages 

ARC provided by author for an honest review

Book Blurb:

Midwestern high school seniors and swim teammates Alli and Brandon are the perfect couple, enjoying their final months of high school and making big plans for the future. When a horrific school shooting sparks a national movement, Alli gets involved with protests in support of gun control legislation, while Brandon defends his pro-gun beliefs and stays on the sidelines. These shifting priorities lead Alli and Brandon to question not only each other but their world views, as they begin to stand up for something bigger than themselves for the first time. 

My Review: 4 stars

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Crossing Lines is an important YA book that teens should be reading and parents should be buying their kids to read.

Young people tend to have a pack mentality for the sake of fitting in and not being different. For the two main characters in this book, Alli and Brandon, both seniors in high school, are on opposing sides of gun safety, laws and control.

Brandon’s parents served in the military, so weapons have been part of his existence for most of his life. Most often, but not always, kids knowingly or unknowingly adopt the political views of their parents. After a school shooting, Alli, Brandon’s girlfriend, becomes more involved and vocal regarding gun control and safety. This becomes the main plot conflict of the story as their relationship is threatened. Can two people find enough commonalities and reasons to stay together when they are on opposing ends of such a hot-topic issue.

Through education and good communication, this story shows the power of listening and respecting each other’s point of view. If only the whole world could work through issues like this!

I think a lot of teens will relate to situations in this book. Relatable characters and meaningful dialogue makes this a quick read and a must read. Teachers of kids 14 and up, I’d definitely consider this for your classrooms!