Between the Lines

By: Jodi Picoult, Samantha Van Leer

Narrated by: Robert Ian MacKenzie, Suzy Jackson, Nick Cordero

Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

For her first-ever YA novel, #1 New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult collaborates with her teenage daughter Samantha van Leer on an exhilarating work of cross-generational appeal.

A story of romance, adventure, and humor, Between the Lines features high-schooler and social outsider Delilah, who discovers a charming fairy tale in the school library and can’t resist turning to it again and again. But one day she finds the book has hidden depths—and that the story’s handsome prince has somehow stepped from the page into her very own world.

©2012 Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer (P)2012 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"A compulsively readable charmer. The teen dialogue and interior monologues feel authentic, while Picoult’s practiced hand balances humor with larger issues such as abandonment, hope, and existential quandaries related to fate and human nature. Both silhouette and pencil drawings abound; characters climb in and around the text to excellent effect. Younger readers and their parents will appreciate the gentle, wholesome romance, with nary a shred of paranormal action. The tender, positive tone and effective pacing that builds to a satisfying finish will inspire readers to pass the book to a friend—or reread it themselves." ( Booklist)

"A clever YA romance about the magical relationship between a loner and her fictional “Prince Charming.” Elements from Picoult’s other novels—alternating character viewpoints with distinguishing fonts, snappy chapter endings—are present, and the story is peppered with pop culture references to The Hunger Games, the Kindle Fire, and the X-Men, as well as comic relief in the form of characters like a talking horse that thinks it has a weight problem. Readers...will be swept up by the romantic premise." ( Publishers Weekly)

The ending was disappointing.

What did you like best about Between the Lines? What did you like least?

I listened to half of the book hoping it would get better but it never delivered. I was disappointed with the ending.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator did a great job. Especially, changing her voide for the different characters.

Cute for young girls. Not for Jodi Picoult fans.

If you could sum up Between the Lines in three words, what would they be?

Interesting story twist.

Would you be willing to try another book from Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer ? Why or why not?

I am a big Jodi Picoult fan and I got this book because of her. If you are looking for a book with her typical insight into unusual social issues you will be disappointed. This is a cute story but not a typical Jodi book.
I almost quit in the beginning because it was a silly "Disney" type story. I'm glad I kept listening. The characters developed and I enjoyed the story in the end. It is definitely designed for VERY young girls, but I enjoyed it like a bit of sweetness for a change.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The narration was excellent.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I usually listen at 1.5 speed. I could listen to this at 2.0 or 3.0 so it made it a quick listen.

Any additional comments?

I would not get another book from Jodi in this YA venue, but I'm not sorry I used my credit.

More youth than young adult

A good listen, but not typical Jodi Picoult. It reminds me of something I’d read in middle school. A cute story nonetheless.

Creative and fun!

I decided to read this book because I was curious about the kind of book authored by Jodi Picoult and her daughter. Although a YA book is not something I normally read I thought this collaboration between mother and daughter was immensely creative. It’s a fairytale with a twist. It also enables the reader to float back into a more innocent time. Not just childhood but a frame of mind where there’s hope and sweetness! What a wonderfully charming story! It’s clear that writing runs in the family!

I love it!

I absolutely love this book! I love the storyline and all the characters I will always come back to reading Between the Lines.

Not the jodi Picoult I Know

Would you try another book from Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer and/or the narrators?

No - only only written by Picoult herself

What do you think your next listen will be?

Not sure

Would you be willing to try another one of the narrators’s performances?

Yes

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment - couldn't even finish it

Any additional comments?

I think the only reason her daughter was published with Jody is Jody was the mother - otherwise it would be still on her desk or filed under G

Teenage crap. Dont bother.

This was written for a teenage audience. As a big fan of Jodi I was exteremely disappointed. Couldnt be bothered to finish it in the end.

It was bad enough to almost sour me on Jodi all together.

I really wanted to love this book.

So close but not quite where I wanted it to be. Seemed like a middle school age book. I loved the idea of the characters in the fairytale being alive, the whole plot was great, but it just fell short. I also found myself wanting to skip over the reading of the fairytale pages, they kind of bored me. I feel like I was waiting for the story to really start and kick off and then it never did.

Duped.

I bought this book as soon as it came out because I love Jodi Picoult and I have never been disappointed with one of her books. When I bought it, the book was unreviewed because it had just come out. I had no idea that her teenage daughter had written it. I guess this story would be delightful for a pre-teen girl...

I tried twice to read it because I hate to waste a credit and sometimes books do improve...
The first time I tried to read it was when I first bought it. I got to the beginning of chapter 2 and put it away... I had a ton of books that I would rather have been reading. I ran out of credits 2 days ago and I decided that before I would buy another pack, I would make a point to finish any unfinished books. One of the books turned out to be a delightful surprise. I thought that maybe this one would surprise me as well. I put aside all of my earlier reservations and delved in.

This one just kept getting worse.
This last time I got about halfway through the story before I quit in disgust.

Do not waste a credit on this story. Jodi Picoult.... shame on you for putting your name first. I was a loyal listener but I will never make that mistake again.

I wish I could get my credit back... not to mention the time I spent listening. So frustrating...

A great idea that was poorly executed

I loved the idea for this story... a reader that fell in love with a book character. A book character that wanted to escape the book and explore a world where endings were unknown. Unfortunately, the best part of this book was the authors note at the beginning. The characters were flat, unbelievable, and not interesting. The story, which had so much potential, disappointed in cliches and character decisions that were unrealistic and out of character. I usually love this author, but I struggled to not put this book down because I kept thinking it would get better and reach some of the potential the overall story had, but it didn't. It wasn't worth listening to and was a disappointment.