Review: Tender short story
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 15, 2013
I know at some point I read the inspiration for this story ("Pushing the Limits"), quite liked it (pinned it on my Books page) so decided to purchase "Crossing the Line." My memory being what it is (out of sight, out of mind) I didn't recall Lila, didn't recall that Echo'd had a brother who died in service -- I mean really, I should be embarrassed (but I'm not).And luckily my reading "Crossing the Line" pretty much as a blank reader (meaning I didn't bring any previous knowledge to the story) didn't diminish the story one bit. I quite liked it. I thought it was sweet, tender and complete -- yes, I would of course love to read more about Lila and Lincoln, learn more about their individual and collective pasts and future, but even with this little gem I felt happy and satisfied.Lila and Lincoln are teens who've just finished high school, bound for uni in another state together. They'd only met once two years prior at a funeral, but stayed in contact via snail-mail letters. A misunderstanding (well, that's a euphemism) is what starts our story, and it brings Lila and Lincoln together, in person, at Lila's house shortly after graduation.There appears to be a new(-ish) trend of chapters alternating main characters' POVs, and it's a trend I quite like. Learning about Lincoln, his motivations, his fears and then Lila's, coupled with snippets of their past correspondence made both characters feel complete and realistic, even though the story is short.I'd recommend "Crossing the Line," and recently I've read a few other stories featuring teens which fall in a similar vein and which I'd also recommend."Saving Wishes" by GJ Walker-Smith"Lost in You" by Heidi McLaughlin"Something Like Normal" by Trish Doller"My Life Next Door" by Huntley Fitzpatrick