Review: The Lines We Cross
by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Age Range: 13 & up
Release Date: May 9, 2017
Scholastic Press
9781338118667
The people we love have a profound effect on us. The way we
are raised influences our beliefs and our values, whether we end up agreeing with
them or not. And very often, meeting another person can alter steadfast beliefs
for the better and open you up to a whole new way of thinking. The Lines We Cross showcases this
beautifully, telling the story of one teen’s eyes opening for the first time,
and of another learning that not everyone is who they first seem to be.
Mina is a refugee from Afghanistan. Though her family has
lived in Australia for a decade now, she still feels boxed in this way by the
community, and the traumatic experiences of her young life sit with her. This
feeling is exacerbated even more when Mina and her family move across town so
she can attend a prestigious prep school on scholarship. This is a major
opportunity, despite the new neighborhood lacking in its welcoming-attitude,
and she misses her old school which she dubs "a kaleidoscope of cultures."
Michael’s father is the founder of Aussie Values, an
anti-immigration group. Michael is perfectly comfortable to go along with the
group beliefs until he meets Mina, whose experiences and fiery passion for
human rights challenge everything he thought he knew. He begins the story
complacent, merely parroting phrases his parents use and never even thinking to
question their truth. But Mina changes everything. She doesn’t match the picture his parents have always drawn of a system scammer.
She is fierce, loyal, compassionate, and has faced trials he has never even
dreamed of.
Michael’s character arc is a truly spectacular thing to
behold. We see through his eyes both ends of the anti-immigration spectrum.
There are the violent protesters, throwing hate speech across the lines and
carrying vulgar signs. And then there are Michael’s parents, who claim it is
about protecting Australia’s economy. This is so brilliant. Never once do
Michael’s mother or father speak about their beliefs in anything but a clear,
calm, reasonable voice, whether it be during speeches, interviews, or even when
defending their position. It is brilliant because this subtle racism exists. It’s the sort that would never dream
of calling itself racist, and it is arguably the most dangerous, promoting hate
speech and violence in a polite and reasonable way. And though his parents claim
the problem they see is purely economical, they throw in issues of "cultural
compatibility" and their belief that refugees don’t share the country’s values
and should assimilate. Michael questions at one point, "How can my parents be
right, be good, if it means people like Mina end up getting hurt?" The shining turning
point in his arc is when he acknowledges that he’s been complacent his whole life,
realizing he has never had issue arguing with his parents about trivial
matters, but was always too lazy to question the big picture.
In addition to the magnificent takedown of subtle racism, The Lines We Cross also features
phenomenal girl friendships. The highlight of these is Mina’s friendship with
Paula. An intelligent, passionate, Oscar Wilde-quoting, slam poetry-loving
individual, Paula is fiercely loyal, always on Mina’s side and not afraid to
speak out on her behalf. Both Paula and Mina shine in how well-rounded they
are. Paula has her own problems at home and often feels silly for complaining,
seeing them as trivial compared to what Mina’s gone through. But Mina never
once belittles or waves off Paula’s struggles, and is a constant source of
support for her. This is so gratifying to see and we need more friendships like this in literature.
People change each other. Michael is adamant in his belief
that he didn’t change because he fell for Mina. He changed because she showed
him a side of the world he had never seen before and made him realize he needed
to come to his own conclusions about right and wrong. As for Mina, Michael
teaches her not to outright dismiss anyone. Abdel-Fattah has so many important things to say in The Lines We Cross, but the main takeaways
can be broken down thusly… People have massive effects on one another, whether
for good or for ill. Question everything except your own value and never be
complacent. Never ever stop fighting
for what is right.
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