book review crossing the line

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Crossing the Line  by Nick McKenzie

Hachette, $34.99 pb, 475 pp

W hen Justice Anthony Besanko released his judgment on the Ben Roberts-Smith versus Fairfax defamation case on 1 June, there was a lot more riding on his decision than the reputation of the principal parties and who would be landed with the eye-watering legal bills. Had the verdict gone against Fairfax, its reporters, Nick McKenzie, Chris Masters, and, to a lesser extent, Dan Oakes, would have struggled to return to or resurrect their careers. Defeat would have had a chilling effect on genuinely probing investigative reporting. In the face of such a decision, media organisations and editors around the country would have thought long and hard about letting their journalists pursue well-connected and well-resourced public figures, let alone defend their findings in court. But there was more at stake than that. The ‘defamation trial of the century’ was also widely, if inaccurately, regarded as a war crimes trial by proxy. While Roberts-Smith was not on trial for any of the crimes McKenzie and Masters alleged that he had committed or facilitated, had Justice Besanko found that the reporters had defamed him it would have made the pursuit of war crimes charges against Roberts-Smith more unlikely, or more difficult. The sense of relief at Besanko’s judgment was near universal. It not only emboldened the nation’s investigative reporters and their editors but also opened the way for the full and free pursuit of those members of Australia’s Special Forces credibly identified by the Brereton Report (2020) as having committed war crimes in Afghanistan.

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Kevin Foster

• Nick McKenzie
• Ben RobertsSmith

Kevin Foster is an Associate Professor in the School of Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics at Monash University. His most recent book is Anti-Social Media: Conventional Militaries in the Digital Battlespace (Melbourne University Press 2021).

Crossing the Line

by Nick McKenzie

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Crossing the Line: A Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport That Changed Their Lives Forever

Kareem rosser. st. martin’s, $28.99 (304p) isbn 978-1-25027-086-3.

Reviewed on: 11/09/2020

Genre: Nonfiction

Paperback - 304 pages - 978-1-250-83716-5

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#BookReview Crossing the Line by Bibi Belford @BarbaraBelford @skyponypress

Billy’s family has fallen on hard times, what with his da hospitalized after the war and his ma barely scraping by. But it’s no hardship for him when there’s not enough money to pay the tuition for Nativity of Our Lord, the private Catholic school everyone in his neighborhood attends. Billy’s not big on education.

When he transfers to James Ward, a Chicago public school, he finds out there’s a big difference at public school: the kids aren’t all Irish—in fact, they aren’t even all white. It isn’t long before Billy’s found a new best friend in Foster, another fifth grader who also doesn’t have any money, loves baseball, and just happens to be black.

Billy is pretty sure skin color doesn’t matter. Not when he and Foster are just horsing around, playing baseball, working on the docks of the canal, and building a raft at their secret hideout on Bridgeport’s Bubbly Creek. But in the Red Summer of 1919, it does matter .

Heartfelt, sweeping, and immersive!

Crossing the Line is a moving, fascinating, coming-of-age story set in Chicago during the early 1900s that highlights all the struggles and racial tension of the time and reminds us that even though we’ve come so far, we still have a long way to go.

The writing is sincere and smooth. The characters are concerned, vulnerable and loyal. And the story is an exceptionally compelling tale about life, loss, familial dynamics, friendship, courage, community, discrimination, and racial segregation. 

Overall, Crossing the Line is a well written, exceptionally researched, moving novel by Belford that is a beautiful blend of historical facts, intriguing fiction, and endearing characters.

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links. 

Thank you to Sky Pony Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

About Bibi Belford

Bibi Belford graduated with a B.A. in English from Westmont College and has worked as a playground supervisor for children of migrant workers and was a student teacher in a bilingual classroom before completing her masters in Bilingual Literacy at Northern Illinois University. She currently works as a literacy coach and reading interventionist for an elementary school in Illinois. She is the mother of four grown children and lives in Batavia, Illinois.

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Crossing the Line Book Review

Crossing the Line: a Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport that Changed Their Lives Forever by Kareem Rosser is a memoir bursting with hope, hard work and horses. The cover hooked my attention with an image of a little boy in shorts on an Appaloosa, riding with a halter and two mismatched lead ropes for reins.

This post contains affiliate links.

When I discovered it was an equestrian memoir (I devour the genre and even wrote my own ) and the rider was a polo player, I pre-ordered a copy immediately. If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you’ll know I started “playing” polo this summer. I took a series of ten lessons and am now scheming to take ten more.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Susan Friedland (@saddleseekshorse)

I listened to the Audible version ( click here for sample audio ), and later purchased the book so I could see pictures. 🙂

Crossing the Line’s Storyline

Kareem Rosser, the star of Crossing the Line , is an unlikely polo player. His family is not from Argentina, Wellington or Santa Barbara–they are from an under-resourced community in West Philadelphia. The urban neighborhood Kareem grew up in had a reputation for poverty and violence, yet there was an oasis of serenity not too far away at the Work to Ride stables. There Kareem fell in love with horses. He found both an outlet for his athleticism and motivation to keep his grades up–so he could ride.

Leslie Hiner, the founder of Work to Ride , starts out as Kareem’s riding instructor who teaches horsemanship and eventually polo. As time progresses, she becomes a mentor and like a family member as she facilitates Kareem’s life with horses.

Leslie’s role resonated with me. I would not have had the means and opportunity to connect with horses were it not for a kind horsewoman who was friends with my parents. I refer to her as my horse riding patron .

Kareem’s story is an important one to be read and pondered. I am not going to overshare here because you really ought to read it for yourself . However my guess is if you are reading this blog, you did not grow up in a troubled neighborhood. I believe it’s important to both listen and learn from people whose life experiences and backgrounds differ from our own. Doing so gives us more empathy and can inform our worldview for the better. Not only that, but you will encounter your own “me too” moments.

You might enjoy The Compton Cowboys Book Review.

I already alluded to the fact I rode borrowed horses, sometimes in a halter and lead when I was a kid. Also, I had an older, caring adult who made horses happen for me. And like Kareem, I have found solace in a stable and a true friend in an equine partner.

This memoir beautifully portrays the role horses play in connecting people to each other. How many amazing people are in your life because you share a horse bond? Furthermore, it demonstrates how horses themselves are powerful healing forces for us mere mortals. Horses give us affection, trust and the ability to be our truest selves without judgment. They listen to our sorrows and hold us up high (literally), allowing us to be bold in a way that endures, even when we are unmounted.

Horses are transformational and the very nature of living with them is hope. I predict you will laugh, cry and enjoy reading Kareem Rosser’s life story. Perhaps you will be inspired to do something, like Leslie, in order to bring the kindness and glory of horses to children who need them. Snag your own copy of Crossing the Line to gallop into an exciting world of polo and its people.

Thank you for reading and tally ho!

Leave a Comment: Have you read Crossing the Line yet? If so, what did you think? Does this story remind you of other equestrian memoirs?

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Nick McKenzie’s book on Ben Roberts-Smith is a master class in investigative journalism

The award-winning reporter's book is a testament to tenacious journalism and should be read by every Australian.

Johan Lidberg

Jun 28, 2023

I will forever remember choking on my morning coffee when I read The Age on June 8 2018. Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters’ article detailing the alleged war crimes in Afghanistan of a highly decorated Australian war hero was confronting, to say the least. “This is crazy brave,” I remember thinking. “I really hope they’ve done their homework.”

Unsurprisingly, they had. I say unsurprisingly given Masters comes from the golden age of Australian investigative journalism in the 1980s; his seminal reporting of corruption in Queensland exposed the rot in the Joh Bjelke-Petersen government and eventually brought it down.

The opening of McKenzie’s book, Crossing the Line: The inside story of murder, lies and a fallen hero , makes one reflect on how Australian investigative journalism manages to thrive, making crucial contributions to our liberal democracy and holding societal powers to account.

To list a few of the past decade: McKenzie and team reporting on Melbourne’s Crown Casino; ABC’s Four Corners and Louise Milligan reporting on child abuse in the Catholic Church leading to the royal commission into institutional child abuse; Crikey’s Amber Schultz reporting on the abuse of state guardianship ; Nine’s Adele Ferguson exposing malpractice in the banking and financial sector regarding financial advisory services.

These examples are even more impressive given the severe restrictions on public interest and investigative reportage in Australia, where power elites employ “lawfare” to smother public interest journalism.

However, McKenzie’s and Masters’ reporting efforts on Ben Roberts-Smith go beyond any previous investigative undertaking in Australia. McKenzie’s book, in forensic detail, tells the inside story of the Roberts-Smith reporting project, reflecting the courage required to shed light on the nation-forming myth of the Anzac legend and Australia’s infatuation with war heroes.

To dare to question the reputation of a living war hero is one of the greatest challenges in public interest journalism in Australia. We should all be deeply grateful to McKenzie and Masters for igniting a much-needed, respectful national discourse on our relationship with the Anzac legend. This relationship is far from healthy, as McKenzie’s book so clearly and eloquently illustrates.

Crossing the Line resonates strongly with me. I have deployed twice with UN peacekeeping forces in Cyprus and Lebanon, and although I’ve never witnessed the alleged savagery of Roberts-Smith and some of his colleagues, I have seen his archetypes — the bullying, the lack of empathy, the harm caused to those deployed too many times into theatres of war.

The book outlines in detail how sections of the Australian power elite tried to stop the truth from being reported, including: Brendan Nelson, the former defence minister and former director of the Australian War Memorial; Kerry Stokes, the Seven West Media billionaire who bankrolled Roberts-Smith’s defamation case to the tune of tens of millions for dollars; and, disappointingly, decorated investigative journalist Ross Coulthart, who was allegedly hired as a PR consultant to pressure The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald to not run the stories.

Roberts-Smith’s defenders corralled around him, knowing the Australian Defence Force-instigated Brereton inquiry into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan was ongoing. Surely this should have sparked some doubt in their support for the disgraced war hero, especially given the number of current and former SAS soldiers — including former SAS captain and current Liberal member in the House of Representatives Andrew Hastie — who spoke up about the problematic culture in the SAS.

I know from personal experience how incredibly strong the code of silence is within special forces units. The fact that McKenzie and Masters, from the first article, had numerous SAS sources indicated they were reporting the truth and had done due diligence in ensuring they could back these deeply serious claims.

Whatever happens next to Roberts-Smith (and this case still has a long way to run), the power elite that backed him and tried to stifle the truth should be held to account. Perhaps this will happen with each indictment we are bound to get from the office of the special investigator acting on the Brereton report, which found there was credible evidence of 25 Australian soldiers being involved in 39 murders of Afghans during their deployments to Afghanistan.

The current chair of the Australian War Memorial, Kim Beazley, has a major challenge in how the memorial deals with disgraced war heroes, starting with the life-sized Roberts-Smith portrait and exhibition.

The book is a complete page-turner and a master class in investigative journalism. Tracking down the name of the victim kicked off a cliff and then shot in the Darwan incident is crucial in humanising a killed Afghan civilian. His name was Ali Jan. The section where McKenzie describes his trip to Afghanistan to talk to Jan’s wife, Bibi, is deeply moving.

Echoing McKenzie’s words, we owe an immense debt to the SAS soldiers past and present who stood up and told the truth. They are the real heroes. As Hastie pointed out, they may have saved the SAS.

With McKenzie and Masters (and credit to both Fairfax Ltd and Nine Entertainment for backing the publications), they managed what no other liberal democracy has done to this extent so far: expose the dirty and disgusting underbelly of war, which morally corrupts some of the people we deploy to fight in our name.

McKenzie’s book should be read by every Australian. It will certainly be a set reading in the journalism courses I teach.

About the Author

Contributor

Johan Lidberg is the head of journalism at Monash University. He has a special forces background and has twice served with the United Nations peacekeeping forces in Cyprus and Lebanon. His research is focussed on freedom of information, media accountability and regulation.

• Ben Roberts-Smith
• book reviews
• chris masters
• investigative journalism
• nick mckenzie

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Give a brute a uniform, a badge and a vast array of guns – what could possibly go wrong?

Ben Roberts-Smith, and his criminal mates in the SAS, have had their criminality exposed in the Brereton Inquiry. In addition, he stands condemned by another judge who decided that, on the balance of probability, he committed terrible war crimes. And yet he remains free, to walk among us, still not charged with any wrongdoing at all. A murderer who, it appears, will never face justice. What the hell is going on here?

Today in the Federal Court the Commonwealth asked for access to evidence presented in Roberts-Smith’s civil defamation trial to use in ongoing war crimes investigations. So the show isn’t over yet for BRS.

Today in the Federal Court the Commonwealth asked for access to evidence presented in the civil defamation trial to use in ongoing investigations. So the show isn’t over yet.

He’s rich (or in their milieu) – no accountability any more, haven’t you heard?

You’d have to be deaf and blind to have missed the memo from the UK Tories…

Lets not forget barrister Arthur Moses (aka Boo, aka The Count) who was paid stupid amounts of money and put his reputation on the line to defend this immorale t-rd. His reputation must be in tatters now. I’m sure Gladys will warm him with a hot cuppa.

Are you saying that some defendants, because of the allegations they face, are not entitled to representation, so any barrister that appears for them is tainted? Or are you saying Arthur Moses’ reputation is in tatters simply because, in your view, he did such a rotten job compared to what you’d expect from a competent barrister?

Incidentally, in the relevant court case Ben Roberts-Smith was not a defendant and he was not being defended by Arthur Moses or anyone else. He was the plaintiff, sueing for damages.

Hard disagree. For our adversarial legal system to function all parties are entitled to competent representation.

That BRS spent around 15 years in the army, was touted as a fine leader, yet could only manage the rank of corporal after all that time, should speak volumes as to the quality of the man.

The leadership potential of corporals? A century ago there was an Austrian in the German Army who only achieved the rank of corporal (along with an Iron Cross 1st class, a rare award for an NCO), but he went on to be rather well-known leader.

That is true, Sinking SR. But it has been remarked upon, perhaps in an extract from McKenzie’s book, or another piece recently published, that BR-S underwent something of a transformation (middling student, chubby average soldier, to buff, muscled SAS, ‘absent, indifferent husband/father, to father of the year’), etc, but his failure to progress beyond cpl suggested the hierarchy knew something was up. OTOH, the structure of the SAS is such that leadership is devolved because it’s the patrol leaders that take the blokes out, and they like to keep the officers back at base.

Also worth noting, and recently reported in the Nine papers, the toll exacted upon sociologist and researcher Samantha Crompvoets who has lost her livelihood as a result of exposing the crimes and misdemeanours in the SAS and armed forces. We owe *her* a great debt, and something should be done to restore her working life and reputation.

The cat’s out of the bag for her – as she says, most organisations hire consultants to tell them what they want to hear, and her frank and fearless runs are on the board.

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CROSSING THE LINE

From the border town series , vol. 1.

by Malín Alegría ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2012

A welcome entry into the teen market, especially for Bluford Series fans.

In the first title in the Border Town series, Alegría introduces Fabiola “Fabi” Garza, a Mexican-American teen in the fictitious Texas border town of Dos Rios.

Although her best friend, Georgia Rae, moved away over the summer, Fabi is looking forward to a new school year, since she can finally show her younger sister Alexis the ropes at Dos Rios High. Working as a server in her family’s Mexican restaurant, Fabi is joined by a colorful cast of friends and familia . Against her sister’s advice, Alexis takes up with the popular crowd at school, including football hotshot Dex Andrews. The book quickly takes a darker turn when restaurant employee Chuy is mugged and beaten while covering Fabi’s shift. While her parents and others suspect her cousin Santiago, Fabi believes he is innocent, regardless of his past troubles. Meanwhile, Alexis begins lying to her family to spend more time with Dex and resenting Fabi’s sisterly advice. Overhearing someone bragging at a party about mugging undocumented immigrants, Fabi believes she knows who robbed Chuy. After Santiago ends up in jail, Fabi realizes she has to reveal what she knows. The author sprinkles Spanish words naturally in the text, tackles timely issues without preaching and provides enough light moments to balance the tone.

Pub Date: May 1, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-545-40240-8

Page Count: 192

Publisher: Point/Scholastic

Review Posted Online: March 6, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2012

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION

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BOOK REVIEW

by Malín Alegría

IF ONLY I HAD TOLD HER

by Laura Nowlin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 2024

A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.

In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me , three characters tell their sides of the story.

Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.

Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024

ISBN: 9781728276229

Page Count: 416

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE

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by Laura Nowlin

IF HE HAD BEEN WITH ME

by Laura Nowlin ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2013

There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.

The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.

Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.

Pub Date: April 1, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5

Page Count: 336

Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES

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Crossing the Line: Finding America in the Borderlands Paperback – June 18, 2024

• Print length 424 pages
• Language English
• Publisher She Writes Press
• Publication date June 18, 2024
• ISBN-10 1647425794
• ISBN-13 978-1647425791
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ She Writes Press (June 18, 2024)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 424 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1647425794
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1647425791
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.11 pounds
• #145 in Immigration Policy
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Crossing the Line

Bonnier Books UK (13+) 9781471413049 (Paperback)

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Fourteen-year-old Erik is grieving for his father when his mum meets a new partner, becomes pregnant and is abandoned.  Erik feels the burden of poverty and the weight of grief which lead him to make decisions that affect his future and which lead him down a path from which he cannot easily escape.   Measured and plausible, we follow Erik’s decision to their conclusion and witness first-hand how the situation becomes so tangled.  Erik’s situations quickly spiral out of control in ways that are frighteningly believable.   

Brilliantly drawn characters are depicted in emotive and believable ways. The use of verse keeps the pace lively, adds vibrant meaning and ensures engagement throughout. A skilful exploration into drug crime and county lines using beautiful spare text with rhythm and rhyme to make for an affecting story.  The book experiments with text, sounds and formatting, adding layers of meaning to the story and making it innovative and engaging. It takes the reader on a real journey. A well-plotted storyline underpinned by a single episode at school. There’s a cyclical nature to how the story begins and ends.   

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Crossing the Line is Tia Fisher’s debut novel. In her spare time, she works in a children’s library and has also completed an MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. She has published poems in The Rialto and been longlisted for the Mslexia Children’s Novel Award. Crossing the Line has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal 2024, longlisted for the UK Literacy Association Book Awards 2023 and the Warwickshire Teen Book Awards 2023 and shortlisted for Southern Schools Book Award 2023 and the Bristol Teen Book Awards 2023. Tia lives in South London with her husband and two teenage children (who wish she’d stop mining them for source material).

Shadowers' reviews and artwork

I found this book incredible. It really gave me an understanding of the way that teenagers get involved in gangs. I really liked the structure of the book. It made it more interesting and the use of emotional language just made the book more realistic. The layout of the book makes it easy and engaging to read.

Talya Fortismere

This was definitely my favourite Carnegie book! I loved the different points of view and how it didn’t end on a happy note like most books. It was a huge success and i hope there is a sequel!

Maya Herts and Essex

This was an eye-opening book to the dangers that young teens face and how desperation can overwhelm the senses. The morals of the story were great and had lots of power. It demonstrates the impact that drugs and peer pressure can have upon the younger generation. I really enjoyed the book and I think it is a fantastic easy read for teens of all reading ages.

Khadija Sharples Shadows

I think this was a great book with an amazing story. It made me feel quite sad as it mentioned in the book that things like what happened in the book happen to real people around my age. I think it really helps to raise awareness about things that are mentioned in the book.

Jayden Sharples Shadows

I have now read all of the books on this year's list, and this was my clear favourite. Erik is a believable character caught up in the world of drug dealing on the streets after the rest of his life becomes very messy after the loss of his father. Although it is written in narrative verse I did not find that this hindered my reading or understanding of events and it had clearly been very well researched. This is a book that is well worth reading, whoever you are to better understand sections of the society in which we live.

Mr Jurd Herts and Essex

I Loved this book and how it shows a sad reality of what can happen to young people who aren't careful nowadays in areas such as London, as the book goes on he does start to realise what is happening to him and he does try to get away from it to succeed but not by much when the ending comes with a twist and uncertainty. This was definitely my favorite of the books so far

Felix Ermysted’s

‘Crossing the line’ was written by Tia Fisher. It’s about a boy who suffered the loss of his father during COVID and his life gradually became worse and worse as his grief made him make one bad decision after the other. The entire book is written in a variety of poems and is often very visual. I would rate this book 5/5 stars because it gave us another view of the people who live in the same neighbourhood as us. This made me aware of how easy it is to find myself in an impossible situation to deal with. It was very dramatic and I was constantly wondering what would happen next since it is a part of society that I am not very aware of. I also had an opinion about the character rather than just reading about a random person. Throughout the book they would talk about the ‘safe’ which made me think about my safety and the privileges that I have being in a safe environment even though at times it doesn’t feel like it this shows that I have never been in that much danger. The book also gave a message to those who might need help by saying that there are people who they can talk to. So being a reader with a few personal issues yourself might benefit when reading this book.

Clara Euro Bookworms

Crossing The Line was a tough one to read. It explored concepts I wasn’t really aware of, and I think it is, and will continue to be, a really important book in showing the way we can make bad choices sometimes because they feel like they aren’t choices, or it is already too late. Erik was a really intriguing character, and many of the things that happened to him, are things that will also have happened to thousands of other people, so bringing them to light is amazing. Despite, as I already said, this being a tough one to read, it was well written and interesting.

Susannah SHSK Shadowers

This book was very intense. I really enjoyed reading it. The emotional rollercoaster that the protagonist experiences is very captivating.

Sophie Dallam Bookclub

Do you feel safe? This book is the story of Erik, a teenage boy who gets swept up in drug dealing. The story explores him trying to navigate this shadowy world and try to make his way out. I really loved this book because it was an insightful look into the darker side of urban life. It is written well and engaging for the reader. Although I was unsure at first, I came to love the poetic style of writing that the book has: it sets the book apart. Overall, this is one of my favourite Carnegie books this year. I love the gripping narrative and the well-chosen language that come together to make this book exceptional. I would highly recommend this book to older readers who love more mature books and I'm sure it will be one of your favourites too!

Owen Larkmead

I am reviewing Crossing The Line. I really enjoyed Crossing The Line. This book is certainly one of the best books I have read all year. I really loved this book because of the mix of poetry and story line. 14 year old Eric's father has died making things in a sticky situation. His mother has married a new man and they have twins. This then leads Eric into the wrong path of drug dealing. What I loved reading about this book was what Eric did and how to hide from his mother that he was drug dealing. This really kept me on my toes and wanted me to read more. Eric found a few friends that then lead him to the path of drug dealing. I felt that this book was emotional and had a plotted storyline. Overall I loved this book.

oliver Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Fantastic!!!!!!!!! I give this book 6/10 because it is in my top three books so far. I really recommend this book because I really get to understand about drugs and drug sellers . And I really like that Erik tries to fix his problems about it.

Chloe The St. Bede’s Literary Critics

One of my favourite things about this book is the little sentence on the cover saying 'This is the story of Erik... He's very good at making bad decisions'' which instantly grasps my attention however still giving that comical sprinkle as well. This book also covers the theme of impossible choices which was a strong aspect of this book which made it really special as many books don't have this effect. The structure of this book was really interesting however it still kept up that element of uniqueness across many books. I enjoyed it very much. 8.9/10

Shara Plashet School

I really enjoyed reading 'Crossing the Line'. It is a tragic and lively story written in verse , which maintains a fast and exciting pace throughout. It sometimes created shapes and images with the words that relate to the story and uses different fonts, sizes and layouts to extenuate key words. The style was very enjoyable and easy to readand makes me wonder why I have never read a verse novel before! Despite this, I found the writing style a little lacking in description for my taste, but then again, one could argue that it keeps a fast pace and fits with the style. This book tackles a really difficult -- and frankly under-represented -- theme of youth drug running, trap houses, cuckooing, bereavement, poverty and especially grooming of young people. I think that this book shows a really important message: in most drug dealing cases involving young people, they are the victim and it is very difficult to avoid once put in these situations. I thought that most of the character building was great, although i found Erik very irritating sometimes, and I often found myself getting frustrated at him for being so nonchalant and unempathetic towards his mother. Overall, the plot was quite exciting-- and certainly heart breaking-- and had me gripped from the beginning. On the synopsis, it says that his sisters' lives are threatened, but they are only threatened in the last few pages, which I was a little disappointed about! I loved this book as it was written in a unique way, tackled a difficult topic and was just exhilarating.

I quite liked this book. I did however find that the poetical structure made the emotional connections with the characters harder. I personally feel that the story was very heartfelt and I loved the creativity with word pictures. I throughly enjoyed reading this book.

Ava Dallam Bookclub

An eye-opening book that’s about a young boy dealing with the peer pressure of substances and violence. I would recommend this for older readers due to the language and content. This book was based on real events and did a good job of raising drug awareness. Overall, this is a good book to acknowledge what can happen and how to get help/support if it happens to you.

Isabelle CTA Book Club

This book spreads awareness to the gangs exploiting children to sell drugs which is a very good way to make young people aware of problems like this. I love how the story starts with ‘do you feel safe’ which is a nice rhetorical question to start a story. As Erik’s story continue he is constantly put it situations that makes him feel unsafe. This shows how drug dealing can lead you down a twisted road. This story teaches you about a problem and has a unique way of telling it which makes this book amazing.

Phoebe Herts and Essex

Personally,I loved this book as it talks about real life problems that are quite sensitive but important to shed light upon, The main character had been torn into two risky choices that would drastically change his life.It talks about his trauma with his dad dying,his stepdad leaving,him having to become a man and a provider at such a young age.I also liked the layout and style of the book and how uniquely it is presented, It really indicates that the complexity of the layout also foreshadows the complexity of his life

Razin Ermysted’s

Gripping book that was extremely well written as it felt realistic and accurate whilst shining light on an important issue in the UK

Samantha I Forgot the Name of the Group

Crossing the Line is a book based of the character Erik, who’s life starts to take a downfall after his dad dies. Good grades, detentions and following school rules start to feel unimportant as he starts misbehaving which catches the attention of a local gang. As he takes on tasks for the gang, he starts to realise this life isn’t for him which leads him into a lot of trouble. What I like about this book is how it illustrates the behaviour and troubles of being in a local gang which shows us how much danger young people put their lives into just for some quick cash. This book also showed me how tough it is to leave as once your part of a gang, the members have all eyes on you. My favourite character in the book would probably be Ravi as he always by Erik’s side even when he needed help leaving. However, I didn’t really like Erik’s mum at the start of the book as she seemed a bit neglectful once Erick started to fail at school and started wandering out of the house. Overall, I would rate this book a 7.5/10 as there is a cliffhanger at the end when I really wanted to know what happened, I would recommend this book to those 13 + as there is some harsh language and I think people who would like an insight of the life of local gangs would really like this book.

Esi The Fitzharrys Shadows

Crossing the Line is an immersive story that deals with some serious and heavy themes in an engaging way that allows us an insight into what Erik is experiencing. The start of the book is successful in setting the scene and immediately grabbed my attention and I was continuously engaged throughout, my interest not faltering. I thoroughly enjoyed the characterisation of particular characters such as Erik, who simply got himself into a bad situation but shows undoubtedly a caring nature for his family. His character contrasts drastically to the likes of K1, a rough character who lives a life shrouded in drugs and mystery. The correlation between Erik’s running as a sport, and, the running away from his problems was an interesting aspect of him, showing a paralleled meaning for him. I felt the climax of the story towards the end, where Erik had enough of being under K1’s order and decided to break free or ‘cross the line’, this part of the story particularly left me on the edge of my seat. The last few pages of the book shocked me immensely when Erik’s dog was drugged and a note was left saying for Erik to hand over the SIM card or his sisters were next, this created a sense of danger and an ominous tone that left me wanting to know what truly happens next. I additionally found the book to be a fairly easy read that made it a perfect book for those who do not have much time to read or just want a book that is simple!

Grace Rebel Readers

This book has really deep messages. I love how it is written in poems and I feel like it helps me understand the book more. How the stanzas in the poems are presented is also very creative. What happens is that Erik's father passed away, leaving his mother desperate for someone to help her go through the pain. However, her new-found boyfriend abandoned her, leaving her pregnant with twins. Erik experiences poverty, and the grief and the loss of love was too much for him. His grades go downhill, and is often bullied because of his ginger hair (this is really depressing, how he gets unwanted attention because of his appearance). When Erik joins a gang that deal drugs, he knew he had to get out of it. His best friend Ravi supported him throughout year nine (that for me is shockingly young for boy to be in a gang) and eventually his mum, Erik, and the twins moved to a different city. However, trouble still followed them there but Ravi recommended Erik to go on a helpline (not sure if it's correct) that support kids like Erik who got into drugs and need help escaping. An improvement to me would be Erik actually telling the police and the process after it because it will be more realistic. I've read a book that is similar to this, but they needed to do community service to make up for the crimes. I would recommend this book to others.

Mila Beauchamp Champs 2024

I think crossing the line has a really nice storyline and a good moral. I would definitely recommend the book to people in their teenage years like me.

Ananya Herts and Essex

I think that this was a very thoughtful and required book in our library as I did not know that this happened before reading this. It shows you just how terrifying drug dealing is and how ‘easy money’ can quickly become a death sentence. It was fascinating and also reinforced my beliefs that babies are annoying. It also showed me how it was like to live in poverty and one thing I especially liked about the book is the change in format at key moments. It made the book slightly harder to read but it made it much easier to understand and empathise with Erik.

Konnie DCGS1624

This book was telling a story of how people can get into things that they shouldn’t be in so it made me realise that some people suffer from doing things they didn’t want to do. It told quite a suspenseful story. I rate it 4/5

Bella Herts and Essex

Crossing the line is a very powerful book with the message that brings. It gave me a better understanding of how crimes will come with consequences. It highlights the danger the world brings. Would recommend.

Elin Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd

I thought this book was incredible because it managed to pull me into the book and showed emotion in the book. I also liked how when Erik tried to cross the county line because the way that he did it involved things from earlier in the book ,such as his mums phone number. I would give it a 10/10.

Ben P Ermysted’s

Crossing the line is an interesting novel, another one written in verse, which addresses the problems with drug use and violence. This book raises the issues with single parenting and the controversial phenomenon of the absent father. Fisher follows the life of a boy, Erik, as he grows up though secondary school makes new friends that aren't necessarily good for him and ends up taking the fathers role in his household, this in turn causes his grades to drop and he starts acting up in school. Erik then becomes friends with the school bullies who introduce him to drugs and he then ends up becoming a dealer to get enough money to help himself and his mother. One thing I liked about this book was how visual the poems were, some were in obvious shapes and some were abstract, and how most of them were free verse. I would definitely recommend this book as it is an easy read and I will be getting it for myself, 5/5.

Aoife Euro Bookworms

This book is awesome as it shows the dark business of county lines through a more friendly way. I would vote for this book but I think the door of no return is an atom bit better. And it tells young people to don’t get into this business.

Ming Ermysted’s

I really enjoyed reading "Crossing the Line". Although I haven't experienced most of the challenges Erik goes through, I could find myself really empathising with him and understanding the decisions he was making because of his circumstances. My favourite parts of the book were the pages where concrete poetry was used. I especially liked the pages with the boxes made of words. I'd probably rate this book 9/10. It had a bit of a slow start but after the first 30 pages I really got into it.

Jozefinka The St. Bede’s Literary Critics

Overall I really enjoyed reading “Crossing The Line”. Sometimes I got a bit lost with all the characters but I eventually figured it out. I like that at the beginning it starts with a question. ‘Do you feel safe?’ I like how it got me thinking. In this book, I could really empathise with Erik and everything he was going through. I loved the description throughout the book especially during the scene when he was being attacked and on the train when he thought they were following him and that they were coming to get him. I also really liked how the format of where the words were placed also painted a picture and gave lots of effect.

Hannah The John Mason Shadowers

'Crossing the Line,' is an easy book to read, I like how it is written like a poem. I love how it makes me feel that I am actually there in person. I love how on the chapters name pages, are like dominos. It really makes you think how delicate life really is. This book I think would be more suitable for teens, rather than primary school children. I love how at the end of the book has points for discussion. I rate this book 8/10.

Ailise Rebel Readers

"Crossing the Line" captivates with its gripping narrative, drawing readers into the intense world of urban turmoil. What distinguishes it is its unique format as a verse novel, infusing each line with lyrical potency. Through succinct yet powerful language, the author paints a vivid portrait of life on the edge. This innovative storytelling not only engages but also deepens the impact of the protagonist's journey through temptation and redemption. "Crossing the Line" stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit amidst the chaos of urban existence.

Marwa The Bentley Woodlanders

This is a story about Erik, whose family experiences turmoil after his Dad dies and his mother’s new boyfriend leaves them with no money and two extra mouths to feed. Erik gets pulled into a world of criminality, drug-dealing and violence and then has to save his two, younger sisters from the terrors of this world. The action is set in and around a large, shadowy city where Erik encounters Travis and Ben, also students at his school, but known for their absenteeism and trouble-making. This is not a good place for Erik to be. Set during and immediately after the recent Covid pandemic, this is a novel about the recent past. The tension builds throughout the book and reaches a climax when the gang leader sends Erik on a mission through another gang’s territory. The mission fails. Erik is left wounded, scared and owing money. Although the plot is far from most readers’ reality, it reads like a believable truth. The author pulls the reader with engaging descriptions and the dark story-telling. This story is also written in verse which is set out as pictures throughout the book, giving the reader a sense of what Erik is feeling. This novel is one of a kind. I highly recommend it to those who enjoy reading tragic stories which have a splash of adventure and lots of suspense.

Gabriel Euro Bookworms

A very interesting premise exploring a less known aspect of life. A good debut by Tia Fisher

adam Beechen Cliff

What a fantastic read. After being recommended this by other Librarians (of course along with it being on the shortlist) I was inspired to read straight away. It's hard-hitting and emotional throughout, with quite mature content and themes but I love how you really feel as though you're following Erik's journey in real time because of how it's written. This was the first verse novel I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It didn't take long to read as I was gripped from the start. Highly recommend, perhaps to Yr 9 upwards.

Mrs Jones WCSC Carnegie

It is a good book for various reasons, one reason is because it guides the reader throughout the book, making the reader feel different feelings using the font and how it is formed. It is also about drugs which raises awareness. Lastly it is easy to read and it's quite a quick read, taking around 3 hours to read it from start to finish.

Dylan Beechen Cliff

I am currently reading crossing the line and so far I have enjoyed it. I really like the way the author writes in poems. I have never read a book using this method before and it’s really nice to try something different. I think the topic in this book is really hard hitting and so far I have found this book really good. When I’m reading it it makes me forget about what’s going on and I am fully focused onto Erik’s story. It really feels like I’m in the story and I think that’s a really good characteristic for a book to have. All the best books make you actually feel something and make you forget about you. So far I am really enjoying this book and I hope to be able to write an equally wonderful review when I’ve finished it.

Anabelle Burford School

Wow, this book simply amazing. Relatable and relevant. Hard hitting but very human at the same time. I love the structure and layout, the use of varying text styles. The pace of the narrative is just perfect!

Mrs Parr Appleton readers

This is the story of Erik, A boy who is very good at making bad decisions. When his father dies of covid-19 he and his mother are distraught when she finally meets someone new she becomes pregnant then is sadly abandoned. When the twins are welcomed into the world Erick must become the man of the house. But the meeting of two older boys causes Erik to be caught up in gang work. To make money is a difficult task for him and his mom with his two sisters and Erik’s schooling to consider. The sight of money makes him join without a second thought. That was the worst mistake he ever could have made. At first things are great. He's making money and living the life until he realises, he was not made for this lifestyle. The young boy is told to give drugs and many other suspicious and dangerous things to people. Erik must leave for not only his safety but his precious twin sisters and his hard-working mother. But it's not as easy as you may think. Gangs are malicious and once you’re apart of it there's no escape. Erik must find a way to escape as soon as possible, or else things could get very ugly very quick. This book is amazing it explores topics that teachers usually gloss over thinking you don’t need that type of information but really you do gangs are seductive and make fake promises you can’t turn down. But as soon as you give in there is no escape. Gangs, selling drugs, poverty are more are a harsh reality for children this book puts all the facts out there, like this is it its your choice if you want to be involved or not. Overall, it was a great book and I recommend this book to people of 12+.As some topics can be very sensitive but overall, I love the way the book was set out and written it really gave you ash insight into Erik and his struggles.

Isabel.S Larkmead

Crossing the line - GREAT BOOK 10/10 First of all I just want to say that I REALLY liked this book - it was a great very engaging read albeit a bit short. highly recommend

Eli Chiswick Carnegie

Crossing the line is a descriptive and beautiful piece of work. Real life issues of peer pressure, gangs and drug dealing weigh heavy on Erik's shoulders as he tries to navigate life after it has been blown off coarse by his father's death. After his twin sisters are born, results of a horrible and short relationship of his mothers, he must find a way to provide for them as he is the 'man of the house'. Beautiful characters and a relatable story to many teenagers in the modern world. The story carries the word many children and teens have spoken over the years, in a perfect fast paced format. Truly beautiful.

Taira Chiswick Carnegie

Crossing the Line is a fast-paced verse novel with lots of things happening. I really liked the brutal honestness of it as it exposes the dangers in the world through a story. I felt it was very possible that this could happen in real-life as it is a very realistic story where things pile on top of each other until it gets dangerous. I would change the role of some of the more minor characters that are kind to Erik to show that he is not entirely alone but that he is still in danger.

Chloe SCD Pageturners

I only got to around page 52, it's an alright book but took too long to start up so I lost interest. Nothing really stands out about it. It's not bad but it's not good either.

Aidan OLSB Shadowers

I absolutely loved this book, the cover is the reason I started it and Erik was the reason I finished it. the fact that it's written in verses is the cherry on top. Erik wasn't the only person i cared about, Ravi was also one of my favourites. I almost read it instead of doing horse ridding but changed my mind last second. 12/10 impecable

Yasmine EJM Carnegie Crew

Crossing the line is an interesting book about Erik and his life since his father died. He eventually catches the attention of a local gang and gets trapped in the life of drug dealing and violence. Its a great book and i would recommend it.

Molly Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd

I loved Crossing The Line.It was easy to read as it was in verse and it was a subject that I had never read about before.It was interesting to read about Erik, the mistakes he makes and how he fixes them.It's a a bit difficult to understand as you don't really know its drugs until the end.It uses metaphors instead of drugs to mention it.So far I'd one of my favourite books as I really couldn't put it down at all. 11/10 stars!

Rani EJM Carnegie Crew

This book is very realistic in both the way the story unfolds (I presume - it is certainly plausible) and in how much it evokes the emotion portrayed in it. This story will stay with you for a while, as the characters are deep and worth caring about, and the situation is nightmarish but also believable. The verse, to me, is written really effectively, accentuating the events but almost, at times, being so fluid you barely notice that it isn't written in prose. This makes the book a very quick read, which is perfect for the spiralling situation the protagonist finds himself in. I'd give this book a 7.75 out of 10. Even though it isn't what I'd usually read, I really enjoyed reading it and found it very interesting.

Matilda The Abbey Readers 2024

I greatly enjoyed this book because I found that it conveyed emotion extremely well. The use of repetition to emphasise the character's feelings was incredibly effective and made it greatly enjoyable for me. I found it interesting that the whole story was made of poems but still had the feel of a non-verse novel. I hadn't gone through any of the things the character had gone through but I still felt as if I had. Overall, this is an immersing story that will make you feel emotions as if they were first-hand. I give it 9/10.

Gabrielle The Abbey Readers 2024

A very good book that describes how easily young people can be groomed, especially if they are experiencing issues in their lives. It has very nice metaphors, both in the text and visually by twisting the words into shapes. It is a wonderful way of describing how trap houses and gangs work to people who don't know what they are, as well as describing, towards the end, what you can do if you feel threatened as a young child. On top of all of this, the way the story is told is incredibly relatable to anyone's lives, whether you are a teenager or an adult.

Thomas Open Book

Crossing The Line was an interesting book and something I would definitely recommend. The book is about a boy called Erik who dad has died and mum has been left with two twin baby girls, they are low on money and Erik gets into drug dealing to support his mum and there financial struggles. Crossing the line is an easy read and would recommend to someone who isn’t a keen reader.

Honor Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

I found the arrangement of the words to actually form pictures really fascinating and the story was so captivating and heartfelt. However I wish there could've been moments from the perspective of other characters in the book, especially Ravi watching his best friend slowly drift away from him and become consumed by all his problems with the county lines. Or maybe even his Mum reflecting back on how happy Erik used to be around his Dad. Regardless, it was an absolutely wonderful book and I would definitely consider this for the winner.

Ava SPS Book Clubbers

Niam Lionheart24

I really like this book and how it raises awareness about drugs and violence and how to avoid it

Leighton OSSMAORATORS

An amazing book covering some very serious topics. I highly enjoyed 'Crossing the line', and pondering deeply about the thought-provoking ideas and story line. However, due to the serious ideas that are covered in this book, it is not something you can easily recommend ('Oh, hey, you wanna read this book about drug dealing? Don't worry, it's fictional based upon a very true story!'). Despite saying this, I would say this is the most action-packed, nail-biter I have read in a LONG time. Overall, this was an amazing, eye-opening book that I would DEFINITELY re-read. Thanks Tia Fisher!

This book taught me about the dangers of drugs and violence and how they all have consequence's.

Diana OSSMAORATORS

Don't judge a book by it's cover! At first I thought this was a book of poetry and did not want to read it. It was more like verse and it read like a book. I did not think the font and word lay out on some pages helped me understand the story- it was more annoying. The book was very fast paced and I experienced so many emotions- especially fear. I was so worried about Erik and his family. It was hard to read and such a sad tale but it was clear how easily Erik fell into a world of drugs, which was so well portrayed. I loved how the relationships changed- Erik and Ravi being so close, then falling out, then Ravi to the rescue. I loved how Erik's love for his twin sisters grew. If it had not been for the running then I think the outcome would have been very different for Erik- so realistic that some people falling into drugs do not have an anchor. I LOVED this book- the story, the relationships, the emotions. Definitely my favourite.

Inge Ousedale Olney

My Book Review – Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher. Crossing The Line is written in verse and is a book based on a true story. It made me realise how lucky I am to have the attention I need and that I have it easy compared to what some people go through in life. (Not to give any spoilers!) But it is about a young boy (Erik) who goes down some bad roads and finds himself a bit stuck until... This was an AMAZING book to read. I love the way that Tia Fisher incorporated humour in her book when it is such a difficult topic that it’s about. It is not really like anything i have read before (in a good way) and it really took my mind off their life and how tricky things must have been for him, his mum, and the twins. The book really expanded my view on life and the troubles people can have. I 110% recommend this book for people who like books a little bit on the dark side! For the language used in this book I think it should be an 11+. Finally, I really hope this book wins!

Ella TPS Carnegie Collective

The book started with a metaphor about dominoes (first few chapters). I thought this was a brilliant idea because throughout the entire book, I had a feeling that a domino fell down each chapter as the the chapter numbers are represented as dominoes. Despite his cheesy taste in music, I think Ravi is one of my favourite characters because he is always helping his friends even if it puts himself in danger- this is seen towards the end. The fact that it turns innocent to scary and then to sad so quickly makes me want to read more and more. Something that annoys me is that the book ends on a cliffhanger - we never get to know if all ends well. I really want to know what happens. I would rate this book 4.5/5 I would recommend this book to slightly older readers because of the strong, offensive language and the topic of drugs.

Lianghan SHSK Shadowers

I quite enjoyed this book. It wasn't as dark as I expected but there were still some moments that I wasn't sure about. Crossing the line had a really important message that I think everyone should learn about. I really liked the ending of this book and overall it was far better than I expected.

Hannah Killy Krew

Crossing The Line was a very interesting read, it made me appreciate the life I have and show me how some people can make the wrong decisions. It was very enjoyable but it pained me to see Erik make the wrong decisions over and over again. What made me think was that none of Erik's choices would have happened if his dad hadn't died, because of this he got involved in drug dealing and violence. I think this book might be more appealing to an older audience.

Sebastian H Ermysted’s

The book, Crossing the line, is a very interesting and educational story about specific moments in the life of the protagonist called Erik. It talks about someone called Erik who gets chosen by a local gangs Chief(K1) because he needs money and because of his bad behaviour. This book is written in verse and starts with the title of that moment as the first sentence. I think that it is important that the majority of kids read this book as it will educate them and prepare them for these sorts of situations. Overall, I recommend this book to anyone, either in this situation or knowing about someone in this situation.

Kobe Bennett Memorial Book Club

I enjoyed Crossing The Line as it was impactful and meaningful as well as being enjoyable. The book is about a boy named Erik who gets caught up in County Lines. At first it is just easy money for him, however he begins to feel unsafe and is made to do unreasonable things. This book shows the dangers of being caught up in County Lines operations and is very meaningful. It is also entertaining. This book is written in verse, which makes the book fast and not too descriptive. There's never a dull moment because of how quickly and efficiently the book gets through everything (however it's never too fast or not descriptive enough) in an entertaining way. The way it experiments with art from words and fonts to convey story is unique, original and fun. Overall, this book is great!

Toby Readershadows24

I am a bit hit and miss with this book as I like it but it is a bit dull so I don't think it is one I would read again but I would recommend if you are a slow reader because there aren't that many pages and the book is not one that you could just read in one sitting no matter who you are. In conclusion I think that Erik is a cool character but some of the things he does is very stupid.

Lily SHS On The Same Page

This was a very interesting book. It taught me a lot about how to avoid drugs and violence. It also shows the importance of having a strong network of friends around you. I highly recommend this book to older readers!

Bee Chippy Chapters

Crossing The Line: Crossing the line is a very moving story written in verse based around Coronavirus Pandemic and how drug dealing is a wormhole of bad decisions. The main character is a student, at the age of 14 named Erik. Erik is scarred by his father's death in 2020 at the beginning of lockdown and is constantly struggling financially as his mother has new-born twins. With all of this going on Erik’s schoolwork starts to become worse and worse and he hides it all behind countless detentions and bad attitude. But when Erik gets sucked into the wrong type of ‘family friends’ he must fight for his and his family’s lives. This book is a great representation of what can happen to vulnerable young people when put under pressure, especially financially. It really proves how scary situations like this can be and how once you are involved in drug dealing it is a never-ending loop of fear that is complicated or even impossible to escape from. Overall, this book is a very captivating read and forces you to read on, making it quicker to read than you would think. It is one of the most dramatic and suspenseful books I have read and that makes this book a memorable read.

Mila SHSK Shadowers

There are boring parts like in every other book. The main story line is really gripping and doesn't let you go until the last line in read. I would highly recommend this book.

Matteo ICS London’s Literary Lounge Crew

I liked this book and think it is important to read about such subjects to get an understanding of worlds outside our own, no matter how difficult some topics can be. It is a novel in verse about Erik who, in trying to support his mother and his little siblings, gets caught up in County Lines while just trying to be a normal teenager. It was shocking to see just how fast one can get trapped into dealing drugs and how difficult it can be to leave; although it was good to see how Erik escaped with the help of his friend.

Daisy Wyedean School

Crossing the line is an absolutely heart breaking and amazingly well written book. It is a depressing story about the truth of crime in big cities like London. The book follows Erik, a young boy and his struggles with gang life, and ends on a not so happy ending. Why? Because real life doesn’t end with a happily ever after.

Emilie Euro Bookworms

I thought this was an exceptionally eye-opening and gripping read. The book followed a fantastically written, but tragic tale of a secondary school aged boy that lives in poverty. It was extremely heartbreaking to read about the sacrifices Erik was making to save his family from poverty, without anyone knowing. However, one of the first things I will point out about this book is that it's quite violent - in terms of language, imagery, and the general plot. However, I think the book portrays a subject frequently pushed away from the spotlight - poverty within the general public and exploitation of one's weaknesses. I especially enjoyed reading the tough decisions Erik had to make in a viewpoint that's often classed as 'irrational' or 'naive'. This book shows that not all bad decisions are made because of poor judgement; peers, family, money and other hidden factors can take a serious toll on someone's decision-making. I loved the poetic style of writing, conveying powerful messages in the minimalistic amounts of words. This book does an excellent job on advocating for better lives for young people in Britain and demonstrates that through a tragic and violent life that some may go through without anyone knowing.

Muadh Ermysted’s

'Crossing the Line' was an intriguing book, touching on a subject common in everyday life just hidden behind the scenes where no-one talks about it: Gangs and drugs. I enjoyed it in many respects, good plot and a considerable amount of twists making it enjoyable to read. My criticisms would be that it is WAY too fast paced, rushing through three years in just one hundred pages, and also I found myself reading pages a few times to get to grips with the plot. I would give this book a 6/10

Rory KES Bookworms

This book was so engaging. What started as a boy venting about his struggles in life slowly evolved into a mind consuming plot. Every page awaited a new surprise, and you just could not keep up with Erik's unpredictable character. The writing structure, the language, the perfect depiction of a teenager and their mind, all of it was just flawless. This book was far from a disappointment, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Isabel HAEC Carnegie Shadowers

Throughout the novel, Tia Fisher portrays Erik's internal struggles with authenticity and vulnerability, creating a relatable and compelling narrative for readers. "Crossing the Line" explores the human experience, highlighting the importance of staying true to oneself even in misfortune. I like it because it shows how hard life can be, making the story realistic, its use of verse helps the flow of reading the book, but it can also make it hard to read in some scenarios.

Isaac Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Crossing the Line is a good book. However, it is quite different from the books that I normally read but it was very eye-opening about the struggles in the world.

Grace Faringdon Community College

I found this book gripping and has many twists and turns. The book conveys the message and impacts of country lines extraordinarily well. The use of shapes in the verse helps visualize what is happening. My favourite part is at the very end where everything has a relatively happy ending. I would not advise this book for people who are in year seven and below. I rate this book 8/10.

Ambrose Chippy Chapters

Crossing the Line, by Tia Fisher, is an interesting verse novel about change. Erik, who's dad has died and lives with his poor mum, is getting into worse and worse behaviour at school. Eventually, his terrible behaviour attracts a gang, he is introduced into a world of terror. I liked how Fisher made the different characters unique, and how she made the entire story very believable. Also, I enjoyed the structure of the poems and how they were like a story when put together. However, there are extremely sudden events in the book which I do not understand, and I do not get how they happen. Overall, Crossing the Line is a good read with a fascinating topic, but the plot can be very confusing. I would recommend this to someone who likes adventure books, and enjoy true stories, as this can happen in real life.

Zachary MTS Northwood

Crossing the line by Tia Palmer portrays the life and challenges for 14-year-old Erik who has struggled with his dad's death for over a year. Erik thinks his life could not get any worse, until Mums new boyfriend comes along and then abandons her when she discovers she is pregnant. Eriks feelings of hate and anger towards mum's ex-boyfriend grow as he is thrown into poverty, and unable to get out, with his pregnant mum. At school things seem to be getting better though as the cool kids start paying attention to Erik. What he doesn’t know is that he’s just a part of a bigger plan that forces him to choose between the right choice and the wrong choice. This gripping thriller by Tia Palmer will hand you a rollercoaster of emotions, from heart-wrenchingly upsetting straight to breathtakingly, beautiful reunions. I thought that this book was very appealing and the whole aspect of the book was exquisite. Sit back, relax and let Tia Palmer whisk you away to another world.

Emily Larkmead

I thought this book was incredible. It moved me greatly. It really allowed me to explore some of the struggles teenagers have and understand a bit more about gangs. It let me sympathise with Erik and understand people like him a bit more. I really like the structure of the book; it helped make the book more interesting and made it more realistic. I thought this book was incredible and I would definitely recommend it.

Juna Fortismere

Crossing the line was my favourite book so far. At some parts of the book my heart was racing. It is a very unique book raising awareness for the county line drug dealers and it was really engaging. The book had a lot of little twists and it was very fun too read. I would 100% recommend this to someone who enjoys reading.

Ashley VISTA Academy

Crossing the line is a great book, filled with hardships and love, losses and triumphs, while exploring how children all over the uk are being forced into difficult situations in poreder to help for their families. So, this book raises lots of concerns for the state of our sociaty, showing just what some children have to go through at such a young age. This is an amazing book, which I recommend to Year 8 students.

Hugo Sandroyd Bookivores

This is one of the best books I’ve read so far. It has so many relatable scenarios and is very easily understandable. The book delves into the issues young people face in today’s society which will be very useful to raise awareness of the dangers.

Janelle Riverside Readers

I think that "Crossing the Line" was a very good book; through it's use of verse, it makes the book flow with interesting and believable characters, and 'all too real' plot. However, this book has some very heavy themes that for some people (like me) wouldn't be their first choice. I would still really recommend "Crossing the Line" to someone who wants a book that is closer to home than others would dare.

Dylan Horsham BOok HUNTers

This book is about a boy who has to make some decisions but makes bad decisions. He had quite a hard time as a young child, but he has to try and find a way to make good decisions again. I liked this book because of its interesting format, as it was quite unique. I would recommend it to 11+.

Georgia LSST Library Shadowers

I really liked this book because of its great plot and layout. The layout of the book makes it easy and gripping to read. It's fast-paced which means you don't want to stop reading it. It is almost all in verse so it is quite a quick read. It is about a 14-year-old called Erik and his story after his dad died in Covid.

JJ Fortismere

Izma Lionheart24

The story of Erik, a boy who is very good at making bad decisions. A young, happy boy with loving parents starts his first year at high school unaware of the dangerous, frightening story a head. The joyful smiles of the close family come to a heart breaking end when the passing of a loving father destroys a once happy family. Erik who is broken can't bear to do anything without his wonderful father until his mother becomes pregnant with twins and welcomes them into the world. Now, Erik must step up and become the man of the house but it's going to be tough when your just a kid. His declining behaviour in school allows him to pave a deadly path. The meeting of two older boys causes Erik to be caught up in gang work. To make money is a difficult task for him and his mom. The sight of money makes him join without a second thought. That was his biggest mistake. At first things are great. He's making money and living the life until he realises he was not made for this life style. The young boy is told to give drugs and many other things to some people. Erik has to leave for not only his safety but his precious twin sisters and his hard-working mother. But it's not as easy as you may think. Gangs are malicious and once your apart of it there's no escape. Asking to leave could result in a beating or being killed. Erik has to find a way to escape as soon as possible or else things could get real ugly real quick. I really enjoyed this book. The message was wonderful and perfect for teenagers to read. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. The reason I haven't given it full stars is because of the way it's set up. I usually love when people do different things with their pages but with some of the pages in this book I had to turn my whole book in a circle to read it. This was a bit difficult since I would sometimes lose where I was. But overall it was a great book and I definitely recommend this book.

Elece Lost in Pages

A flawless read. Brilliantly witty and still an incredibly moving plot, well presented in the form of one of the most interesting structures I have encountered. This book is almost unnervingly relatable, as a high school student and even more so, perfectly illustrates the harm that county lines can do to children of Erik’s age. It also presents, in a gritty, realistic way, how easy it is to be consumed by this sort of activity as an impressionable, inexperienced child.

Noà Holmfirth High Yoto Crew!

I enjoyed this book, however not enough that I would read it again. Crossing the Line presents an insight into the world of drug dealing that is both fascinating and saddening. It shows how not everyone has the choice to say "no", or at least some have less of one.

Evan MTS Northwood

Crossing The Line follows 14 year-old Erik who, because of his bad behaviour after his father's death, gets involved with drugs and crime. This book was new for me because it was written in verse and therefore I thought I would have trouble reading it. To be honest, I didn't have any problems with reading it (although sometimes I had to literally turn the book upside down to read the writing), but I found it a difficult read at points because of how vague the book was. There were points where I had to re-read sections of the book to figure out what was happening, as it was too 'metaphorical' with the writing. I understand that the author intended to write the book like this, but it was confusing nevertheless. I also found that the author left out quite a few plot holes in the story. There were sections of the book that weren't even mentioned, especially after Erik made a big deal about them earlier on. This only added to my confusion and I also thought that the author couldn't seem to work out the target audience for their book. At some points it was a kid's book, with minimal graphic points and at other times there was language and foul play. Even so, I still enjoyed the book. I read it incredibly quickly and I never wanted to put it down. The ending was fulfilling and the characters were animated. I loved Ravi, and his old (but brilliant) music taste, and he was a really good friend for Erik. The story was believable and the author helped captivate what it's like for someone like Erik. Overall, I'd give this book a 6.5/10. I think if the author changed this to a Young Adult/Adult book, filled in some plot holes and added details into some scenes, this would a brilliant book. And even so, I still recommend this book if you want a quick, enjoyable read.

Ela KES Bookworms

Crossing the Line was an interesting, tense book about real life issues that both gripped and amazed. The story was tense and I found myself on the edge of my seat for most of it. The fact that its written in verse makes this book snappy and there's never a dull moment. It's going along quickly, without taking too much time to describe things in too much detail. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.

This book shows what it can be like for kids who are left vulnerable in their lives. It shows that it can be a small thing that leads to a big issue. While this book won’t be my favourite, I do still admire the way it’s written and it was a book that kept me reading with interest. This book deserves its nomination for this award in my mind.

Greta HAEC Carnegie Shadowers

This book is extremely well written. There is some really heartbreaking scenes. This book is really powerful. Crossing The Line is a very important book, especially in today's world. It teaches older children and teenagers the dangers and importance of staying away from drugs. My favourite part of this book is when the book starts of with "Do you feel safe?" and ending with this line too. I loved how in some pages words formed and image, and the dominos signifying if you make one bad decision, a lot goes wrong. The way this book is written in verses, makes it so easy to read and definitely is a quick read. I have no problems with this book, therefore I rate it 10/10!

Jennifer Rebel Readers

I was drawn into Erik's story, as he became drawn into a world of drugs, lies and crime. It was frightening how with each decision he made, he seemed to sink further into this life of drug supply, and at each turn, he made it harder and harder for himself to escape. Each time he was faced with a decision to turn his back on the gangs, I really wanted him to say no but he kept choosing the wrong path. Circumstances conspired against him at the beginning; the death of his father, his mother abandoned to raise twins alone, problems at school. He seemed unable to find a way to deal with these problems, and then turned to those people who did not care about him. This is a frightening stories that shows how easy it is to become entangled in county lines drug supply, but with an important message, that there is always hope, no matter how bad things seem.

Mrs Small Watford Girls

2.5/5 star read. It’s a very slow paced book that in my opinion doesn’t have an interesting plot. The story is all about gangs and drugs which doesn’t really interest me.

Olivia Riverside Readers

Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher was a great book and would really recommend. It was interesting right from the beginning. It is about a boy named Erik who is struggling with losing his dad, fake friends and trying to get out of the repeating drug cycle.

Gracie Carnegie Festival

Crossing the line is a poetry book that explores how teenagers can be swept away in violence and drugs. The way that the story is shown with its format is really intriguing and made reading the book a really nice experience. While I do think that this book is well written, the outlook it has on the drug world itself should be noted that it is only one outlook. However, the outlook chosen is well written.

Somi Burford School

To be fair I didn't really enjoy it. I found it boring. I know that it happens in real life but the way it was written I didn't like it.

Anastasia OLSB Shadowers

I felt it was a bit depressing and hard to read at the start, but I felt by the end that this didn't just completely spiral down into one sad event after another or slow down the story. Instead I think it kept an engaging story , and actually use the events and emotion to really push the final message at the end. Overall, I thought it was a bit sad, but it used this really powerfully to make a point.

Edward L Ermysted’s

I believe this book will be the winning book even though I haven’t read all of them. I really enjoyed this book it was so intriguing and had me needing to finish it, resulting me to read it all in one day. This book is really good and feels very similar as many people around me have unfortunately fallen down this path. It makes young people aware of how hard it is to get out of gangs and how easily you can fall into that life style, so you need to be careful of who you chose to hang out with. No matter how much you’re going through you shouldn’t or how desperate you are don’t resort to gangs. I loved this book so much especially the way the format of the text, it made it much easier to understand as I usually have trouble understanding and have to read over it multiple times. I will recommend this book to my friends and family.

Lilly Riverside Readers

It was a very interesting book about county lines. A gripping story line. I found this book very informative on how the drugs industry works and how they take teenagers and attract them to deal drugs with the prospects of new clothes and phones. One of the best plot lines out of all the books I have read.

Sachin Ermysted’s

Overall, an easy read and found myself on the edge of my seat during the majority of the book due to tension. A powerful, eyeopening story and I would definitely recommend. One bad thing about the book is the way it's set out.

Aaliyah Sale High Readers

I really enjoyed Crossing the Line because I liked the way it used slang without being too heavy with it. It escalated quickly drawing the reader in and creating an interesting plot. I really liked the themes of peer pressure and how people escape the life they don't want anymore. One of my favourite scenes was when he starts to realise he actually loves the twins because it shows that you can start to love someone without even realising it. I would highly recommend this book.

Libby Tractor

I personally really enjoyed crossing the line. It was a very engaging book and got me hooked and wanting to read more. It displays some of the struggles that people deal with and how they succumb to peer pressure from others. I would definitely recommend this book to others. It is not something that I would normally read but I'm really glad that I have come to read it through the Carnegies. I thought it was very clever how the words were placed to emphasise the effect of the words or sentence.

Leah Tractor

I was surprisingly very invested in this book, and found it a quick and gripping read especially considering that it was almost completely written in verse. Crossing The Line tells the story of a 14-year-old boy named Erik who gets involved with the dangerous world of gangland crime and drug dealing. Though there were several unexplained inconsistencies such as his affinity towards anger and the death of his 'house leader' for closure, it is written very simply and effectively, with the addition of unique text art to help readers visualise Erik's thoughts and feelings.

Lara PGHS Shadowers

Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher is an attention grabbing and emotionally captivating book about 14 year old Erik's dark descent into the criminal world following the death of his father shortly after covid, I like this book as not only does it shine light on serious problems that too many of the youth have to deal with but its also up to date as in the story-line is set in a period we have all lived through. Overall great book, great storyline and great characters so I definately will be reccomending this.

Luca CI 4Shadowers

Reading this book was really enjoyable for lots of reasons, I really liked every aspect of how the book was written. Erik as a character for me was a really good design, a kid in high school who doesn’t have loads of friends but is happy, who when faced with difficult challenges in life, makes some really bad decisions, gets involved with the wrong people and the wrong things. I really like the plot of this book because it is realistic, how some kids would have to go through parents dying, getting bullied, being in tricky situations, having to move country because of threats and how Tia Fisher has put this into a book is really interesting. How the book is displayed on the page is really where I start to get a bit annoyed because it is such a good book but then it being difficult to read just adds an unnecessary distraction from the actual story, for example on page 55 there was a huge circle of words which was impossible to read. Overall I found this a really exciting and interesting book left on an intriguing cliffhanger and I definitely want to read a part two. I would Highly recommend this as a quick and fun read, and I would rate it 9/10.

Josh Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Crossing the line is a fabulous book to read with an important message to deliver to teenagers. The message is about the dangers of drug use and gangs where danger can quickly rise up. This book is important for teenagers because it shows you what not to do so the readers don't make the same mistake. It uses the use of language well because the words stayed in my mind after I have read this book. Overall Crossing the line is a great book to read and to learn the dangers of drugs.

James Bramcote College Bookclub

The 'world' that the book was set in is not at all unfamiliar. It is in a city in England in modern times. In this city there is a noticeable 'bad' and 'good' side to it but is, otherwise, a normal city. Eric's life took a drastic change since his dad died when he was in year 7. His grades dropped, he and his mom were in poverty, heartbroken and he started making very wrong decisions. He secretly started drug-dealing with some 'new friends' to earn money but before even realising how far he had gone, he was in the middle of a dangerous drug business where weak, young people like him were being manipulated into doing deadly missions. This book introduced me to a very interesting bond. Unlike Eric's 'fake' friendship with his new friends, it was clear that Ravi (his old best friend) always wanted the best for him and kept Eric together. He tried to guide him to better choices in life and when they started distancing from each other was when Eric made his worst decisions. Without Ravi I felt that he was lost. Whilst reading this book, I felt pity for Eric as he was at a time of his life where he was unstable, weak and vulnerable. The gang took profit of this, which was atrocious and disgusted me. I was quite annoyed when Eric's mother moved onto another man (who she only met online) not long after her husbands death and made her share of mistakes, leading to her and Eric having twins with no father. However, the ending of the book reassured me as I learned that that no matter how deep in trouble you are, there is almost always a way out.

Federico43FS 4Shadowers

I think the use of verse writing made a hard hitting, important topic approachable for readers

Stirling Ermysted’s

This is an outstanding book. It contains some strong language and at times can be a tough read but is hard to put down at times. This book spreads awareness about gangs and drugs as well as sharing advice. Overall I give it 4.2/5 stars. I highly recommend this book, however at times it can get emotional.

Miya Plumites

‘Crossing the Line’ by Tia Fisher is a powerful and fast-paced verse novel exploring how teenagers can be swept into county lines. The verse format makes it easy to read and the concrete poetry images are good at engaging the reader while dealing with serious topics. I really enjoyed reading this and gave it 4.7/5. Highly recommend and a must-have for school libraries!

Athena St. George’s Dragon Readers

I loved this book. The way it was written in verses was a really cool and original idea. It made the book more enjoyable than it already is. This book is a good example of the dangers of drugs, gangs, poverty, county lines and making the right choice. It was sad to see Erik go through all the drug dealing and threats and the sheer amount of stress he went through. All throughout he had no help other than Ravi since his Mom told him to tell everyone he was fine and didnt need any help. That was truly heart wrenching. The writing is excellent! The fact this story is based on what the author’s friend's son had to go through, is just shocking to me. I have two younger brothers and would hate to see them go through that. So overall, a brilliant, brilliant book.

Thomas Rebel Readers

This is the story of a young boy called Erik who, entering secondary school will quickly find himself in a spiral of violence, putting himself and his family in danger. I loved this book as it talks about real life situations, is sometimes relatable and is very easy to read. I strongly recommend this book for people who like action books packed with suspense.

Aaron CI 4Shadowers

This was a great book, cleverly set out in verse, yet still easy to read. I think that the author did a great job of portraying Erik's feelings in this book, and conveying the true terror of the drug world. When I read this book, I got genuinely terrified for Erik when he got caught up in both his drug life and normal life, which were starting to overlap. I also found it interesting how he called the drug buyers "cats." It's a good metaphor to use, as cats typically do their own thing, before coming back for food. Erik's mum however, really annoyed me. Obviously it would have been really hard for her, but as well as Erik making bad decisions, his mum also made some awful ones. The fact that she expects Erik to put up with her is really quite annoying, but towards the end of the book, I did start to feel more empathy towards her. Overall, I thought this book was an amazing read and super cleverly written.

Nikita SHSK Shadowers

Crossing the Line is about a boy called Erik whose life goes rapidly downhill after his Dad dies. At first it is only his grades getting worse and not listening in class but as he becomes involved with a gang of older kids it is not long before he is massively out of his depth. I really liked this book because it was so interesting to learn about poverty, drugs and the dangers that you could face if you get involved with them. It made me think about issues I haven't come across before. I really liked the ending as it ended on a massive cliffhanger that made me wish for a sequel. I would really recommend this book because in my opinion it has a great story line and is really interesting.

Nat Larkmead

This book was quite amazing but it also had some very upsetting moments, written in verse on a topic a lot of people may have to deal with throughout their lives. As the book continues it gets more and more twisted and dangerous, however at the very end of the book we see the author's clear message that help is always out there. I’d personally recommend it for ages 15+.

Irem KEVICHG

Crossing the line A question for you: What did you think ? Think. Like opening the school gates & just walking in, Like not sniffing the air for curses, Checking Page 1 page 2 Page 3 page 4 Cautious as an adult Checking their kids first books. Think Like a map of your story Isn’t riddled with swears Of Gods name in vain No-go choices Where your life’s Not worth living. Think Like saying your last goodbye & not thinking The next time she sees you You may actually need her help. You know. Those kind of thoughts. It’s not been so long Since I’ve read a book like this People making drastic mistakes And wishing life would come to an end I am so… I reckon the last time I felt Really Really Really Comfortable With this book was right at the end. Holland road secondary Was Where all the trouble started. Bullies started interfering. And lunchtimes became town time. Erik’s life had been. Very hard. Since his dad… Had left him as the man of the family. He was constantly missing school. And getting into more and more trouble. And his mum had no idea of it all. his mum met a new man. And she became. Pregnant. Her partner left her alone. When he found out. About the twins. Erik’s life only gets worse after this. He is threatened. The people who love are in danger. And even on the brink of poverty, this game is making his life terrible. Why didn’t somebody warn me? About the source of language in this book. Its very. Nowadays. I think. That it is to honest about. Current life And where Covid. Left a lot of people. I would’ve enjoyed it more. If it had been written. Without more grown-up language. The first morning. That I sunk my teeth into this book. I didn’t understand what it will be about. But further in I understood. Where it was all going. Some things. We’re little bit too “cool“ for my school experience. And I struggled to understand it. I would recommend. This book. For anyone. Who is interested in crime, reality, and how to . Take steps away from that sort of lifestyle. Ages would be. 10 to 17. As the language was a bit grown-up and inappropriate. For younger people. I would rate it. 6 out of 10. As I didn’t like it at some points. But I found the ending really good. And that sort of made up for it.

Flo The Fitzharrys Shadows

Crossing the line is a very exciting and engaging read. The book explores how one small choice can set off a chain reaction with massive consequences. The protagonist , Erik, battles hardship after hardship , all in the hope of helping his struggling family.Tia fisher's storytelling grips readers , emphasizing the impact of decisions and the interconnectedness of lives. Erik,despite his many bad choices, remains a likeable protagonist with good intentions but poor judgement.Overall i enjoyed reading this book. 8.5/10

Raya Fiction Addiction

Erik's life was never the same again after his dad died. His mother gave birth to two baby sisters from another man when they already did not have enough money to live. Erik's mum stopped caring about Erik after the twins were born, so Erik started going down the wrong path to earn money for his family, He doesn't stop until he has gone too far, and then he finally realises that he can't stop... or can he? The storyline is compact and interesting to read, but I could not find myself to empathise with Erik's mum. Why give birth to children whose father had run away from the great responsibility? Why give birth to children when you know that you do not have the money to raise them? Not only that, but Erik's mother had stopped caring for Erik, and made him take care of his sisters when he had lots of schoolwork to do. She was always crying, and was always whining to Erik about not having enough money when it's all her fault! In one way, she is the cause of making Erik go down the wrong path.

Hanming (Sophia) PGHS Shadowers

This book is a good read for pretty much anyone, but there are some violent moments in it which makes it very much 12+. It follows the life of Erik, a schoolboy who quickly gets dragged in to a gang life, but when he wants to call it quits the gang boss starts targeting his family. The character of Erik at first is a relatable schoolboy trying to fit in with his best mate Ravi. But when his dad dies, he changes and does anything for money and spurns Ravi for gang members Travis and Ben. At the end he comes to regret his decisions and is in constant fear that something might happen to his family. Ravi, however, is a somewhat awkward kid with very unique taste in music. Overall I think this book deserves the Carnegie medal because of how it takes on a serious topic but still adds light comic relief.

Adam Corsham Shadowers

Liana Perse Carnegians

I enjoyed reading this book a lot. Crossing the line is a book about Erik, who has ginger hair and is bullied at school because of it. His dad dies of covid, and Erik’s behaviour changes massively. He is then pulled into a world of drug dealing and fear. I think the book was great because you could really feel a sense of everything spiralling out of Erik’s control through the clever use verse poetry. This book does have some serious topics in it such as death and drug dealing, so I would recommend it to people over 12.

This book was very intriguing I was able to read it in two days. The story was very interesting and had me wanting to read more, I don’t usually enjoy reading for long amounts of time but this book was different. It had a very strong feeling of familiarity because it’s relatable to a lot of people around you and it makes us aware of how serious county lines are. The layout of the text was very different in a good way it made the book so much easier and helped me to understand the book more. I will be recommending this to a friend as it was just that good. It really just shows us the sad reality of how easy it is to go from an excellent student to being twisted up with gangs.

It was a very good read and it was very relatable. It kept me on the edge of my seat and it didn't take me long to finish. I would definitely recommend this book .

Erin Forest Reading Rebels

I think this book was really sad because after when his Dad died, it all went down. His grades went down and his life as well.

Zak Dad Ermysted’s

This is a very impressive verse novel! The author shows clearly how easily a young person can get caught up in criminal exploitation and how quickly things can spiral out of control. I felt very connected to the central character, Erik and found myself really worrying about what was going to happen to him. I was almost shouting at the book, 'TELL SOMEONE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON!' I particularly enjoyed the inventive use of fonts and layout. It is fast-paced and very gripping - I couldn't put it down!

Ms Bov Chippy Chapters

I really enjoyed this story and learning Erik's story.I think it is quite a good insight to life on the railroads and how young people get roped into it.This book can perhaps raise awareness on the problems young people have to face and the causation on a life of crime.It may help people evaluate their roles in the issue and start helping people in similar situations to Erik.

Gabriella Library Goblins

Crossing the Line is a thrilling read that had me hooked from start to finish. The suspenseful plot, well-developed characters, and atmospheric settings make it a must-read for fans of mystery and thrillers. Highly recommended!

Isabella-rose Riverside Readers

Tia Fisher's writing style of choice - narrative verse - makes Crossing the Line an easy and sometimes playful read but the county lines subject matter makes it a dark, challenging, and at times, deeply uncomfortable read, too. Although Crossing the Line is disturbing it is also compelling and by the end of the story there is hope and light in the darkness. Tia Fisher's debut novel is a carefully crafted, important book.

Mrs Eastwood Free School Readers

This book has themes and descriptions which definitely aren't suitable for younger readers; however, it's a powerful story, and very, VERY well written. Every single page was gripping, and the structure of the text made it an even better read.

Rachel Carnegie Carnage

I read this book in approximately an hour and a half as I couldn't put it down. In my opinion it was very gripping as I was very engrossed in it. I liked the way Eric was doing something bad, but for a good reason, to earn money to give to his Mum. I loved the ending of the book, as Eric stood up to the dealers he was involved with. I also liked that some of the words were put into shapes, such as a person. In my opinion it was very clever and artistic. This book showed me how lucky I am that I live in a stable home and that I don't need to be forced into doing something that I don't want to do. I really recommend this book.

Casey SPS Book Clubbers

I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down and it flowed quite nicely, it was amazingly written. Using the words "cats", took me a while to understand, however I love the ending and how the writer rounds off the story and leaves you thinking.

Maryam SPS Book Clubbers

I really enjoyed this book even though it was quite a tense theme about gangs and drugs. It was all about a boy called Eric who lost his dad and he really didn’t think school mattered anymore. His mum was struggling with work and he joined a gang which he thought would earn him some money for his mum. But the gang really just put his life in more danger. This book shows that gangs are very dangerous and you can’t rely on them for money. It was also written in verse which I found was a lot quicker to read. I would recommend this for older readers. I would give it a 3.5/5.

Amara Horsham BOok HUNTers

This book is about a boy who gets dragged into the world of drugs and trap houses. His name is Erik and a few years ago his dad died leaving him to be the man of the house. His mom met a guy but he walked out. Not much later his mom had a pair of twins. Soon all the responsibilities of two new people fall on his shoulders and he is not sure how to cope. With their money quickly dropping he must find a new way to earn some cash. I liked this book because it was written in verse and was a good example of how some teenagers get drowned in the world of illegal dealing. However I didn’t like how it didn’t leave another opinion on the world. I recommend this book for 13+ and would rate it an 8/10.

Eloise The Fitzharrys Shadows

This book was filled with action from the start. The characters, the decisions and the story itself all worked amazingly well together. They each played a role that was realistic in his life. This made the reader feel that they were Erik and that his bad/good decisions effected you.

Stanley D Ermysted’s

'Crossing the Line' is a funny, dark, and brilliant verse novel. The story is engaging and sadly all-too real. With an engaging protagonist and tragically compelling story, I would highly recommend this as a YA verse novel.

Lara Carnegie Carnage

I found that this book was impeccably displayed and that I enjoyed the composition of the words. At first, I found that reading this was quite difficult for the reason that it was quite complex and perplexing. However, upon further reviewing it, I gradually immersed myself in the book and began to extremely enjoy it. This was particularly due to the reason that the author beautifully and meticulously described the feelings and thoughts of the protagonist, which allowed me to truly empathise with the character. I truly recommend this book to others who are interested in picking up a more advanced book and those who enjoy compelling yet authentic reads.

Aryanna OLSB Shadowers

One of the best books I have ever read! I have never read a verse novel before this and I now love them! The plot is amazing and has you hooked from the first page! You can't put the book down!

Lola Weald of Kent Tonbridge

I couldn’t put this book down. I really enjoyed the pace of the book and I loved how the words danced their meanings on the page through colour and shapes. The story was compelling; I was frustrated, angry and alarmed at how quickly the situation escalated and entrapped Erik, and I loved the powerful emotive language that brought the story together. This is easily one of my favourite books and I definitely recommend this.

Lora Fortismere

Crossing the line, by Tina Fisher, is an unforgettable-novel about a 14 year-old boy who gets swept into the terrifying world of drug-dealing, violence and most importantly, losing control... In the earlier chapters of this book, we learn that Erik lost his dad to covid during the pandemic. As he learns to cope with this terrible loss, he must get used to his new life and make space for Jonny, his mum's new girlfriend. However, once his mother gets pregnant with twin girls, Jonny storms off, leaving Erik and his mother alone once again, with near to no-money and two extra mouths to feed. As his family sinks into despair, Erik finds a new , dangerous way to make money... He gets sucked into the local drug-dealing gang and before he knows, it's too late to back out. However, once Esme and Alice get menaced from this threatening world, he must find a solution. In the end, he and his family are forced to move houses and start a new life elsewhere. However, a chilling note manages to find its way to their new city, and Erik finds professional help. I enjoyed reading this novel as I think it really made me understand how Erik felt and why he joined this gang. I also really liked the way Tia Fisher used shapes and words to create amazing calligrams that made the story more vivid and different from others. The final thing I liked about this is how it explains problems of today such as gingerism ( an actual term describing discrimination against ginger coloured-hair) and how to solve them ( at the end, she put a list of websites to find help if you are in the same situation as Erik). However, I thought that sometimes the story didn't really explain what was going on and the plot could be repetitive. In conclusion, I think this was a good and innovative novel but could have had a bit of a better plot and more things going on.

Léonie Euro Bookworms

Crossing the Line explores the dark themes such as county lines, grief, and discrimination. The book follows Erik, a teenager with red hair, who loses his Dad. In him and his mum's grief, they both make bad decisions, and as Erik is ruthlessly harassed and bullied, he finds himself with the wrong crowd, skipping school, and ultimately endangering his family. The book is about the dangers of bullying, and the problems that are caused by lies.

Chimpie Alex Sidmouth Insiders

I quite liked this book. It was very good. I wasn't expecting the ending and it suprised me a bit. I was glad the dog recovered

Isobel Sidmouth Insiders

I really enjoyed that it was in verse because it made it really easy to read .It was interesting to see a story that is probably real for a lot of people as well.

Hazel Henry’s Heroes

I really liked the layout of the verses, and I liked how the writer set the story over several years. She wrote about the issues that could and do happen to teenagers, so it seemed quite realistic even though it wasn’t in a traditional writing form.

Hannah Henry’s Heroes

Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher is book about the serious topics such as the drug business, which kids around the world are forced into. This book is very emotional, with minimal to no development of the environments in which the characters interact; but in this sacrifice, we gain some deep insights into Eric's mind, his thoughts, feelings, and perspective on the world he is in, his love of his parents and sisters that forces his hand into a life of crime. The writing style is also used to emphasize the impact of certain scenes, with enlarged, stretched or malformed sentences to show how Eric feels, which is something people misunderstand, the book is in Eric's mind, The writing is from his perspective, which is why as the book ends, the writing style becomes more formulated and proportioned due to the new direction of his life. I do have a few complaints, I will warn you because there may be spoilers, while i was happy about his acceptance of his dad's death, I was annoyed profusely at the lacklustre ending of XXXXX, whose death, while accurate, did not fully allow closure for the reader, as XXX death felt loose ended for Eric's story, I also thought that most characters do not get much character development, they mostly act as plot devices for Eric's endeavours. And one more minor complaint is that this book as a very slow start but since the book is so short it is easy to finish and get to the juicy meat of the story. To summarise, the book had a great main character, the side characters needed more development (and not just a paragraph slapped at the end of the book to explain their future) and there was almost no setting description. But I was happy with the plot, not elated, happy, while the book doesn't have many bad bits, that does not mean it has any excellence ones. Characters 6/10 Main Character 8.5/10 Setting description 2/10 Plot 6.5/10 Antagonist 7/10 30/50

Evan SCD Pageturners

An educational book warning those of the dangers of county lines and how hard it is. A heart-warming tale of the importance of family and grief. I quite liked this book as it was short, had a nice message and shows how people can do the wrong thong for the right reason. However, the poetic structure doesn't make much sense and sometimes there are characters that just show up and I have no idea who they are.

Lily Chiswick Carnegie

Crossing the Line was quite good and linked to current events ( mental health, extremism ) and used a good example of people falling into a gang after a loss of family and overwork. A very good book.

angus Chiswick Carnegie

I felt like the start was very good and portrayed what the characters were going through very well, but the end seemed to drag on a bit for me, personally, so I don't think this is my winner this year.

eve Beckfoot Oakbank Carnegies

I personally enjoyed the experience of reading this book on how he survives his time when starting secondary school which was a very emotional moment for him as we have all experienced this when we started. It was set out a bit like a poem and gave me that vibe however, a very strong language book. I felt sorry for Erik as he had a hard time at school and at home whilst being the man of the house. Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot and made me eager to read more.

Hamza Ermysted’s

This book was by far my favourite, putting a crisis into perspective. The story was original, with a few twists. However, I liked that not all the twists were big (like some other books). The ending felt a bit like it was telling you to go to a charity for help, which felt like it was just put in so it was educational. Otherwise, I loved it.

Aashaz Ermysted’s

crossing the line is a book that i read a couple of years ago but still empowers me today. I cannot remember very much of the story but whatever was in it was undoubtedly the best story i have ever read

sam Ermysted’s

Crossing the Line is a great book that dives deeper into how children can get tangled into drugs and how they try to get out of it. I really enjoyed this book and I would like to read another book by Tia Fisher.

Tilly HAYES BOOKSTOPS

At times I found the way the words were displayed on the pages to be difficult to read, although I believe this to have added to the reading experience opposed to taken away, as it felt though the reader was in Erik's mind or diary. I enjoyed how open the ending was allowing the reader to decide for themselves how they want Erik to continue through his life. I found that the subject matter was interesting while still being treated with the respect necessary for a book of such a serious topic.

Isabella Carnegie Festival

When Erik's dad died his life changed forever his mum was sad they became poor then his mum found this new website on dates and found 'Jonny' meanwhile Erik is getting involved in drugs. Then they have twins and Erik comes how to find Jonny dumping Erik's mum because he is too overwhelmed.....apparently..... He then gets a big drug selling sort off mission he goes there and does it then comes back and K1 the leader of the drug dealing wants him to do another job and he does it. He does a race does well and then thinks its all over then bam he gets caught up in it in the headline drug gang leader stabbed to death news title. He then hides in his friends house then they lock onto him again. The to the shop leaves his dog outside next second he comes out and a lady is praying over his dyeing dog he then rushes to the vet and finds out he was poisoned then he gets a note in the post the next day saying act, give me the sim cards or your sisters are next. Then he phones the cops and ChildLine and it is all sorted out. Arthur 7C

Arthur 7C Bookwizards

When Erik, a boy who lost his father only a year ago, finds out that his mother is having twins with a man, who then promptly leaves Erik and his mother with two new babies in the house, and crippling debt, he starts to ignore the rules, and this leads to joining a gang, who make him transport drugs, in return for money and debts owed. When these “jobs” lead him into life threatening situations, he wants to pull out of this life, but when his family is threatened, will he be able to make the choice? Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher is a perfect blend of raw emotions and heart pumping action. I really enjoyed the character development of Erik, from an angry but innocent child, pulled into a world of knife crime and drug trade, to a more mature person, who learns to accept help from those around him instead of pushing them away, and also how to come to terms with the loss of his father. I thought that the style that the story was written in really helped to convey the idea of the story being told directly to the reader by someone who is only 13-14 years old, and that the twists throughout the story and the cliffhanger at the end, really give the story a sense of realism: in reality, these things aren’t clear cut good and bad, where the good guy defeats the villain, while also ending on a somewhat hopeful note. In conclusion, I would really recommend Crossing the Line to others, as I found it riveting and heartfelt, whilst at the same time telling the story in a fascinating style.

Alexander Perse Carnegians

Crossing the Line is about a fourteen year old boy, Erik, who lost his Dad following Covid 19 and the behaviours he turned to. This book is a great example of what loss of a close family member can do to a person and how they suffer and experience life. The verses were short but sweet and they made the message effective in a way writing in paragraphs cannot acheive. It is very tragic and serious and the use of drugs in the book would prevent me from recommending it to anyone younger than 12. But overall, a very good book and it was definitely worth reading.

Joseph L Bookwizards

This was fantastic, it shows so much about what living in a city can be like. Crossing The Line is a book that I would read again and recommend. I love verse books.

Kaitlyn Ullswater Readers

This was a beautifully emotive book that I couldn't tear my eyes from when I began reading. It hooked me from beginning through to the end and portrayed a very realistic story in society. It was credible in detail and engrossed me in the emotion between Erik and the demons of his past, the haunting reality he was living in and the future he couldn't see. The atmosphere was sinfully capturing and was well-paced. The themes and heavy topics were wonderfully portrayed, alongside the complex emotions and personalities of all the characters. To summarise, this was a wonderful book that has opened my eyes, immersed me and educated me.

Zaynah Bookiewookiedoodaas

Crossing The Line is a verse novel about a boy called Erik whose dad passed away and it shows how he gets manipulated and involved in county lines and drugs. I liked how Erik developed as a character. It also shows the danger of drugs and how county lines effect children in the UK and how his family was put in danger.

Felicity Brooke Weston Book Busters

'Crossing The Line' is a book that deals with sensitive subjects such as drug dealing, poverty, grief, and murder. It follows the journey of a boy who has just lost his dad and is manipulated into selling drugs. He agrees to partake as his family is struggling for money and his mum has just given birth to twins. Eventually, his must escape but in doing so he puts his families lives at risk. It shows the effect drugs has on your life and how it affects those around you.

Chloe Brooke Weston Book Busters

It was good because it showed an instance as to what could happen when you're a teenager and the consequences of those actions. It also showed that once you're in that situation you can’t quite escape, unless your're willing to risk something. The quote”do you feel safe”suggests that not everyone has the chance to feel safe and feel normal. It also shows that everyone is vulnerable to being pulled into a gang and doing bad stuff e.g. selling drugs or carrying weapons. I will admit that it is a sad book, however at the end it has a list of websites and phone numbers to call if you think someone you know or yourself if you are in that situation.It also shows what bad decisions can do to your life.

Sophie Greenford High CSG

This book is simple but impressive. It fully describes the struggle of the main character , 14-year-old Erik. He have made 'wrong' choices one by one , until he couldn't escape from the consequences. (well once he made a wrong choice , there wasn't many he could control) Problems and struggles , lies and danger , all being well presented in about 345 pages. The end is kind of symbolic , though. The call to support Erik (represented by 'you' in the book) symbolises everyone who can help teenagers like him. I like his best friend Ravi the most . Although Erik have made many wrong choices , Ravi still supports him and gives him advice. His compassion and attitude towards Erik really impresses me.

Victor Stockport Academy Book Club

'Crossing The Line' is a very interesting book because his dad died which is sad, Eric's bad behaviour catches the attention of a local gang.Eric has made a lot of bad choices but all these bad choices resolve him into doing horrible things like drug dealing and violence. At first, it was easy money - but Eric learns that a small favour can become huge debt, hi sisters' lives are threatened. You all should read this book because it is very interesting story.

Eliza More Readers

crossing the line is a fantastic book with lots of emotions in it. i would read this book one thousand time over, this has to be my new favourite book!!!!! this book has lots of bumps Erik has to get over like: money,grief , drugs and gangs

eva Stockport Academy Book Club

This book is about a boy called Eric and he just started Year 7 in a new school. He lost his Dad, and get's bullied because of his red hair. It is a powerful story which has loads of meaning into it. I really enjoyed reading. It's for all age groups so go on and have a read!

Zara More Readers

This book is probably one of the most relatable and easy-to-read books I have ever read. The boy, Erik, and his journey as he goes through secondary school really touches me because I can relate to it a lot somehow. The structure of the book is easy so I would recommend this book if you want to read something with an easy-to-follow structure. However, the book contains strong language and violent scenes as shown at the back, so I would say people aged 11 and over should read it. Overall, amazing book! We need more books like this around the world. It makes you think about people differently since you can now have a bit of an understanding as to what other people go through and how those experiences result in terrible consequences.

Sarina More Readers

Crossing the line was a really unique book with a lot of quirks that made you want to read on. First of all the way the book was written. Crossing the line was written in a unique poetry style that at some points was interactive and you had to turn the page to read the writing. The unique poetry style made it so when a line that was about falling down, the writing was literally falling of the page, which made it really interesting. The main character was about a young boy in year seven named Eric, and unfortunately like many main characters he has a tragic life with trauma from his father unfortunately passing away and his mother barely being able to support him or spend time with him let alone his twin sisters. This causes him to fall behind at school and then gets convinced to start skipping school by some older kids that have access to things like drugs and money. He is convinced to take the drugs, and has bought a brand new phone and shoes. He then wants more drugs and is in (county lines) so owes money to higher ups in the county lines and has to struggle through trying to protect his family and friends. Crossing the line is a gripping tale following Eric along his journey and then seeing him finally succeed and escape the messy trap he got into but in the processes nearly losing everything. I would recommend this book for 12+ or year sevens as it shows important life lessons but also handles very deep and pressing issues, that many other young vulnerable children have to deal with. I personally loved everything about it and I would definitely read it again.

Caitlin Library Goblins

this book was very enjoyable but i found it hard to bring myself to open it up to read because of how much i disliked seeing erik make such bad choices and seeing him get trapped in his own choices

noah Ermysted’s

This book is about a Y7 boy, Eric who has ginger hair. He gets bullied. He makes friends with Ben & Travis, who buy him Fish&Chips after school. He also has a friend called Ravi, who he shares a paper round with. Ravi is trying hard to get fit to impress his girlfriend Betty. Ravi and Eric are really bad at the paper round, and get sacked. Ben & Travis introduce Eric to K1 as they tell him that K1 could get Eric a new job. K1 gives Eric a job - to store some drugs for a week....which he gets paid well for. K1 give Eric a new phone too. Over time K1 and his crew become good friends with Eric. K1 has a job for Eric, and introduces him to Fritz. Fritz and Eric work together for a week, staying at Fritz's grandmas. Eric makes LOTS of money in this week, but on his way home he gets run over by a motorbiker, who steals all his money - K1 is not happy about this, and beats Eric up. K1 asks Eric to do one more job, which is to hold a mysterious package for a while. He is told NOT to open the package....but, of course, he does. It is a GUN. Eric is a good runner, and is signed up for a running tournament - which is at the same time as the last job. So, he goes to the running competition, and leaves the gun package on the train. After the competition, Eric & his mum go to Ravi's house to celebrate their performances. Eric tells his mum about the way he has been making money. Erics mum is shocked - so they move house. All was well for a year - but trouble returns, as it always does - like a bed penny. :(

Oscar Ermysted’s

This book is a book that will stick with me for a long time, I feel as though this book is a novel that most teenagers could relate to at some point. The cover design creates an eerie entrance into the work of fiction; the writing “This is the story of Erik…. He’s very good at making bad decisions” makes the reader ask questions for example, who is Erik and what bad decisions has he made? We follow the protagonist (Erik) through his school life where he faces struggles with identity, friendships, and just personal life struggles. Erik also begins to experience more problems with encountering secrets, betrayals, and challenging decisions. The author has created a perfect balance between keeping the book interesting and ensuring an interesting storyline. Fisher’s writing has captures the voices of adolescence brilliantly with an honest manor; this helps the target audience relate to the story which helps them remain engaged. Overall, ‘Crossing the Line’ is an amazing book which will help many people going through their teenage years develop a different perspective on their life and assist them into relating with how they feel whilst also giving them a few valuable lessons in empathy and resilience along the way.

Charlie Bookwizards

I think this book was very good and an easy read. I do not read books a lot but I really got into this book and enjoyed it. It was very interesting, I liked how the words were put in this book as it interested me and made me want to read more. I liked how the words were in different places and sometimes in shapes. I would recommend this book to friends as I enjoyed it a lot.

Rosie Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

9/10: This book is about a boy called Erik, who got mixed up with gang members after being in detention many times. The gang first gave him money and treated him well, but then exploited him for dangerous jobs such as smuggling firearms and drugs. When Erik tried to quit the gang, the gang's leader K1 beat him up and threatened him and his family to keep him working for them. In the end, K1 nearly killed Erik's dog by overdosing it and threatened to kill Erik's twin sisters. This book is written in small verses similar to poetry, which is unique. This book explores the themes of crime, poverty, and exploitation really well. Unfortunately, the book ended on a cliffhanger, not showing what happened after K1 threatened Erik's sisters. I would really recommend this book to anyone interested in crime stories.

Herman Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

I think the book was very good and interesting. I really like how the main character is ginger because I don’t read many books with a ginger main character. The part that I did not like as much was when the words were all over the page in different patterns and sometimes upside down, even though it was a clever idea. I like how it was written in a poem style as i found it easier to read that way because there were less words. Overall a really good and promising book.

George Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

'Crossing the Line' by Tia Fisher talks about how bad drug dealing, trap houses and violence are in life and how small problems can quickly turn into massive issues. I like how Tia Fisher portrays K1 when Eric sees him for the first time, he has a gigantic scar which potentially shows what his job is like. In the book Eric was an easy target for people to hire him as his dad has died and his family has money issues when he has newborn twins in the family. I personally really love this book as it shows as how one bad thing can make a domino effect and then there will be a lot of issues. The message which Tia Fisher has made is don't misbehave as it will later make you go into a worse position in life 9.5/10.

Mauri Bookwizards

Crossing the Line, by Tia Fisher, is a meaningful book about a boy called Erik who is going through a hard time as his dad dies. They are running out of money and his mum is dating someone else. Suddenly Erik is shocked as his mum is pregnant with twins. He enters a terrifying world of drug dealing, and violence, however he is getting money, which leads him into him being captured and becoming involved in something he had not wished for. The book kept me guessing, as the story progressed, I was intrigued as to what would happen next and if he would survive. My favourite character was Ravi he was kind, clever and helped a friend in a time of need. I didn’t really like how some of the words were upside down or sideways because it slowed the story down and interrupted the story line. I would recommend this book to someone who is struggling with life, and it might give them hope. I would rate the age for this book between 12- 18. I would rate this book an 8/10.

Annabelle The Fitzharrys Shadows

The book 'Crossing the Line' was an enjoyable and easy book to read. I especially liked the unique structuring and creativity of certain verses in this book. Sometimes the lines create images that reflect what's happening or the emotions that are felt. Because the book is written creatively and in verse, I was always interested and eager to know what would happen next. A few times I was confused about what was happening, but as I read, I understood. For example, at the end of the book, a new character is introduced and his name is Trygg, There wasn't any heads up that he was their pet so I was confused about who Trygg was when the text stated that Trygg would follow the main character wherever he went. In conclusion, I think this is a fascinating, fun and enjoyable book to read.

Bassem ICS London’s Literary Lounge Crew

A powerful and important YA novel told in free verse about poverty, crime, drugs and county lines and how a few bad decisions can have a domino effect on a young person’s future. It was easy to empathise with Erik who is vulnerable and an easy target for recruitment as he is grieving for his dad and has money worries at home. Fast-paced, gritty, and gripping, highly recommended.

Mrs Mann Brooke Weston Book Busters

One of my favourites as it can show how someone can be trapped and escape.

MuyangD Ermysted’s

“Crossing the line” by Tia Fisher is a story about a teenage boy, Erik as he gets sucked into the terrifying world of county lines. The book is written in a poetic form which I actually quite enjoyed. I felt that it added to the book and helped to emphasis moments in the story. Towards the end of the book, the action got quite intense and I was captivated by the storyline. However I did feel that the storyline its self was very dark, and the heavy topic is not really my type of thing. Despite this I am glad that I read this book as it contains very important messages, and I would recommend it to someone who likes these type of stories.

Eaden Marshland Readers

Crossing the line can be dangerous and that is exactly what happens to 14 year old Erik when you open this book full of confusing twisted lines ,swirls and boxes of all desires dive into the life of a child who grows into the man he thinks he should be and crises the line into the sad underworld of county lines as he tries to drag himself out of poverty

Mariama CTA Book Club

'Crossing The Line' is a book that takes the reader into the world of drug gangs and how harmful being a drug dealer can be. The choice of using poetry adds an aspect of depth in the way you read the book. It allows the reader to create a connection with the characters. I really liked the way the book ended since it symbolises that if you do not feel safe there are always people that will help you no matter the situation.

Lucia The St. Bede’s Literary Critics

I really enjoyed how the author made the main character have two lives from his running life, which involved his coaching Mum, and then his drug dealing life, which included K1. I really liked the ending because it came out of nowhere and thought it was a very good plot twist. Another thing I enjoyed was how him and his friends managed to get round the problem at the very end with the gun. I thought it was very clever.

Dylan Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

This is one of the weaker books so far but it is in no way the worst as the main attributes (plot and characters) are well fulfilled. The reason it is not higher up is due to the extremely slow part in the middle which ruined the entire book as that was the only section in which I put the book down out of pure boredom. Apart from that segment, there were no further mistakes or stand out parts at all, just some solid chunks of writing and some captivating moments. One thing I particularly enjoyed about Crossing the line, was the introduction to the county lines which I had no previous knowledge on and proved to be quite interesting. The running implement was completely inconsequential and could have been left out with no immediate affect on the plot. I found that this book sort of turned into an anti-drugs campaign at the end which was slightly amusing. Overall, I found that this book was relatively average with nothing particularly impressive about it but a good book nonetheless. Score: Characters:16/20 Plot:16/20 Inspiration:15/20 Total:47/60

Sevan Ermysted’s

Erik you’ve crossed a line that can’t easily be uncrossed. You’ve started a path, and the start has disappeared. You're losing all you know you need to find the confidence to say NO. 14-year-old Erik has been lured into the world of drug dealing and making money the wrong way. Under all the pressure of school, being bullied because he is ginger, poverty and the loss of his dad (the man of the house) Erik feels like he needs to step up and after some terrible things that happen to his mum, he is needed more than ever. I liked this book because it showed people what life at school can be like for some people and how it comes to this. On the other hand, I thought it was scary to picture that some people may have that happen to them. I also thought I wasn’t able to connect with the characters as the circumstances were so different to what I know. Overall, I would rate this book a 6/10 as I felt it was interesting but not the type of book I wanted to read. I think this book is suitable for ages 13 or 14+ because of the use of violence, drugs and bad language.

Holly The Fitzharrys Shadows

This book was very heartbreaking. I hated how Erik felt pressured to be the man of the house because of sexist stereotypes. Erik was understandably anxious, and honestly, the whole book I just wanted to give him a big hug and tell him that everything will be ok. Also, it is very childish to make fun of someone just because of their hair colour. I mean, how pathetic must you be if you think that insulting someone's hair colour will make everyone else inferior compared to you?

Shaan Mansell Library Reviewers

The plot of Crossing The Line was quite good but I would have liked a few more surprises or twists to make it exciting. The ending however was left on a nice cliff hanger. The main character, Eric, was a teenager struggling to help his mum, school and friends. This could be relatable to readers of that age. Overall, I would give this book a 7/10 and recommend to anyone wanting an interesting, quick read.

Toby Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

I really enjoyed reading about Erik's journey as he struggles with county lines and grooming. I felt myself get strangely attached to Erik as I followed his experiences and rooted for him to somehow get out of the situation he landed in. The layout of the book being poetry made Erik's account of what happened feel more personal and definitely helped me feel more compassion for him hearing the story from the person firsthand experiencing it then if the book was third person. The one thing that I think could've been done slightly better is the ending as, personally, I think a few things could've been cleared up instead of ending abruptly like Tia Fisher decided to end it. Apart from this I think everything else was done really effectively and I would definitely recommend this book to a friend!

Rachel Fiction Addiction

This was the first book off the shortlist that I read and I chose it because it’s about a teenager that gets caught up in drug dealing, which I think is quite a dark topic that isn’t written about enough. It was very predictable but I think it needed to be to make it realistic. I also liked how relatable the main character was because I think that added to the idea that this happens to lots of teenagers who, if they were in another situation, would never even consider drug dealing as they know it is a bad idea. That’s why I think this book is sad but necessary, because it shows how a lot of teenagers who get roped into situations like Erik don’t want to be in them but feel like they have to deal drugs to survive or support their family and then get trapped, whereas, a lot of other books that involve drug dealing often portray teenagers like Erik as the “bad guys” and don’t really explain their side of the story.

Jess Weald of Kent Tonbridge

I thought this was an interesting book with relatable characters. This book mached the descriptions we were told at primary school

Amelia GreatB00ks

It was good and I liked how it was sometimes written so the words made different shapes. I also liked how it referenced actual laws (e.g county lines) .

Sophia GreatB00ks

I personally really enjoyed this book, I actually loved it for many reasons. For example, the texture of the front cover felt really smooth and nice and some people enjoy some textures over others. I also really enjoy how in different parts of the books the text changes to fit the scenario or issue during that part and how the text forms different shapes or spirals off as it's really cool, I personally like this book as it talks about some of the serious issues in modern day society like duplicitous people and gangs or drugs and how to deal with it and not what to do. It also touches on aspects of bad decisions made by Erik Anderson (the main character) and how he can identify the bad decisions that he has made throughout the chapters of the book. It also touches the aspects of some friends can be face or have bad intentions that can lead you down the wrong path in life and you should look out for the signs. As much as I love this I think this book isn't as good for some of the neurodiverse people of the world for example dyslexic people, the words are quite close to each other so it could be hard for them to read.

Kaitlin OSSMAORATORS

I personally loved this book for the importance of influential behaviour and how to conquer it. Additionally, I loved this book because it's relatable to the audience reading it and how it's set in modern day society. Also, I believe the importance of drugs and gang violence should be educated more in schools so this book really helped with the understanding. I also loved the fact that the author changed fonts throughout the book to portray certain feelings or events. However, the fonts could affect the reading of neuro-diverse people and change the understanding of the book for certain perspectives. Overall, there were no imperfections for me and I absolutely loved the book.

Lydia OSSMAORATORS

This was a very sad book. His dad dies, his mum gets pregnant and the father runs off, then he gets bullied and starts selling drugs. Oh, and someone is trying to kill him. However, it was still a good book and was very gripping and hard to put down. Once you started reading, you couldn't stop. I rate this an 8/10.

Elliott.H Ermysted’s

Crossing the Line was a great book. It drew the reader in and wanted me to never put it down. The build up drew me in so I under stood Eric and his issues. I wish the mum would understand poor Eric like we did. Instead she just punished and judged him. So did his teachers. No one asked him questions and he had no where to go for mental help. I have never read a book written in this style before and it took a bit of getting used to. But when I got used to it, it really made me feel his emotions. I could literally see what he was feeling and it made it really powerful even though there were less words. The subject was something new to me and made me realise that some children have to go through really difficult situations. The characters were mostly believable but I couldn’t really relate to the mum and she frustrated me. Overall I think it was a great read, really different to anything I have come across before. I would recommend it to people who want to try something different.

Herbie Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

I really enjoyed this book and how it was written the structure made it feel like a really quick read. What made it very enjoyable and exciting for me was that the main character is about the same age which made it a lot more relatable and realistic which had me sitting on the edge of my seat for some parts of the book. Overall I thought it was a good book the only downside for me was that the ending seemed rather anti climatic which is not what you want coming to the end of such a great storyline but apart from that a very pleasant read.

Max Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

I enjoyed the plot of the book and how the writer highlighted the effects of a family loss. With the book being in verse at first I found it difficult to grasp the story. This book is a great read for slightly older children.

kayleigh Bramcote College Bookclub

This book is about a young boy called Erik. Erik’s dad died when he had just started high school. Erik stops trying to do good at school and begins following a gang around. This gang is ,unknown to Erik, extremely dangerous and terrifying. At first Erik is only doing them favours for the money as his family is struggling at home. They soon turn from small favours to huge debts which can put him and his family into danger when they are threatened. My favourite character in this book was Erik’s best friend Ravi as even though Erik has been through so much, Ravi and his family have been there the whole time. I really enjoyed this book as it explored real life issues and was based on a real life person. I also liked how this book was structured as it was poems. In some places the structure reflected what was happening in the story which I thought was very interesting.

I personally like this book because I found it relatable and engaging. This book is about a boy named Erik who goes through a difficult time struggling with family and poverty, which leads him to some bad decisions regarding drug dealing and violence. The author conveys troubles with pressure and being overwhelmed well especially when he begins hanging out with Travis and Ben and attempts to act natural when smoking for the first time. The fact that the book is quite fast paced resembles how much he had changed over a short period of time from a regular Year 9 boy to one involved with trap houses and drugs. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to people of my age group because it involves a lot of issues everyone can relate to such as peer pressure and money problems.

Bethany STCCG Shadowing

Amazing book about a boy who does the wrong things and need to make it right 9/10

Artie Macaulay Book Club

I really enjoyed this book! It wasn't something I would normally chose, and I wasn't sure if I would like it, but it proved me wrong! The way the words were written on the pages made it really engaging, making it all the more difficult to put down. It was quite sad, but it's a survivor story, meaning the ending left me feeling that Erik, the main character, was going to find his way out of his previous mistakes. 9.5/10, would definitely recommend.

Florence Wyedean School

I loveee this book. It is so gripping and dark which I really enjoy! It is written so nicely and creatively especially in the layout.

Elsie Eltham Hill Book Club

Crossing the line is a heartfelt story and makes me feel bad for the character and makes you hope you can work everything out in the end. It is sad story of a boy who just lost his dad and is struggling at home. I would recommend this book to people who make bad decisions but try to make good decisions. I would rate this book 9/10.

Amelia Skipton Shadows

Crossing the line is an epic tale about a 14 year old boy called Erik. Erik's life is a mess: his Dad is dead, he's failing school, Erik hates his mum, his family are broke and his newborn sisters are not helping his situation. One day Erik is hanging out by the "Flo" and gets sucked up into a life of drugs, violence and danger. Mixed with fruity language and an incomprehensible feeling of excitement which keeps you addicted to turning the page. I believe that Crossing the line is a masterpiece. 12/12

Sim Macaulay Book Club

I enjoyed reading crossing the line. It features a unique writing style , where the story is composed of short poems. It was a great read to learn from, following the story of a young teen who feels trapped into making bad decisions and as a result gets caught up in a drug dealing business. It was an engaging and informative way to educate teens on making good decisions and to give a realistic example of what could happen if you get caught in the net of dark drug dealers. The book is set in a realistic and relatable environment, where the reader is able to sympathise with Erik whilst also pointing out his errors and mistakes. The book was short, fast paced and engaging and I read it all in one sitting. However the storyline was fairly predictable (until the bit right at the end with the note about his sisters: I was not expecting that), and I think that it might have been even better if the author had thrown a few plot twists or some more action - heavy scenes to constantly keep the reader on their toes like my favourite book authors do. It would also have been nice to have seen some more emotional scenes, but that may come down to personal preference. I think some points could have been made a bit clearer, I know it was more based on implying things but a lot of readers (including me!) probably won't have sufficient drug knowledge to understand some of the references made, I certainly had to stop and puzzle over it for a while. Use of profanity might have been a bit much, I think it could have been toned down a bit and still be realistic and suitable for the audience. Overall, it was a nice read, recommend for anyone looking for a short, fast paced book to get them out of a "reading slump". The unique writing style was quite enjoyable. However this is definitely not a book I would put on my favourites list. It's good but could be better.

Delana Perse Carnegians

The book Crossing The Line depicts Erik a fourteen year old boy who is dragged into a world of drugs and gang violence. Erik finds himself unable to leave this world due to the support the money he makes gives his single mum. The prose is imaginative and doesn't feel forced whilst the plotline keeps the reader engaged. The character development is exciting and keeps the reader interested. The book whilst only a story shows the horrible choices many children are forced to make and is a good cautionary tale of a few simple mistakes.

Crossing the Line is written in narrative verse, meaning it is easy to read formatting wise (although there are scenes of violence and strong language included, at points). The themes explored in the novel made me feel uncomfortable at times: Erik becomes involved in drug dealing, whilst struggling with poverty, baby sisters to look after and mourning the recent death of his Father. He experiences bullying before being swept into a dangerous group he can not escape from. Once half way through, I felt discouraged about finishing the novel (although I did manage to), for although I did find myself getting rather engrossed at times, I found Erik a difficult character to like or relate to and I felt vexed that he continued to make bad decisions throughout the book, even after discussing that they were wrong. That was until I discovered, the tale is based on a true story, which then meant I began to realise the power of the novel more. My rating would be 2/5 stars: I would never usually have read a book like this one, and although I discovered it to be an eye opening experience into how lucky I am in my life, unlike Erik, I felt uncomfortable about having to listen to Erik discuss his horrible experiences and about the drug market in general. It made me feel as if, by reading the novel, I myself was also performing appalling actions. Despite this, it was an interesting read.

Verity Norwich High School Bookworms

The book ‘Crossing the line’ (to me) was a strange experience. I don’t know if it was because I read it in one sitting just before going to sleep, but it was just confusing. One moment the boy was at his house, the next thing and he’s running from a drug-dealing-maniac. It was certainly a great book and definitely worth the shortlisted Carnegie, but to me it was a bit too much of a strange book. I especially enjoyed reading the last part because it joined the entire story and the blurb, together. Finally, to me it was quite slow to read and understand , so I don’t think I got the entire story nailed down but I managed to make a slight summary in my head. 9/10 Suitable for year 9+ (not nine year olds) because of high drug use and language.

Charlie HHS

Crossing The Line is one of the few books that I truely adore. The unique patterns of the words on the pages made it enjoyable to read. Erik was a well written character and his story was interesting. Tia Fisher managed to make me cry, laugh and scream all at the same time. She is an incredible authority and I would like to read more if her books. Overall, Crossing The Line is a beautiful book that I will hopefully read again and will definitely recommend to friends and family.

Kitty The St. Bede’s Literary Critics

This book is really good, and definitely shows the dangers of being dragged into the life of dealing drugs. It also shows the dangers of what happens if you deal with a dangerous drug supplier ad what they could threaten and do if you stop doing as they say or lose their money. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone in years 7 and above, since it does have violence and drug use, but it is only used to illustrate the bad things about it.

Alex St Martin’s Bookworms

I think that this is a good book. It tells the reader about the boys life and how its like a stack of dominos. the book had good details and I could tell what was going on. it also had an unusual way of writing the text out but by doing that it showed that if was rough and when the writing was neat it wasn't hard or difficult times for the boy in the book. the only thing that would be bad about this book is knowing what word to read next since it is all scattered. but overall I think it was a good book

kacie KES Readers

I found this book to be very good. It was gritty and emotional. I found the verse style that it was written in to be unique and interesting. Overall a very good book and I recommend it to anyone, as it is quite easy to read.

Yusuf K Ermysted’s

This book was amazing. The plot was very interesting and kept me wanting to keep on reading. I like all the characters’ personalities, like Ravi's.

William B Ermysted’s

I thought it had a good message and I like to look into the life of others. I found it a great read as it was very hard to put down. It was a emotional story that had great vocabulary.

Skye KES Readers

This book was eye-opening and helped readers to understand how young people like Erik can end up in these situations. It was also an engaging read, with an interesting format and enjoyable poetic style.

Polly Eltham Hill Book Club

I have given this book a 5/5 star rating and so far my number 1# fav! I only have song walker and the door of no return left to read. I cannot say how much I loved this book. A powerful story about Eric (the protagonist) who has joined a gang and made very bad decisions. This book is about gangs and family. It showed Eric's life at home and at secondary school as a year nine. This book also shows how hard it is living a life like this. This was written in verse but the writing was like a novel and I liked it when the words were either dropping down or in a circle because it helped me understand the book more and it made it easier to read . It was a really sad and touching book and at times I would drop a tear or be surprised at what decision Eric had made. The bit I mostly enjoyed were the flashbacks because it tells you a bit about Eric and his life. I have nothing negative to say about this book and I think the author should be proud of the masterpiece they have created and maybe they should share more books with the public, because this one was great. To me this book should be the winner of the awards.

Summaya The Reading Queens

This book has it all, from moments of pain and devastation to liberation and joy, ‘Crossing the line’ really took me to another world. Tragic, tense, defeated yet powerful this book demonstrates the true definition of a captivating story. We begin with the protagonist called Erik starting secondary school, which I think definitely accelerated it for me because it makes it more relatable and feels a more personal experience. Sadly, he resonantly lost his father and his Mum is struggling with finance and relationships. She meets a guy who seems lovely, however she soon finds herself pregnant and gets abandoned. In days of desperation as a big brother and the now the man of house, Erik turns to a gangster group for support, but things start to spiral rapidly. Tangled in knots he can't untie, Erik begins to question everything he's ever known. Surprisingly, my favourite character is Ravi as he is a kind, loyal friend always there for the highs and lows of life and I think everyone should have a Ravi in their life. I would 100% recommend this book, although I'd personally rate this a 12+ due to the mature content and language. I’d give it 10/10, totally loved it from start to finish and I look forward to reading more of Tia’s books.

Amelia The John Mason Shadowers

I really enjoyed reading this book and felt like the topics explored within it were portrayed in a realistic and intriguing way. At the beginning, we are introduced to the protagonist (Erik) and his inability to feel safe after his experience with drug dealing. Then, throughout the book we start to see the events in his life that led him into it, which included his dad dying and then falling into poverty. It is formatted in poetry, which really helps to convey the sense of urgency in his situation and how the different stages of his life pass by so quickly that he finds himself in such dangerous situations. In the end, it introduces themes of redemption and hope, when Ravi, who Erik previously dismissed as being too studious, helps him to overcome one of his biggest struggles yet. In addition, he competes in a regional running competition, where he performs well. Despite this, not all of his problems are eliminated by the end of the story, and it has quite an enigmatic ending. This shows that the story isn’t quite over and relates the book to real life. Overall, I found the book really interesting to read and thought that it had an important message about friendship and asking for help in times of crisis.

Isobella LSST Library Shadowers

Dylan - It was overall a good book but sometimes I found the word shapes hard to read. Samuel - I found that the book was really good and fun to read and it showed us how easy it is to be brought into things and that we need to be careful.

Samuel and Dylan Waddesdon Shadowers

"Crossing the Line" by Tia Fisher is a book that captures the difficulties and hardships that so many young people have to go through. The book follows the life of Erik as we explore how poverty and unfortunate circumstances can draw young people into the life of drugs. The book is written in poetic form which, at first, put me off. Yet as I read on, I found that the rhythm and way the words were placed on the page aided in telling such an important story. My only criticism of "Crossing the Line" is that the book almost feels unfinished. We get a happy resolution but there is still a big BUT. I think it should take more than a few pages to conclude such a complex narrative. Maybe this book could benefit from a sequel or a longer epilogue. However, "Crossing the Line" is still such a compelling read that really puts the reader right in the middle of Erik's life and explains just what an impact county lines have on individuals.

Emelia Marshland Readers

I liked the book but in the beginning I thought that it didn't really make sense because to me it feels like I was starting a book half way through, but as I read on I could understand what was going on and I think that many people can relate to Erik's story. Crossing the Line was a good book overall but I would have liked it even more if at the end they would continue it or have a second book so we could find out " is it safe for him?" " what will happen to his siblings?"

Manu Chiswick Carnegie

Crossing The Line was a very intriguing and fast paced book. It constantly had me wondering what would happen next and consequently, I didn’t want to put it down. I found this book very relatable as Tia Fisher started the story with a normal boy's life in which things happen to him that happen to us everyday, and showed how easy it is to get trapped in situations that you can’t get out of. Although the climax of the story was exciting, I felt that the ending could have been tied up better as I was wondering what would happen to Eric in his life next. But overall, this book was really exciting and I enjoyed reading it.

Grace Chiswick Carnegie

This book is very unique, with constant issues in life occurring, and real problems that we all face are included. It has a very artistic style to how it is written, and the storyline is practically flawless, with no part leaving you bored. There are constant plot twists and it flows smoothly with highpoints, and a LOT of low points. This book is a reminder of the struggles of life- like Erik hating the spelling of his name, or his mum being deserted upon news of twins. This is important for young people, to encourage them to keep going when the going gets tough. And that family can help you in ways you hadn't even thought they could.

Ralph Bookwizards

Scarlet The Sherbies

I like reading real life based stories and this story is based on a real life person. This book is informative in many ways and also explores the dangerous world of county line crime in which young vulnerable children are groomed to enter than exploited in horrific ways and put through distressing circumstances. That people are able to seek help signposted in the book paved the road to the 'light at the end of the tunnel' from which anyone tangled up in this way can find a way out to safety. A powerful verse novel of our times, highly recommended.

Mrs. Vyas - Librarian Lionheart24

I really enjoyed reading the book and thought it was written really well. I enjoyed the plot twists and the drama that happened during the book. I also really liked the climax and I couldn't put it down.

Ava Bibliomaniacs

This was the first book that i read and what not a huge fan of this book even though i have read it all i did not catch on really. i don't know if this is because of the writing style or the fact of the story that went with it but i would give it a second chance if i could because i thought at some points i think they was deeper meaning than i read I do hope other people enjoy this book due to the fact just because i didn't i hope you do as it helps with knowledge and something i think people should read

James Bibliomaniacs

The book is full of emotions and dives head-first into a rare book topic but they convey it really well and get people on the main character's side. It is full of emotions and sheds light on the fact people can easily get sucked into a world of crime and do things they might not want to.

Max St Kaths

Crossing the Line is about a pressured young boy called Erik. Facing poverty and sanctions at school, he is suddenly drawn into a world of abuse and drugs. Making more and more bad decisions can Erik finally make a good one? Written in verse and with a powerful captivating story I really enjoyed this book. In so many ways, it showed me the life changing decisions young people are pressured to make. For me, it highlighted how lucky I am to live in a stable home, with no problems financially. My favourite character in this book was definitely Ravi. A loyal and brave friend, he always believed in Erik, and heavily influenced the way Erik felt and behaved. Additionally, another issue this book conveyed was bullying. Erik, who had ginger hair, is bullied for it and this showed to me that multiple people in the world can get put down by their small differences, yet actually they should be proud of them. I would rate this book 12+ due to strong language and the older topics this book is based around. I would rate it 9.5/10.

Orla The Fitzharrys Shadows

I actually really enjoyed this book. I have read a few books in verse before and really enjoy that genre. At the start it took a while to understand what was happening, however fairly quickly more of the main plot started building up and it got a faster pace. 4.5/5 :D

Amelia Horsham BOok HUNTers

Crossing the Line - Tia Fisher ‘Crossing the Line’ is a verse novel that tells the story of Erik as he starts secondary school while dealing with the loss of his dad. This all results in Erik becoming involved in dangerous drug dealing and violence, meaning he has to make some difficult decisions in order to protect his family. The first thing that stands out in the novel is the interesting formatting of the text. Throughout the novel, the text’s format reflects the content which made it a fairly quick read for me. I think this also made the book more engaging because the text didn’t follow one train of thought that was broken up by chapters, it created a sort of break as if Erik’s thoughts had been interrupted which also sort of made it feel like a conversation as it was written in first person. An example of this that I like is on pages 154 and 155 where Erik builds a visual of his mind where he uses Ravi’s idea of ‘compartmentalism’ and he splits all the elements of his life into boxes and shows the reader how he is trying to contain them and not let them mix. I think Tia Fisher wanted to make it obvious that Erik’s grieving over his father is the root of all the problems with the family. A key quote that shows this is: “Dad broke his promise too, didn’t he? He said he’d always be there.” Erik’s inability to communicate his feelings and needs with his mum which leads to Erik needing to cut off most of his friends in order to keep them safe leads back to the fact that he wants to help them because his dad no longer could. This is how he justifies things to himself and others even if they have a bad consequence. By saying it would benefit the family. The main thing Erik tries to solve is the money problems. To begin with it is just for himself so he doesn’t feel like the charity case while with his friends but then it expands when he needs to make more money to help his mum get a new job. The way he gives this money to his mum is by pretending he found it in the shed and saying that his dad saved it up before he died. I think this represents the desperate need Erik has to fill his father’s shoes which then links back to the point that his father’s death, while obviously being traumatic for him, results in all the problems he creates while trying to help. I think that some of the metaphors used throughout the novel were very subtle, such as the domino illustrations at the start of each chapter being used to represent how each bad decision makes Erik’s life topple like dominoes. However, I found that the decisions Erik made were very predictable in the sense that the choices he made were obvious, otherwise the novel wouldn’t have any plot so it all relied very much on Erik choosing the worst path to continue the story. Although the plot is based around Erik being involved with county lines, I think it might have been interesting to see some different character’s lives or perspectives such as Travis and Ben and how they got involved with K1 or what happened to them after Erik moved. I know as it is a verse novel that may be difficult but formatting other character’s thoughts could create some interesting visuals for the reader and be a good way of representing the uniqueness of people but also show how similar the effects of the drug dealing could be on Erik, Travis and Ben or the effects it has on, say, Erik’s mum. Overall, I enjoyed the experience while reading ‘Crossing the Line’ as it was engaging due to the formatting and it brought to light some very important issues, nevertheless I would still have liked to see some more of the effects Erik’s choices had on his family and friends. Particularly Ravi’s home life, the reason being Ravi is my favourite character but also because I think it would be interesting to see what it was like for him hiding Erik’s connections to the drug dealing from his family and still managing to be loyal to him. In conclusion, I would recommend this to a friend because it is a very intriguing debut novel from Tia Fisher and I appreciated the unique writing style and the unusual discussions it could bring forward and therefore I would rate it 3 stars as I think Tia Fisher could explore more similar themes in greater depth whilst still experimenting with the verse novel style.

Ava Tractor

I really liked the way this book was written. The author made me really feel for the characters and the challenges that they faced. I liked that it was a verse novel and the word art added a lot to the book. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who is interested in learning more about county lines, gangs and how to get help. Overall I really liked this book and the way it was written.

Isabella Bookiewookiedoodaas

The book was good though the ending was good but thought provoking. The opening line was spine chilling I loved it. would recommend to Year 7-10 boys. The only problem is how Eric and Avocado Face became friends so quickly from being enemies.

Gregory Bramcote College Bookclub

Crossing the Line is an emotional and compelling story about grief, influence and family. The layout is unique, portraying the main character Erik's thoughts in a distinctive way as the book progresses. It covers the heartbreaking - and often brutal - lives of many young teens all across the country, as well as providing support for those struggling with anything similar. It is a relatable and realistic book that I would recommend to my friends who enjoy reading, at once.

Lola Bramcote College Bookclub

Overall quite a good read! The layout of words was unique, interesting and fun to follow. I think a lot of boys around years 8-10 could relate to this or find some sort of hope from this book. Crossing the Line is a very moving and deep story told from the perspective of 14 year old Erik Anderson after he gets into gang and drug problems, trying to earn some cash. I loved the constant twists and turns throughout the story's plot, leaving me on the edge of my seat. I like how the cover depicts the plot in a metaphorical sense. I think the only thing I didn't like was the ending, it felt a tad bit sudden and kind of too good to be true. But overall, I recommend!

Tia Bramcote College Bookclub

I found this book very interesting as it is a story similar to those whose lives did take a bad turn and how they recovered. I think that this book portrayed a message which was to take comfort from what you do best. An example of this is when the main character Erik takes to running with his friend and then competing in competitions. There is also a slightly scary aspect to this book as it is based on reality, and it has happened to children before. I think that there should be a sequel to this book as it ends with a bit of a cliffhanger. This book was written similarly to The Door of No Return as it wasn’t written in paragraphs but in sections. The only thing I don’t like about this book is that it is slightly misleading as his sisters are only threatened at the end, so you don’t find out his reaction. Also, it is a very short book as it isn’t written in paragraphs, and I think that there could have been more action in it. Other than that, I found that it was a really good book that I would read again.

Liam Bookwizards

Crossing the Line is an emotional and truly eye-opening read following the story of Erik and his struggle between the line of good and bad after the passing of his father. With his increasing reputation he catches the eye of a local gang and is dragged into an underworld of violence and drugs. While this was a enjoyable read it's not for younger audiences as the writing style may be difficult to understand. Furthermore, it has a few adult themes such as drugs and violence. 7/10

Isla The Fitzharrys Shadows

I thought the storyline was really good and I liked reading through and seeing Erik's character development and the impact his surroundings had on him.

Jess GreatB00ks

This book was written fantasticaly. It really showed me how easily you can get dragged into the world of drug dealing, along with how easily and quickly things can go wrong and how hard it is to get out. This also opened my eyes to how cruel the world really can be

Daniel Ousedale Shadow Chasers

Good book, could be a but more writing on a page.

Amy Herts and Essex

This was a book about a young boy called Erik who is bullied for having ginger hair and then is lured into a world of drugs and county lines. This book is very good and the only negative is that it is quite dark and scary but that adds action . Also I think they could and should make a sequel 9/10

IsaacJ Ermysted’s

This book is quite a dark but sad book as it dives into gang culture and we find out about trap houses and drug dealing. I enjoyed this book.

Finn B Ermysted’s

It was ok, but I think it could have been better if it had been worded differently and it was clearer who was talking when. I also think it was a bit more grown-up than the books I usually read.

Angelina Norwich High School Bookworms

I finished this book in 2 days. Although the book was quite short it was so captivating. One this I noticed about this book was that the plot was fast-paced and it was almost like I wanted to jump in the book and stop Ericks situation before it went any further. It shows how easily a young person could be painted as a “bad kid”. It’s a familiar cautionary tale as the descent into murky world reaches a heart-stopping and potentially heart-breaking conclusion.

Eniola STCCG Shadowing

"Crossing The Line" is a unique story including themes of drug dealing, pressure and providing for a family at a young age. The story follows protagonist Erik Andersen, a 13 year old boy living in Great Britain set in recent years. When Erik's mother falls abandoned and pregnant, Erik is taken in by a local gang and deals drugs in an effort to provide for his family but soon learns the effects of pressure and debt. I think that Erik's character is relatable to teenagers in Britain, especially those that face bullying at school. The story is typed out into many layouts- across the page, in circles and in shapes and patterns depending on the mood of the plot. I think that this was a rare but exceptional choice and complimented the story well. The plotline is slow to unfold and there is definitely a sense of build up as Erik gets further into danger with the dealers. The ending was satisfactory and well structured into the plotline. Overall, "Crossing The Line" is a gripping and stand-out story.

Ava Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

I really enjoyed the book I think that it is really important because it raises awareness on issues that aren't commonly spoken about openly. The book had lots of twists and turns making it an enjoyable book to read never getting bored. I liked how at the end it gave you a year later update on the characters.

Amelia Plumites

'Crossing the Line' by Tia Fisher was a gripping book from start to finish and its unique way of writing makes it even more enjoyable to read. I would definitely recommend this book to teenagers because it highlights issues that some young people will be facing and shows you that you are not alone when going through it. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has seen it.

Beyla LGGS Shadow Questers

I think that the plot was good at the start but then it just got too fast-paced and, if I am honest, I did not understand much of the book. At the start Erik portrayed a youthful, young boy but that changed. I think the style of the writing interesting as I felt that some of the word choices, including swear words, did not need to be mentioned and the way that words were presented was peculiar. I felt myself reading upside down, sideways and all over the book, which is not good if you are sitting down to read. I didn't really enjoy this book. I am looking forward to reading my next book.

Louie Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Crossing the Line opens with a question for the reader: “Do you feel safe?” This sets the scene for the dark and unsettling story ahead: this is no casual read. We are taken on a journey with the main character Erik, who gets caught up in selling drugs. At first he does it to support his family, thinking he can just get out if he changes his mind: but he soon finds out that’s not how it works. I enjoyed seeing how Erik’s mindset changes throughout the story as well as his relationships with the other characters; they were presented very realistically which helped to bring them to life. This book is written in verse which can deter some people from reading it, but the verse is utilised by making the words have different sizes or patterns to further present Erik’s feelings or how he perceives things. This made the story easier to follow and gave us a break from the dark topic: I think if this had been written normally it would have been an even harder read than it already is. The main themes explored here are peer pressure, drug dealing and difficult choices: I think this book did a good job at tackling them and showing us that not all drug dealers are mindless criminals, some of them are just scared little boys trying to become men. The main character chosen was also a very good reflection of this, as he had motives for his actions and also had a moral compass which, although sometimes shrouded in doubt, always pointed in the right direction. No character really stood out to me though because I feel like not many of them were very developed: a lot of potential was wasted here, knocking my rating down a bit. Overall I would rate this book 3 out of 5 stars: the plot, although well-handled, was pretty linear and could have used more development. Although I did enjoy some parts, I think a lot could have been either cut out or expanded on to make the story more interesting. I would recommend this to anyone whose friends or family members have gone through something similar or someone who would like to educate themselves more on the topics presented, but in my opinion this is not a good casual read for a wide audience.

Tatiana Rebel Readers

Crossing The Line by Tia Fisher Crossing the Line is one of the most astounding books I have ever read. Crossing The Line follows the story of a young teen called Erik and his slippery descent into a life of drug dealing and crime. Erik has good intentions of helping his family, but he makes a lot of bad decisions on the way and before he knows it is stuck in a violent and criminal lifestyle. It is a blend of suspense, funny moments, and unexpected turns. It has been extremely well designed in terms of the text's layout and written chapters. I love how the words in the book are presented in patterns, pictures, rhymes, and much more. The formatting of the words makes you read at a certain pace, so you feel like you are living the characters life in real time. Sometimes it can be quite hard to read because of the formatting of the text in swirling patterns rather than the standard layout of a fiction book. This book is perfect for people 11–15-year-olds because it portrays what life could be like now days. Many people get involved in drug dealing at a youthful age, and this book could open children's eyes to how easy it is to accidentally get involved in crime and the consequences that follow in the real world. It is written in a unique way to capture the reader’s attention and hopefully make it more accessible for people that do not normally read. The pace of the story makes you hungry to keep reading so you finally find out what happens to poor Erik and his mates. I could not put the book down.

Teddy Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

I enjoyed reading this novel because it was interesting and revolved around a kid having to make decisions. There was one thing that I was worried about, I found there were quite a few swear words which might upset other people. Over all I would rate this book 8/10

JUDAH Killy Krew

I would recommend crossing the line to older readers because it talks about mature topics such as drugs and murder but does so in a way that educates. I think that the story remained genuine all the way through and I really enjoyed reading it.

Daisy Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd

Crossing the Line is a fast-paced novel that shows what can happen when a young boy goes down the wrong path by simultaneously making bad and stupid decisions. Throughout Erik’s time at school he has been cruelly bullied for his red hair. He continues to be called rude names such as ginger ninja, carrot top and so many more, all related to his ginger hair. The first lockdown hits and Erik is relieved the bullying will stop. However during the lockdown Erik sadly looses his dad leaving him as the man of the house and his mother grieving for the loss. After a year of sadness, Erik’s mum finally decides to find another man. That man was Jonny, a disloyal man who shortly abandoned Erik’s mum, leaving her stranded with three kids. With three kids and a low paying job there family were very tight for money. School starts again and Erik shows a passion for running however due to a series of misbehaving, Erik has received many detentions in several lessons. During his time in detention, Erik meets his former bullies - Travis and his skinny little sidekick Ben. Instead of continuing to bully Erik, they welcome him into the world of drug dealing and a “new family” lead by K1. To Erik this was his idea of “easy money”. His loyal, intelligent best friend Ravi who’s known for a bad taste in music, desperately tries to drift him away from the drugs. After multiple drop-offs he is offered a serious task, he must go to Fritz’ ( a bear-like man ) where he meets Mikey, a young year six kid and his mother Maria. Erik was reluctant to go however he feared if he hadn’t K1 would not be happy. On his way back from Fritz’ Erik received a disturbing message and is robbed of K1’s money, K1 was not pleased and brutally beats him to a pulp. But then lets him go with the money he offered because he needed it for his family. Upon arriving home Erik has to lie to everyone about where he has been and get ready for his massive running event coming however another task from K1 appears. After placing 4th in the running event Erik tells everyone everything about what he has been doing and eventually he and his mum comes to the conclusion of moving to there old house to escape K1. In my opinion, crossing the line very fun to read and Is written for readers between 12 and 18. It’s written as a poem with very little words on each page making it easy to read for reluctant readers. This book is completely unique in the way it shows a visual representation of the words such as steam - the word steam is repeated with each word slowly fading off the page. This easily keeps the reader engaged. The characters in crossing the line are written brilliantly especially Erik a relatable young boy trying to provide for his family by any means necessary. This makes it an interesting and heart-breaking portrayal if what life can be like for a child growing up in poverty.

Charlie Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

This book was great, from the first words of the book "are you safe" immediately drawing me into the book. The story of young Erik who got caught up in life between drugs and family was a perfect storyline based off of todays world. Erik had to create a balance between the good and bad but it didn't always work out for him - important events came up at same times but Erik knew he couldn't fail to deliver otherwise he would or could be in danger. This changed when he made a big deal but "the North Street" saw Erik on their turf and stole the money when Erik's boss found out he beat him. Erik had to help his mum who was in a poor financial state so he stayed in the business he got a package from K1 his boss, Erik and his friend were skeptical so tried poking through it, it was a gun and Erik had to find a way to get rid of it.

Ben Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher, is an amazing book and a fantastic read. I would suggest that readers of this book should be 13 years of age or older, I believe this because the book is centred around themes involving drugs, and the writer has chosen to use explicit language. Tia Fisher has enhanced the secretive, and ominous mood of the book with the use of explicit language. Often, books with the inclusion of drugs, the mood is secretive because the life that drug users live are stereotypically lonely, and dark. I find that the situation that Erik is in, is very different to the "normal" childhood, because he only has one parent and doesn't have enough money, for the essentials in life and, is having a hard time at school. So he resorts to drugs and the perceived help of bad people. This book is very engaging and constantly has you guessing what will happen next, and makes you want to keep on reading. Tia Fisher has done an excellent job creating such a brilliant book and fully deserves her place on the Carnegie book shortlist of 2024.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved it because of the intense feeling of suspense and ambience throughout the narrative. I also enjoyed reading this book because it is written in free-verse. I think this book is a very poignant and effective way of spreading awareness about County Lines. It has opened my eyes to the awful dangers faced by young people and others who have been involved in the far-reaching tentacles of modern drug dealing. I think this book is a strong contender of the Carnegie Medal.

Kitty Ossie’s bookworms

Crossing the Line is an absolutely brilliant book and highly recommend it to any teenaged or young adults who enjoy a bit of a dark book. Firstly, I thought the way the author layed-out the story on the page was genius and added another dimension to the book. The author based the position, shape and style of the words on the characters feelings or the current mood of the story. This made the book more entertaining and helped to clarify what was happening at that moment. The book included current issues such as bullying, loneliness and struggling with friendships. However the main theme of the book is county lines, which is a terrible issue which can have devastating effects on the victim and it is a problem which isn’t discussed a lot, and it is quite rare for it to be the theme of a book which means it is hard to learn about it. Crossing the line outlines and explains all of the problems and consequences that occur when involved with county lines and teaches the reader about it. The story is based around events that unfortunately happen every day without being noticed. The book journeys through Erik’s battle between his passion, running, and the merciless county lines group he has got involved with. Throughout the book, I developed quite a strong connection with the main character, Erik, and I felt like I experienced the story alongside him.

Lucas Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Crossing the Line is a really well-written book that I just couldn’t put down (literally). I read it in under a day and enjoyed every minute of it from the start to the end. I think this book is brilliant for spreading awareness of country lines and the ways people can easily be exploited by gangs and criminals. One of my favourite things about this book is how, even though Erik became closed off with his friend, Ravi still managed to help him in the end by involving others who could help him get out of the situation. I think Tia Fisher has a very unique way of writing her stories, as they are in verse, and especially with her use of her fonts and play on words, because it gave the book a sense of unease as you had to keep turning it this way, which I think made it more exciting and enjoyable. I would recommend this book to older audiences because of the language used and the topic, but I also think that younger people should know about gangs and country lines and how they are a real thing that could happen to them if they are not careful or mix with the wrong people even by accident. I would really like to see a second book about this and more about Erik’s life after everything. And I would rate this as solid. 9/10.

Tilly The Fitzharrys Shadows

I really enjoyed this book because it seemed very realistic and something that could happen to a teenager. I really liked the way that the writing was presented on the page to add effect. for example, to show something is fading away they deleted the words and gradually got fainter off the page. I found the story of Erik’s life very interesting and emotional with the struggles that he faced and it made a very good book to read!

Louis Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

At first I didn’t really enjoy reading this book because lots of unnecessary bits in the book I couldn’t understand but later when I was halfway through the book it got a bit better and a bit scary. It’s not really my type of book I would only recommend it to people who like books that have violence in them but other wise it was still quite good.

Naomi Herts and Essex

I really liked this book as I thought it was very interesting and had a lot of plot twists. It also tells the dangers of joining a gang and the dark side of hat life, and was hard to put down once I picked it up. The layout of the verses was very original and how the words made shapes. When reading it, it was like an emotional- rollercoaster and I really felt like I was in the book and wanted Erick to make the right decisions. Overall, it was a very good book and would recommend it.

Amelie PGHS Shadowers

Crossing the line is a book written by an author called Tia Fisher. It is a book about a teenage boy called Erik who at the start of the book is a bit of a wimp. He gets beaten up at school, and is bullied. When his dad dies during the COVID-19 pandemic, his life starts falling apart. After a while, Erik’s mum gets together with another man who after impregnating Erik’s mother, promptly leaves Erik and his mum to fend for themselves with twins coming soon. Erik and his mother have no money, and school is getting harder. When the twins are born, life gets harder for Erik, as there are more mouths to feed. After a while, Erik becomes desperate for money and gets caught up in a scary world of drug dealing, violence and death. Erik begins to lose everything he cares about. He tries to back out of it, but then his sisters are threatened. This is an amazing book with a deep story, and extremely well written characters. It also has a very playful and interesting layout of how the story is presented. It is presented like a shape poem, and this adds a very fun touch to this exquisite book. The characters are amazing, as is the plot. The author really captures what it feels to be stressed out and what it is like to be a teenager which is something that is difficult to do. This book is a great read and it wouldn’t be surprising if it won the Carnegie book award.

Richie Euro Bookworms

This book was exceptionally well-written and imparted valuable life lessons that are essential for both teenagers and adults. It presented these lessons in an engaging, entertaining, and enjoyable manner.

TJ Aldridge School Readers

This was a very good book that taught lots of valuable lessons on the dangers of gangs and drugs that many teenagers and adults need to learn but it presents the lessons in a fun enjoyable and engaging way

I found the book quite enjoyable as the plot was quite emotional at times but at points I found it hard to read due to the layout on the page. I enjoyed how it felt sort of like poetry but not completely like poetry which helped the plot almost flow between points or places.

Robin Ermysted’s

This has to be one of my absolute books of the Year; I read it in one sitting. Gritty. Sensitive. Cautionary. This brilliant verse novel was a hugely compelling read. Absolutely 5 STARS!

MISS DJ Holmfirth High Yoto Crew!

Overall I loved reading Crossing The Line, it was gripping and enticing. The style it was written in makes it very easy to understand and creates a fast but nice read. Although I really enjoyed reading this book, I do think that in the first few pages, I got slightly confused and didn't get stuck into the book as fast as I thought I would. Even with this minor issue I ended up loving it and I think that it was very creatively made. I do believe that it is sharing lots of awareness while also creating an amazing story.

Violet The John Mason Shadowers

This review is written about the Carnegie short list book Crossing The Line. Crossing the Line is a book about a young boy called Erik struggling through poverty with his mum after his dad passed away suddenly. Just under a year before Erik's dad passed away his mum begins to date another man called Jonny who Erik despises for replacing his father. Later Erik finds his mum in tears and she says she was pregnant with twins and Jonny had left them. With Erik and his mum struggling to even feed them selves and the twins, he ends up being pulled down the dark hole of the world of drug dealing to support his family. Erik in the book is described as a troubled student who is frequently bullied and has a short fuse. He is constantly in trouble and has poor grades. At the climax of the story Erik eventually escapes the claws of the antagonist the drug lord K1 but soon after the family has relocated to escape from there town they find an ominous note by his dying dogs collar stating they know were and they will try to kill his twins next. Overall Crossing the Line was a great book and I thoroughly enjoyed it but some of the topics covered would not be understood by anyone under the age of twelve, so I think anyone around the age of 12-15 would really enjoy it.

Liam Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

I really thought this book was good. It wouldn't be my cosy favourite given the the theming but it was action-packed and I couldn't put it down. The story was full of bad language, and was probably meant for someone a bit older than me, but it taught a lesson and told a powerful story to me. The bit at the end was unexpected but also a bit unsatisfactory. Overall, a good book for older, thoughtful readers.

Aidan M Ermysted’s

Crossing The Line is an amazing book all about a boy called Erik who gets tangled into a world of bad when his mum and dad divorce and his mum is left pregnant with twins from her new boyfriend who has now left the same way Erik's first dad did. I love the style of the book as it isn't just line after line after line, the words immerse the reader as they show physically what is going on and it help with imagining what is happening in the book. In my opinion crossing the line is one of the best books I have ever read in my life!

Ozzy Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Crossing the Line is a very gripping and fascinating story, that I must admit, I read very fast but only because of how much I enjoyed it. It's theme is to do with getting through tough times, and it also has a recurring coming of age feature. The book follows a boy called Erik, who is dealing with the recent trauma of losing his dad, which has affected his home life and family greatly. At first I didn't think it was my type of story but seeing Erik's life progress from year 7 to much further on, I came to realise that there is an emotional side to this story, and he is misunderstood by others in some way, and I think his actions were a way of taking his mind off the loss he experienced. If I were the author, I think the thing I would change about the story would be its ending, and although I understood where the writer was coming from, I would have liked to know what happened next. But aside from that I thoroughly enjoyed Crossing the Line as the way it was written in verse and the way the characters' lives merged to create friendships and betrayals really created a suspenseful but intriguing atmosphere. I would highly recommend Crossing the Line.

Olivia Skipton Shadows

Crossing the line is about Erik . And he makes very bad decisions. I loved this book because while very deep , it also has friendship and loyalty . What I also like is the fact that it’s free verse ; I think everyone should read a free verse book once in their life . Finally , I would give this book a 4/5

Holly H VISTA Academy

This book was very well written and interesting. I especially liked how the free verse writing style affected the reading experience, and I found the book to be very immersive and detailed. I found that the characters were believable and realistic, and on the whole I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Rose Orpington Library Younger Teens Group

Tia Fisher illustrates many difficulties In Crossing the Line; Narrated by Erik Andersen, A boy struggling through his Teenage years, His main goal: Make his late father proud. However, one thing leads To another and soon enough, Erik is wrapped up amongst Drugs and violence, Trying to salvage the boy He once was. This down-to-earth, Harrowing story Shows that every decision counts, And one wrong step could mean Crossing the line forever. A similar tale to “When Shadows Fall”: A shortlisted book in 2023, Crossing the Line shares this Bleak, troubling storyline Appearing popular with Most audiences over Around 12 years old. Although, this fast-paced Book contains small Highlights of hope to Fade out the darker areas.

Bethan The Fitzharrys Shadows

"Crossing the Line" is a novel describing the ongoing issue of teenagers being involved in gangs, drugs and county lines. This novel spreads awareness of how quickly you can dig yourself into a hole after doing one "favour" for a criminal. The first line "do you feel safe?" immediately had me gripped and the the fact that the book ends with Erik not being safe, just emphasized how quickly a life can change due to exploitation. This novel had me gripped from the very start, with the unique font and prose style used throughout. I love the fact that this story was based off of truth, as it really made you wonder what so many young teenagers may be going through and we just don't realize. The fact that Erik's mum is always occupied with work and the children, makes you wonder if she was the reason Erik made these bad decisions, or if really he was doomed to fall into trouble after his dad died and he felt the need to take the place of the "man" of the house. Although this book was incredible, I think if Erik's dad's death had something to do with gang violence and that was why he always felt the need to apologize to his father for the trouble he gets into, it would have made the ending even more shocking for the reader. I loved the character of Ravi in the novel, as he was an inspiration for many young teenagers who know they have a friend in trouble. He showed that even if your friend is doing something wrong, you must help them feel safe and get out of the trouble and guide them towards the help needed, even if they don't think they need that help. The idea of having the "credits" at the end like a film was a bit useless and I think it moved away from the idea of the book being serious and having a big impact on the reader, as it made it too comedic and almost as if it was all fake when in truth the story of Erik is very real for many young people. Although this book wasn't perfect, it was definitely the best read out of the ones I've read so far. It was very hard to put down and I think I enjoyed it more because it was aimed at older readers and focused on harder topics. I would rate this book an 8/10 and would recommend it for ages 13+.

Lola PGHS Shadowers

Crossing the Line is a gripping and meaningful book about a boy named Erik. We follow Erik as he makes his way through high school. At the start of a pandemic Erik's dad sadly dies leaving just Erik and his mum at home. Soon Erik's mum has twins with a man called Johnny. Soon after, Johnny abandons Erik's mum. Erik and his mum are in a tough financial state so Erik ends up in a world of drug dealing to make money for his family but he ends up putting his life and his family and friend's lives in danger. I think that the characters in this book are very well thought out and realistic. An example is Erik's eccentric best friend Ravi who is always there for Erik and trying to convince him to do the right thing. I really like the fact that this story is written in verse because it is nice to read different styles of books. Overall I thought that this book was a brilliant and entertaining read with the right mix of funny and serious.

Noah Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

I really enjoyed this book and found I really sympathised with Erik's story. The book captures his feelings really well in a way that draws you in and immerses you in the story. The use of verse really added to the meaning of the book and kept the pace lively. I found that the book covered more adult themes that I didn't expect for this book. Overall this book is very engaging and I would recommend it to other people to read.

Benjamin R. Ermysted’s

'The Boy Lost in the Maze' is a fantastic verse novel and a retelling of the story of 'Theseus and the Minotaur'. A hugely enjoyable read with some fantastic illustrations too. I loved how the ancient 'villains' were reimagined in a modern context!

Mr B Holmfirth High Yoto Crew!

The story is about how Erik's life goes wrong as he makes the wrong decisions for money. He stops following rules and he doesn't get good grades. His life becomes a struggle as he tries to get away with everything by lying. I really liked how realistic this story was, showing how a normal person can go from being a 'good' person to a 'bad' person for money. The emotive language used in this book really allowed me to imagine everything that was taking place in the story. However, I did find some of the chapters dragged on with the same topic and became a bit boring (perhaps these could have been edited?) although I wish the story as a whole had been longer. Overall, this book was great and I would read it again (four out of five stars).

Romeesa Rockwood Reads

very good book has a wonderful plot and changed my view of verese novels forever but it was way too dark and incredibly stressful 5/10

Katherine John Masefield

I loved this book because the way that Tia Fisher managed to use detailed formatting and poem style versing was very gripping and made you want to read the next sentence! I admire the way that while the subject of the book is quite important and heavy, Fisher manages to keep it light and at times funny and entertaining. I believe that this book is a perfect read because it keeps you engaged with all of the fun features but can teach you a lot at the same time

Mattia Fortismere

I really liked this book, it had an engaging plot and due to the stanza-style format, it was an enjoyable and addictive read, which I finished the day it was given to me!

Clementine Tractor

When I first started read Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher, I thought I understood the meaning of this book, that even if life gets tough you should not give into bad temptations even if you think they will help you. However, after reading and finishing the book, I have realised the meaning is much more significant than that. This book begins with Erik’s dad dying and he and his mother being stuck with twin babies to take care of. With all of these problems at home, Erik’s school life takes a bad turn and he ends up hanging out with two older troublemakers called Ben and Travis who introduce Erik to the world of gangs and drugs. One by one Erik gets more and more involved with all of these gangs until he cannot take it anymore and quits but the notorious drug leader K1 will not let him go so easily. In my opinion, I feel extremely empathetic for Erik, his mother is always with the twins and his best friend Ravi is with his new girlfriend Betty. As a teenager myself, I understand why Erik had to take these drastic measures because Ben and Travis were giving him the first sense of hope he has needed for a long time. I believe this is good example for young teenagers to see into the mind of another young teen and see why he made all of those bad decisions. So now that I have read Crossing the Line I understand the real meaning of this book. It shows the harsh realities that young people have to face and how you can get manipulated into to doing something without even realising it. It also shows how your whole life can turn upside down within a matter of weeks, months or even years.

Elif Fiction Addiction

Crossing the Line is an extremely thought-provoking read that made me feel very lucky to not have such a tragic life like Erik's. The book deals with subjects such as poverty and grief but the writing brings hope and beauty to a novel all about despair. I think all students from age 11-14 should give this book a go. They will not regret it!

Noah Fiction Addiction

In my opinion this book was really good and it really gripped my interest I have read it 2 times over the Easter break. I would definitely recommend this book to someone in my year or above because it has some really emotional topics about what anyone could be going through in life.

Tiolu STCCG Shadowing

Carnegie Book Review Of Crossing The Line by Tia Fisher This book is about a boy whose father dies at the start of the pandemic and his mother is abandoned with baby twins. He is being bullied by people at school for his hair colour and he is annoyed, so he starts being rude at school. He meets these older boys who are not the nicest and they become friends. These boys set him up with a drug dealing job, and everything goes downhill from there. Can he recover it in the end? Story: 8/10, Characters: 8/10, Enjoyable book overall.

Estlin K Ermysted’s

This book was amazing and very intriguing. I really enjoyed reading this as it’s all written in poetry. I think it’s a great way of showing that not all bad decisions were with bad intentions. The way the book is written ( in poetry ) is so easy to read and truthfully I couldn’t pull me eyes away from the page once I had sat down with it . Poetry is so nice to read as it’s easy to understand the story. Throughout the book there are a few parts of the poem written in an image like style. For example as boxes, spirals and even a gun.

Zofia The Bentley Woodlanders

Crossing the line was a very interesting book with a different structure to most. it was a compelling story of a boy dragged into drug dealing which i feel is relevant nowadays. i appreciate the realism of the book and the helpful view and story of the creator at the end and i very much enjoyed reading it despite its headache inducing structure. however i believe it could be improved as all can be. 7/10

anekin Ermysted’s

Crossing the line is a book about a 14 year old boy called Eric who is dealing with the grief and loss of losing his dad. He then gets involved with drug dealing and county lines. First the leader of this scheme called K1 gives him a new phone to make up for one that Eric recently broke, however he says that Eric must give packages containing "weed" to other drug dealers while for Eric this is only one favour however he soon finds it very hard to get out for the fear that these dangerous people could find him and hurt him or worse. Soon this gets very serious as he finds himself spending time in drug dealing houses or trap houses. Soon he finds himself having to go to a totally different part of the country to deliver drugs all while not letting his mum know about his plan. This book was really good and well written however I would only recommend it to 13+ because of the intense situations and the language involved.

Seren The Fitzharrys Shadows

Crossing the Line is a book about a 14 year old boy called Eric who is dealing with the grief and loss of losing his dad. He then gets involved with drug dealing and county lines. First the leader of this scheme called K1 gives him a new phone to make up for one that Eric recently broke, however he says that Eric must give packages containing "weed" to other drug dealers while for Eric this is only one favour however he soon finds it very hard to get out for the fear that these dangerous people could find him and hurt him or worse. Soon this gets very serious as he finds himself spending time in drug dealing houses or trap houses. Soon he finds himself having to go to a totally different part of the country to deliver drugs all while not letting his mum know about his plan.

This book is about a boy called Erik. At the start of the book he is just starting secondary school but by the end he is finishing year 9. His dad died when he was in year 5 and when the book begins his mum is dating another man. Soon after, he has twin sisters and the man abandons them. He starts to have more and more responsibilities as the twins grow up but his family is losing money by the day. He gets a job with his best friend but they get fired soon after. After some time he finds another way- drug dealing. He knows that it’s wrong but his family is struggling so much that he no longer cares. He starts regretting his choices and tries to back out but they don’t let him. He threatens to expose them if they don’t leave him and his family alone. After almost a year, he’s finally starting to think that they’ve gone. But have they? I didn’t really enjoy it but I found the use of verse very interesting. It is definitely a book for older readers who are at least 12 due to foul language and the subjects. It is a fictional story about something that often happens in real life and is roughly based on the life of the ‘real’ Erik. I would rate it a 6.5/10.

Hannah The Fitzharrys Shadows

I thought that the book had really good story telling and a brilliant plot. There was lots of inference in the book, so it may be harder for younger readers to read. Also the book had very grown up themes that involve drugs and murder. The placement of the words was also quite confusing as they slanted on the page (though this did add a personality to each word). In all, it was a very good book and I would read it again.

Alice Lionheart24

Crossing The Line is about a teenage boy called Erik who is struggling to cope with the recent death of his father, the birth of two new baby sisters and the financial struggles his family are facing. So he turns to drug dealing to find money for his family, but ends up putting his life- and the lives of everyone he loves- in great danger. I liked how the structure of the book was similar to poetry because it made the book unique and eye-catching. Some words were also shaped differently which was very interesting. I also liked how Erik’s complicated thoughts and feelings were written in a way a child or teenager could understand, which is important so that people in similar situations can see themselves reflected in Erik and his story. I think all teenagers should read this book, especially those who need the support, but also those who are worried about a friend or someone they know, so they can do the right thing to help them. Even parents should read this so they can make sure their child is feeling safe and mentally healthy. This book has made me want to read more of this genre and about this topic, because I feel it is important to know how to approach situations like this whether I will need it in my personal life or not, because there is always someone in a more difficult situation to me and I want to be able to help them.

Annapurna Woking High Flyers

This book presents a compelling and educational narrative that imparts valuable life lessons in a format accessible to both children and adults. I highly recommend this book to individuals of all age groups, as I personally found it to be an enjoyable and enriching read.

Crossing the Line was a very emotional book about a lot of real things that some people may go through and it helps others understand the situations that some people are in. Overall, it was a great book and I definitely enjoyed reading it.

Holly Paulet Readers

Crossing The Line By Tia Fisher was a very enjoyable book, very brutally honest, however I didn't understand one or two terms. I really like verse novels, so I really loved this. This tells us all about the struggles from being connected to gang life, and about what it is like for some people in poverty.

Elsie St Kaths

I did enjoy the book very much, it was a very compelling read, although some aspects of the language put me off, There were s few swear words. It took me on a journey of how when you do the wrong thing, there's often quite horrible consequences,. At one point Erik was attacked by someone with a knife because he was in the wrong territory of the drug dealing world. At the start Erik was very careless and silly, but he was in a rather difficult position at the time. He didn't tell anyone, and he was untrusting of others. As the story progressed he got caught in a web of lies making his situation even worse. He didn’t want to admit he was doing wrong or scare his mother. Towards the end of the story, he manages to stand up to his oppressors, when he receives a death threat for his twin sisters and this frightens him. Erik then makes a wise decision to contact a support group for children involved with drugs. At the end you're not clear on whether he's safe or not, you are left to come to that conclusion yourself. I think this book is good for creating empathy for children caught up in these situations and it may give courage to someone who is going through this. I would reread this book because it is a very engaging story and I like crime based novels.

Rosellen Rebel Readers

'Crossing the Line' by Tia Fisher is a beautiful bildungsroman book that follows the story and of young Erik. The story is a verse novel which I personally found made the book harder to read due to the poetic structures. None the less, the plot is most enjoyable and guides the reader through an emotional roller-coaster. I would recommend this book to verse novel enjoyers.

caitlin Brooke Weston Book Busters

I thought this book was very good and easy to read. The only parts that were difficult to read was when the text went into shapes. I felt like the book showed the dangers of becoming part of a gang. The book was showing how if you talk to the wrong people you could easily be dragged into something you never thought you would do.

James W-B Ermysted’s

I really enjoyed this book. It's well written and makes you empathise with Eric and see how someone could get themselves in the situation he does. The one thing I disliked was how it was formatted but that's more of a personal preference. 8/10

Isobel Eltham Hill Book Club

Crossing the line is a great book which tells the story of a teen who gets forced to work for a gang and help them fight in the gang war and he has to do it otherwise his family may become homeless. One of my favourite bits in this book is when he wins a running race for his school and becomes the new favourite to try escape from the gang. It is a great, gripping book that will keep you wanting to read it with a great plot and storyline. In my opinion, I would recommend this book to Year 9's to Year 11's and teen's that are interested in real life themes including gangs. Overall, I believe it is a great book and deserves to be on the Carnegie List.

Bulent Fiction Addiction

I personally loved this book, I loved its storyline the way the characters are shown and the hardships and struggles that it presents. The main character is a boy called Eric who lost his dad at a young age and his family struggles with money. He makes a lot of bad decisions which lead to a lot of trouble including taking and selling drugs. However when his little sisters get threatened things change.

Emma Bookiewookiedoodaas

This book is very powerful as in the way in some parts of the book you could feel Erik's pain. I really enjoyed reading this book there were some topics that I didn't really know about before but it kind of shows you more about how taken for granted some peoples life's are. One of My favorite moments was when Alice (one of Erik's little sisters) falls asleep on Erik it sort of shows the start of there relationship. In this book some parts I feel like Erik is a bad kid but when you see how he's just doing it because he wants to help out his family I really do feel sympathy he's just a kid and trying to help out his mom trying to be the man of the house but you can see how he's struggling. But you cant help but feel so horrible after seeing what he has to go through I cant imagine being in his place it shows how much you take for granted. I found this book very powerful, emotional and wonderful. I think everything bad that's happen builds up and up until something horrible happens and that's what happens in life you have to know the consequences. Overall I think this book is really good it has a lot of messages about some peoples lives. Those who cant share there story it shows you how lucky you are and how thankful you should be for where you are know. So I personally really enjoyed this book some parts where a little bit uncomfortable to read but in the end it pulled together and ended up being great.

Nora Bredon Readers

This is an amazing book which keeps you hooked throughout the story. It gives you an insight to what some people's lives are like and what they've had to face.

Amelia Reepham Readers

I really liked this book. I found it interesting, and once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. I really liked the fact that there was lots of drama, and it was very tense at times. overall, this was a good book, and I would rate it 8/10.

Dylan TBGS Readers

I thought it was a very good book because it kept me wanting to read on and I started to forget that I was reading it for a homework and I was just reading and reading for enjoyment. The writing style and font kept me wanting to read and I have never read a book like that before. But in my opinion the mum could have had a bigger role in the storyline. That is the only thing I would say the author could have improves on but otherwise the book was fantastic and taught you lots.

Jack Norwich School Carnegie Shadowers

Really enjoyed this honest and very emotive journey. Loved the style of writing too, the verses and the style of the writing of the verse is just brilliant! A little eye-opening to be honest. Beautifully and honestly written. A book every senior school child should read!

Mrs Allsopp The Reading Queens

This is such a great book. Erik is such a passionate character. His decisions are heavily impacted by peer pressure which is like real life. Tia Fisher makes the reader feel sorry for Ravi but also question his decisions. I'm still a bit confused about the ending. Did he get help in the end?

Erik has been having a hard time because his dad died. His mum met a man called Johnny. Johnny left them because she had twin sisters. Erik has been making bad decisions

Michelle VISTA Academy

Crossing the Line is about a boy called Erik whose dad died due to covid. His life is turning upside down when his mum gets a new boyfriend who dumps her when she is pregnant. Ravi is Erik's only friend at secondary school until he goes to a playground outside of school and meets Ben and Travis who earn a lot of money. Over the course of the book Erik finds himself in sticky situations he must try and work his way out of. Since his dad died, he and his mum are poor and cannot afford the things they used to. School is a large challenge Erik must face with a brave face because since his dad died, he doesn’t care about grades just earing money. I liked that the ending is a bit of a cliffhanger and that as the book progresses tension builds up. Never did I think I would like to read a book written in verse. Giving that it had a bit of violence and a lot about drugs I enjoyed it. This book is a great book for people who like gripping books that you cannot put down. Here Erik is really good at making bad decisions. Like a race it is impossible to not want to finish it. I would give a rating out of five it would be 4. Negatives about the book are hard to find but if I had to do one thing, I would say is that I personally think it may have had a lot of characters that make it hard to remember who is who. Evidently, in some parts of the book you may feel like crying but others like jumping for joy.

Sophia The Fitzharrys Shadows

This book is amazing. the detail is great and it is written in a style so passionate. This is a interesting, want to read on book that has the exactly perfect plot line and is very suitable for people my age. it is very fun to read and I cannot wait to finish it!

Reading crossing line was a great privilege as it was such a filled book . Every chapter left me wanting to read more and the authors creative writing added a new interesting twist to literature. Not only was it creative it also showed the reader the true hard facts about what does happen in life and how they can affect you. As you go through this book you begin to learn more about the character, his feelings, his friend and his family. Although , the one little thing that could be improved was that fact that through many off the songs Erik’s friend would play songs that many children would not know or listen to nowadays and this might have a slight effect on the reader . Overall this is a great read and would really recommend.

Georgie Waddesdon Shadowers

Crossing the line is a book about a boy called Erik who has quite a difficult life. Erik goes to Holland Road Secondary. His dad dies early on in the book and his mom’s boyfriend dumps her leaving her to look after Erik and his new born half-sisters, Esme and Alice. In the book, Erik, in order to make some money so his mom can afford babysitting, results into delivering drugs for a person called K1 after boys older than him, Ben and Travis, tell him to do so. I did not like this book a lot and didn’t really enjoy it. This is because I first didn’t like how the book was written as it was a verse book. For example, some words were arranged in a circle making it hard to read and can strain your eyes from time to time. However, I have mostly read normal structured novels and this is part of one of the few verse novels I have read so maybe I am just used to reading normal novels. As I’m shadowing this for writing, I don’t think this book is a worthy candidate. The book keeps going ahead of time in a short span and it was hard to keep up with the pace of the book. Also, I didn’t appreciate the abrupt ending and I did not understand it at all due to its fast pace. On the other hand, I liked the fact how the author starts the book with a question for you adding the personal touch to this book and it makes the reader feel important to the author. Therefore, I will give this book 2 stars particularly because the book was rushed and I didn’t like the format of how the book was written. I would recommend this book to anyone aged 13+ as this book contains sensitive topics.

Manas MTS Northwood

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great insight into the dark daily life of children going through this and how I can help. I was gripped from the first page and I could barely put it down for the entire book. It is very different than books I usually read but it was still amazing.

Pip Herts and Essex

As I was aware this is based off of a true story, while starting I questioned if the writer would be capable of showing a true point of view and while the start is slow from then on I felt fully immersed believing it had been written by the boy- incredible props to Tia Fischer! There are many different points for people of any background to relate to, whether it be poor, a close ones death, anger, bullied; they are all written with the emotion of having experienced them ,making it all the more relatable and recognisable. The writing style of free verse is congenial to young audiences looking for a short yet stimulating story. Coming from a bad off background, it felt so relieving knowing that situations similar to mine could be reflected in ways not just for pity but to understand and reflect. Overall, this is a book I can confidently recommend to those wishing for a realistic look into a true background and riveting writing. I rate it a high 8/10.

Sarah Fiction Addiction

It's a sad book, but also a beautiful one! It shows real life struggles and things people have to go through daily. Its descriptive and good with words; the things that happen in the book may hit home for some people, or make others sad. That's how good it is. Its powerful and thrilling, sad and beautiful. I would recommend. 10/10!

Meredith Kingdown 24

I really enjoyed this book, specifically the portrayal of Erik and Ravi's friendship throughout. Ravi's continuous loyalty added a touch of hopefulness to the plot, especially towards the end. I enjoyed the structure massively, it definitely peaked my interest as this isn't something I usually see in the books I read and I thought the layout was incredibly clever. The characters were well written and easy to picture in every day life. The ending was surprising, although I enjoyed it and it flowed nicely with the story. Would definitely recommend.

Abi Kingdown 24

I really enjoyed the plot of this book. It is about a boy grieving for his father who gets caught up in county lines drug dealing. The layout of it frustrated me though because it feels like the author is just trying to make a smaller book bigger by making the lines smaller and some words vertical or translucent. Overall though I enjoyed the book but it is held back by the layout

joe Kingdown 24

I really liked this book and I think that it was interesting because if Erik hadn't left the school with Ben and Travis then none of what happens would have taken place. I also like the structure of the poems and how they were laid out as it made it more interesting to read. My favorite structure of a poem was the poem that was shaped as a gun. I think it touched on some very important issues and I really enjoyed reading it.

Emily Kingdown 24

I like the book but I felt like it jumped from side to the other when he got involved in stuff he shouldn't've .

Jess Kingdown 24

Another great book written in verse! The way how the sentences were laid out like in the bit with the gun and the word were made to shape like a gun made it nice to look at. I really like how Ravi, Erik the main characters best friend, never gives up on Erik even after he gets pulled into gangs, drugs and smoking. Really good book. Definitely recommend. 4.5/5 stars.

Ethan High Storrs Carnegie Shadowing Group

It is crazy how many kids get roped into doing county lines, and get injured and even KILLED along the way. Doing the wrong thing for the right reason, still makes it wrong. I am still a bit confused at the ending, does he call services and tell them about the drug dealings? Or does he leave it took nervous to do anything. I cannot believe they traced him down and poisoned the dog. The threat seems scary because his sister's would be hurt next.

Mahiba The Reading Queens

I really enjoyed Crossing the Line. It is a novel written in verse, using the themes of complicated family ties, bottled up feelings and criminal influences really well within it. I liked how the words were set out to picture the ideas that were being conveyed, as well as them being described. I also think the book helps people to understand that it is really hard to get out of a situation like that once you are in it, and that seemingly harmless events can lead up to danger.

Mabel High Storrs Carnegie Shadowing Group

This was a really great book with a good reference of linking back the question of feeling safe at the beginning and at the end. I loved the setup of the verses and that the story is based on real life situations. Although,reading it was a bit hard since some text was swirled around in circles and I had to turn the whole book around.

Emma Fiction Addiction

This book was very well written, and, at first, the use of verses put me off, but a few pages in, and I no longer noticed. The layout of the verses is really cool, with the words forming shapes. I really got stuck into this book and really didn't want to put it down.

Juliette GreatB00ks

I really enjoyed reading this book as previously I had quite a closed view on verse novels but I was blown away by the complex and sometimes brutally simple language to portray the emotions of a young boy struggling to support his family and to stay alive at some points it nearly brought me to tears I would say that it is a must read. :)

benjy Fortismere

This literary work stands out as an exceptional and profoundly relatable piece, offering invaluable guidance to young individuals who may be grappling with the recent loss of a loved one. It serves as a beacon of hope even in the dark, showcasing ways to navigate away from the shadows of adversity, whether it be the challenges feeling drugs and impactful situations or the trials of poverty and loss. Through its succinct yet impactful narrative, the book not only sheds light on these struggles but also conveys crucial lessons on resilience and empathy. The book's short yet interactive structure enhances its accessibility, providing an engaging reading experience that surpasses many others. Personally, I found its approach both refreshing and enlightening, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to fellow young readers seeking advice and understanding many peoples backgrounds. In my evaluation, this book receives a commendable rating of 7 out of 10.

Angela Fiction Addiction

I really enjoyed this book and I loved the way that it used different font, sizes, shapes and spaces within the pages to portray the story. I think that it's a very well written and entertaining story to read. I would definitely recommend this book to a range of ages and think that it would be an enjoyable read for many people. I loved this book and think that it is a brilliant story.

Ellie GreatB00ks

I really enjoyed this book and the way the text was presented. It was quick read but really enjoyable. Would definitely recommend.

oliver Gartree Carnegies

The book was extremely good. The use of formating emphasised the words on the page very well. The story was excelent and the author gave all of the characters a lot of realism and relevance. It was also very exciting and a gripping, quick read. Overall, an amazing book.

Ben Fortismere

This was a very good book, the use of verse was a very interesting choice for a book about gangs. It was written in a very realistic way that actually shows how people get drawn into gangs. It was very exciting and explains some of the misconceptions about gangs, like how some people think that you can just leave and say 'no', or that gangs are full of really mean people.

Huxley Fortismere

Written in poetry form on a topic a lot of schools and families deal with unfortunately. Erik’s family is falling apart and he gets mixed up running drugs and county lines. The lies he tells, the situations he finds himself get more and more twisted and dangerous. Really stunning read.

Ruth Oxted Carnegie Group

Such a moving book, beautifully written in verse with a main character who completely draws you in. Emotional, funny, and dark at times, I couldn’t put it down. Definitely aimed towards the slightly older pupils in our school.

Mrs McA Killy Krew

I thought the book was very good and highlighted a great lesson about the dangers of drugs and selling them too, and about the dangers of gangs. I thought it emphasised very well the amount of people that use drugs as is shown by the use of the scenario of Jordan ikes' mother getting cocaine from Erik. Therefore, this is a largescale problem in society. The dangers of gangs were shown by how Mike got stabbed and how the package Erik had to look after for K1 was a gun. Overall, I think it was a good book that taught some important lessons.

Erik is a Year 9 boy who falls on hard times with his family. Trying to make some money to help his mum and his sisters, he makes some bad decisions and falls in with a gang, led by adult criminals. This story is a tough read at times, made even harder by the fact that it could be a true story about what’s happening to children in cities throughout the UK. This book is rated 13+ because of its violence and some bad language. There is also reference to drugs. I enjoyed this book and was gripped from the start. I think parents, teachers and other people in authority should read this. It’s an important book.

Ms Taylor Bredon Readers

Crossing The Line is a meaningful novel that commonly explores county lines, written by Tia Fischer. After the death of Erik's father, his life starts to crumble and fall apart. Throughout the book, Erik starts joining gangs and making terrible decisions. Even so, the money he makes feels great. But soon, he learns that favours can come with a debt. Crossing one more line might save both him and his sisters.

Selin Fiction Addiction

A wonderful read that really sheds an in-depth, personal perspective on a scarcely spoken about topic that deserves more discussion. With this dive into the experience of county lines, I find it easier to empathize with victims and what they are going through in comparison to the detached view I had of county lines from what I've learned in school before reading this. The well written emotions really helped with this—it was easy to feel what Erik was feeling, the tension, the suspense and the fear. Everything. I also really enjoyed seeing all the different shapes the text took and how it correlated to what that particular bit of the story was about. The domino motif was also super interesting to me, of bad decisions and choices stacking up and eventually toppling over. Overall, a brilliant, enlightening read that I would very much recommend.

Gabriele Ernulf readers

Crossing the Line is a novel in the first person, which describes a boy called Erik going into the dark world of drug dealing to make some extra cash. It is very tragic and was a moving read, describing his feelings and school troubles. The format was interesting but I think it added to the first person view of this situation. Overall, I enjoyed this book!!! I recommend it to teens as there were some unexpected mature topics.

Rana Fiction Addiction

Crossing the Line is a powerful and compelling story that explores peer pressure and other hot topics. Erik is bereaved after his father’s death and feels lost. His mum meets a new partner and unexpectedly has twins, sending their lives into crisis. Suddenly, Erik is thrown into a world of terror – drug dealing, trap houses, violence – when he accepts an offer by a local gang. At first, it seems easy, and he is earning a good sum of money for his family, but he comes to realise that this was more than he bargained for and, just like he says, he may be ‘crossing the line’ again… I quite enjoyed Crossing the Line! I think it demonstrated a really strong and important message that there is help out there: it separates itself from other books by the fact that is very different and unlike anything I have ever read before. I thought there were points in the novel that were more captivating than others, but I did feel hooked from the beginning as the author was alluding to something big and terrible happening; generally, I thought it was an interesting read. The single thing that I think stood out and surprised me the most, was how easily things can get out of control. The story, particularly the ending, made me feel quite emotional. My favourite character is Ravi because I think he is the perfect example of a loyal friend who is always there for you through thick and thin. One thing that I really didn’t like about this book was the structure. Although I thought the style was a creative and original concept, I just found it very annoying to read around and I felt it was unnecessary that it was written in verse because it had no relation to the actual story. It was particularly frustrating on page 55 when the writing curved around into a circle and at the beginning of the chapter, Boxes. Overall, I think Crossing the Line is a pretty good story that is powerful, unique and gripping. I would recommend this book to readers aged 13+, as it goes in depth about some sensitive topics.

Lucy The Fitzharrys Shadows

The Yoto Carnegies, 'Crossing the line' by Tia Fisher I devoured this book, Crossing the Line . It was one of my favourite books; it was so gripping and I didn’t want to put it down. The way it is set out as poems is interesting but I found it made it easier to read in these little chunks. The story line is moving and at points I really felt for the characters, ( such as when Erik’s mum found out the truth about her son). I think the author was very talented in that sense . On page 344 the poem is very cool as it represent what it means . Another way of feeling connected to the book is on the final page as they address to the reader and they use the phrase “do you feel safe.” Which Is one of the many thought provoking phrases in the book. And finally I think the title is there to be interpreted because the boy is crossing county lines but he is also crossing the line of truth. I would really recommend this book.

Ava The John Mason Shadowers

This book is incredible. It is so realistic and takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster as you follow the story of Erik, the young boy who is sadly swept up into county lines. Teenagers will really understand so many aspects of this book and it definitely spreads awareness of gangs, drug dealing and county lines. Unfortunately, so many young people will be able to relate to this in some way, either with the county lines and drugs, or with poverty, or with difficult family life, or with the death of a loved one. So many difficult topics wrapped up into one book. In the end, it shows love, and how family and friends are most important. Erik has always been friends with Ravi, then suddenly he doesn’t think Ravi is cool enough for him, says he’s a nerd, says he’s weird, and Erik becomes friends with the wrong people. Erik’s very good at making the wrong choices. He will become friends with Ravi again though, so it’s ok in the end. I loved how the book doesn’t completely sort itself out and the problems don’t disappear, because real life isn’t like that, but Erik gets help and the reader realises that Erik (and anyone in his situation) isn’t alone and there is help out there. The ending being like that made the story way more realistic. Yes, it does have strong language (lots of swears on lots of pages) and there are violent scenes, but these make it way more realistic. I finished this book in under 24 hours, it was that good. Also, the way the book is formatted like poetry is really different and makes it more interesting. It shows poetry can really be many things. I rate this book a 9.5/10 and the only reason it isn’t a 10/10 is because it is quite short when you realise there aren’t many words on each page, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing!

Beatrice LSST Library Shadowers

Crossing the line is a really thrilling and exhilarating book, although it contains strong language, violent scenes and drugs.But despite all that it is a brilliant book which involves Erik telling his life's story. This extraordinary book has a gripping story line and is really with reading it. I recommend this book to all ages above 13 and give it a 4.5 stars out of 5. I hope this review will help you out with "Crossing the line"

Gabo Macaulay Book Club

Based on a true story, Erik's life has become difficult following the death of someone close to him. Struggling to deal with his own grief while attempting to help his family he makes a number of bad choices and finds himself, and those he loves, in a situation with no good choices left to make. Brilliantly written, the fast-paced verse narrative perfectly matches how quickly situations can escalate out of control. A dark tale of county lines, choices and consequences, Crossing the Line also highlights that even in the darkest moments finding the courage to ask for help can provide hope and a way out of seemingly impossible situations.

Mrs W SCD Pageturners

"Crossing the Line" is an incredible debut novel. Fisher experimented with structure and format, and created an excellent book written in concrete poetry. The book explores the theme of drug dealing really well, and creates a believable character that narrates the story wittily. I really enjoyed this book: I finished it in 3 hours, and fell in love with the plot. "Crossing the Line" is one of those books that feels authentic, and I really enjoyed immersing myself in Erik's story.

Ruby Fiction Addiction

I really enjoyed reading crossing the line. despite the unusal layout that I didnt expect to like. The plot had lots of twists and turns however the author didnt over-do it. It was easy to pick up and read in small sections as it had small vesres, wich was useful at school so that I could quickly read a few pages and then put it down when needed. the theme wasnt the sort of thing i would often read however this didnt stop me enjoying the book. i felt like i could really understand what Erik was going through becasue of the way the book is written. the use of metaphors aloso enhanced the experince. overall, this was a very intresting and unique read.

mae Fortismere

I found the story to be really interesting and progressed at a good rate but one problem was the book differed from the normal book layout (e.g each line was about half the page instead of the whole page like usual and the words bended off the rows) which bothered me while I read it but you get used to it pretty quickly. Other than that the storyline was great, you could understand the relationships between the characters and it really showed the harsh reality of getting tied into things like this.

ava Fortismere

The book is an incredibly good read and goes in depth into the struggles and hardship of poverty and coercion. The fact that it is in verse only adds to the beauty and contrasts the stark reality of crossing the lines. It also serves as guide to how to stay away from this horrific enterprise. I would rate this book a 9/10.

Ethan The John Mason Shadowers

Crossing the Line is a very interesting, exciting book about a boy called Erik who wants to make some extra money. He decides to get involved in gang life and works for a man called K1. This book uses strong language to show how roadmen and gangstas speak. Overall, i enjoyed reading this book and would like to read more of the author’s books.

yusuf c Ermysted’s

I read the book called Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher. It is a story written in verse, which for the concept of the storyline was really effective. It is set in modern- day England in a struggling family. At the start of the book, Eric’s dad had just died, and he was angry and sad all at the same time. His mum didn’t have a job so there was no one to provide for the family. After a little while, too soon for Eric’s liking, his mum had found a new boyfriend. Eric did not like him. Soon after, his mum is pregnant again but she and her ‘boyfriend’ got in a fight, and he left. Again, no one to provide. Soon, she gives birth to twins... An extra, unexpected mouth to feed. Eric knows he must do something, but he makes the wrong decision. He began to enter a world of crime, drug dealing. Eventually, after a time of close calls, life or death situations and a gun, he says, 'NO!’ My favourite thing about the book is that it is quite inspiring, and it gives out a message, ‘If you are in a tough spot, you can always get through.’ I would recommend to readers 12+.

Zack WF Ermysted’s

This is a gripping book about a boy, who we can sympathise with or relate to which makes you feel involved in the book. It is page-turning and the format is unique, making the reader excited and engaged. I recommend it to anyone who wants an engrossing book which tugs at your heartstrings.

Kenza Fiction Addiction

'Crossing the Line' is an incredibly moving book which tells a story which needs to be told. I enjoyed the poems which could have used a bit more structure and I love the way the writer weaved in a tiny bit of comedy in the right places. I love Ravi’s kindness and that he’s always there for Eric. I found it bleak and scary at lots of points in the book and it made me feel happy that I wasn’t in Eric's position because I feel it could have happened to anyone. Although I think it’s important that we explore and have happy endings, I would’ve liked to know a bit more about what happened to Eric and whether he was safe in the end. I love the addition of the twins and of Stern Mr R who all added something in their own ways. I didn’t understand what was happening in some of the bits as I thought the poetry was going a bit too fast but overall it was a beautiful book told in a beautiful way which I loved. 8 out of 10 stars.

Seb The St. Bede’s Literary Critics

I devoured this book within 24 hours and was completely blown away by it! It’s very clear that Tia Fisher has researched this subject thoroughly by using first-hand accounts and consulting with organisations who support young people and their families who have, unfortunately, found themselves drawn into this violent, frightening and ruinous world. As I was reading Crossing The Line, I felt I could trust the authenticity of the tale being told as one that is lived by real young people and their families and I was really invested in Erik’s tale – it was shocking to see how easily someone’s life can change and the draw of the “opportunities” offered to them to “improve” their circumstances. The book provoked a range of powerful emotions for the different characters, especially hatred for the dealers and gangs who find the weaknesses in people and so move in to take over their lives and then rule with fear. The control they have over others (young drug runners who then turn on each other, the vunerable people whose homes they have taken over, the families who are so scared of repercussions etc..) really makes you realise that once in this situation, it takes a courageous person to get away from it; it’s virtually impossible without the right help. The timing of everything that happened in Erik’s life left him wide-open to being groomed into this seedy, violent and frightening underworld but it also helped me realise the importance of teachers, friends and families who should notice and be curious about each other’s lives. As an educationalist, I was disappointed by the fact that Erik’s teachers weren’t curious enough about what was causing the change in him because this is key to keeping our children safe. The prose style of writing lent itself well to the first person voice leading us to think like Erik and ask yourself as a reader what YOU would do in that situation. It got straight to the point by using the language of the situation – it didn’t need to explain, it made assumptions that the reader would “catch on”, which we did. A powerfully written message that I think all staff in schools should read for safeguarding purposes. I loved this book and it’s left a lasting impression on me which, with the amount I read, is rare. Thank you.

Claire Woking High Flyers

I really enjoyed Crossing the Line. It was a clever verse novel that highlighted the issue of children being exploited in gang crime. It was an easy read, but very gripping with a good storyline nonetheless. I also liked the quirky way in which it was formatted, with many different fonts and interesting calligrams. It really breached the idea of "What is poetry?" I thought it was overall a very good book with a good plot about a serious issue.

Max Fortismere

I think the storyline of this book was very good. Sometimes it was a little hard to understand what was going on because of the way it is written out. I would still recommend this book and I thought it was very good.

Henry Ermysted’s

This was a fascinating story about County Lines and how easily you can get dragged into the drug trade. It was very emotional making me feel worry and relief for the character at emotional times, however I would have liked a better ending to the story as it was left on a cliff hanger instead of an absolute ending. While this may be liked by some people as it gives them a chance to use their imagination however I would much rather a certain ending.

Tomasz Ermysted’s

Crossing the line is a cautionary story about the journey of Erik as he is drawn into a deal of easy money, he soon falls in with the wrong group and struggles to free himself. I think that this is a really good book and I like that Erik can always find a friend in the (slightly geeky) Ravi who never gives up on him. however, I did not think that the roll the credits bit where the dog was killed is needed it didn't add anything to the story. This book is written in verse, which I think is a brilliant way to convey the story.

Caiden o VISTA Academy

"Crossing the Line" was a well-thought thriller, me being scared of what would happen every time I turn the page. It was a sad reminder of not only that county lines exist and affect teen students, but also that modern literature is usually tragical and usually written in verse, which is (in my opinion) a modern cliche. But other than that, the plot was very good and definitely is in the mix for the Carnegie Writing Award.

Yuvan CRGS Book Society

"Crossing The Line" was a great book which spoke about deep and important issues within society in a way most books would not be able too. In terms of the plot, I enjoyed it very much however the ending ended up being a little bit anti-climactic, leaving me feeling like there was all this build up that just didn't go anywhere. However, the book still left me wanting to know more about Erik and his friends and family. The whole story was very well written and incredibly engaging with twists and turns along the way. There is one message I would like to tell the author after reading "Crossing The Line" and that is, please don't write books where dogs get hurt, thank you.

Jess Fiction Addiction

Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher is a thrilling adventure that had me hooked from page one! It's about two best friends who stumble upon a hidden cave and embark on the journey of a lifetime. The story is packed with twists, turns, and unexpected surprises that kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved how the characters faced challenges together, strengthening their bond along the way. Fisher's writing is so vivid; I felt like I was right there with them! Overall, Crossing the Line is an epic read that's perfect for anyone who loves action-packed adventures!

kieran Fiction Addiction

This is a novel written in verse; the placement of the words on the page are as important in telling the story as the words themselves. A lot of the themes in this book are quite complex and dark, with the story dealing with Erik as he falls in with a bad crowd and starts to find himself feeling trapped in his situation. I was rooting for Erik throughout and hoping he would be able to turn his situation around; running seemed to be a bit of a lifeline for him. Sadly, this story is underpinned by the knowledge that there are so many real teenagers in similar predicaments.

Ms Gilchrist High Storrs Carnegie Shadowing Group

Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher is a novel written in verse which uses interesting presentation, a believable storyline and three-dimensional characters to engage the reader. I found the development of the story realistic and interesting and Erik was an unlikable main character whist still allowing that reader to root for him and hope he can get himself out of his situation. The solutions and lies spiral in a way that makes the reader empathise with Erik and the presentation of the words in order to create pictures that add to the story rather than accompanying it. 9/10

Eleni VISTA Academy

This was a very interesting read. It's not the type of book I would usually read, but I found it a book I would read again. It was quite hard going topics, and quite sad in places. But I thought it was also sweet and funny. I really think this could win. I liked to poems, they added a lot to the story. The book made me think. I think it was sad as well as frightening in some places. The book was brutally honest and eye opening. I will definitely read Fisher's other books now.

Grace Ossie’s bookworms

I liked this book because it portrayed character development because it shows a kid going into drugs and dealing but after a while he and Ravi managed to get out of this situation I rate this book a 7/10

baasim Ermysted’s

Meet fourteen-year-old Erik, who mourns for his father and is now the new man in the house until his mum finds a new lover. When she gets pregnant, it is up to Erik to find a way to keep his family safe. When Erik makes his own choices, everything builds up to where it reaches the top. Read this book to join Erik and his everlasting decisions, which lead him to trouble.

Afreen Skipton Shadows

A fascinating story that sheds light onto the struggles of life. The use of county lines in the book brings to light the damaging effects it has on the children it exploits. Would definitely recommend.

Sam S Ermysted’s

An amazing and illuminating verse novel about manipulation of young people in drug dealing and how hard it is to escape. It also discusses providing for a family and bereavement as a young person. I would definitely recommend this book as it absolutely gripped me!

Eve St Kaths

Crossing The Line is written by Tia Fisher. It is a powerful story about impossible choices. This book is written for KS3 students and could really impact their future actions against other people. This is the story of Erik Andersen, who is excellent at making bad decisions. His bad behaviour in school, caused by his father's death, catches the attention of a local gang and Erik is pulled into a terrifying world of trap houses, drug dealing and violence. Each chapter is more exciting than the last one and the language is very realistic too. The author thought about how different types of kids speak and used those words to portray different characters and their personalities. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys real-life situation kind of books. It's an inspiring novel and you get to witness the kinds of struggles people go through.

Yagmur Fiction Addiction

The lines were all wavy and weird which messed up my brain. The plot was ok. The book cover was very nice.

Rudra Orpington Library Younger Teens Group

I found this book to be very similar to life skills lessons on the subject but I enjoyed the fresh perspective and story that is often underrepresented in mainstream media. Also, I liked that Erik’s thoughts and decisions were articulated in such a way that it made it clear to see how and why people in real life might get into a similar situation so easily. However, I find verse novels difficult to process, so did not particularly like the style it was written in and I found the plot predictable and reminiscent of similarly-themed films, books and, unfortunately, life skills videos. Overall though, I quite liked the book and especially the pertinent messages it contained.

Rosie Bookiewookiedoodaas

This is one of the best books I've read so far. Erik slowly falls into a path of drugs and gets caught up in very nasty business. At the end of the book the way he and Ravi manage to get out of that situation is very smart. The layout of the text in this book just makes it so much more enjoyable to read aswell. I would recommend this to 13-18 year old and rate it a 9.5/10.

Bassit Ermysted’s

An incredible book. Moving, gripping, thought provoking. I think this is an early contender for the medal. One for older/more mature readers

Mrs C Ossie’s bookworms

I think this book will win the award, it was a gripping tale where Erik had to make a choice whether to stay poor or get involved in drug dealing, violence and trap houses. This book shows that whatever lies you tell, the truth will eventually win. This book was brilliant, I recommend to any older reader.

Ben Ossie’s bookworms

The progression of this book was really good, with Erik starting off sad and angry at his dad, then falling into a spiral of drugs and dealing, then recovering through sport, friends and family. It was pretty good despite it being a poem book.

Aaron Ermysted’s

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Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher: Review

Crossing the Line

Crossing the Line Tia Fisher Hot Key Books, March 2023 Paperback £7.99 ISBN 9781471413049

Crossing The Line is an all-too-familiar cautionary tale of what can happen to a young and vulnerable person when they face difficult choices. 

Erik’s world is changing. Fast. He finds himself needing money for his family soon after the death of his dad. His best friend Ravi is a great support as they both start secondary school, but Erik’s head is turned by the promise of “easy money” if he follows the wrong crowd. 

This book is written in striking free verse. Experimentation in formatting gives a brilliant voice to the character of Erik. When he tries to compartmentalise, his words are literally written in boxes. The word “steam” rises and fades off the page. These clever devices draw you into the novel. Tia Fisher cites other verse writers like Sarah Crossan and Jason Reynolds as influences and that shows here in the strength of the writing. 

The plot is fast-paced and the reader wants to stop Erik before it goes any further. I also found myself wanting the adults to realise what was going on as teachers, parents and welfare officers all opt for punitive measures for Erik rather than trying to talk to him or help him. It shows how easily a young person could be painted as a “bad kid”. 

It’s a familiar cautionary tale as the descent into murky world reaches a heart-stopping and potentially heartbreaking conclusion. 

A tough read at times, but highly recommended.

Derek Carney

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Politics latest: MP defection 'cheap party political point-scoring'; UK and allies 'at a crossroads', Cameron argues

The fallout is continuing from the shock defection of MP Natalie Elphicke from the Conservatives over to Labour. She has now released a statement apologising for supporting her ex-husband, who was her predecessor as MP for Dover, after his sexual assault conviction.

Thursday 9 May 2024 23:03, UK

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• New Labour MP issues apology
• Cameron says defection 'says more about Starmer'
• Analysis: Public will see through 'cheap party political point-scoring' party switch
• Rob Powell: Elphicke apology unlikely to change minds
• Minister insists party 'not trying to chase Reform'
• Ex-chancellor to stand down at election  | Every MP who's quitting
• Live reporting by Ben Bloch and (earlier)  Faith Ridler

Thank you for joining us for another busy day in politics.

Here's what happened:

• Lord Cameron delivered two speeches today in which he called for NATO to make 2.5% of GDP the default defence spending target;
• Prime Minister Rishi Sunak summoned university bosses to Downing Street where he urged them to tackle antisemitism on campuses that has risen by over 200%;
• Labour's new MP Natalie Elphicke apologised for supporting her ex-husband after his sex assault conviction, which has created huge controversy in the Labour Party;
• Former chancellor and vaccines minister, Nadhim Zahawi, announced he will stand down at the next election;
• Newly re-election Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen hit out at the "chaos" in the Tory party and said responsibility "ultimately lies with Rishi (Sunak)";
• The government triggered emergency plans to be able to hold prisoners in police cells due to a shortage of places in the system - and is blaming it on barristers taking industrial action;
• Interest rates were held at 5.25% in a blow to the PM who wants them to come down ahead of the general election.

Join us again from 6am for the very latest political news.

By  Faye Brown , political reporter

Labour will create a new Border Security Command to tackle people-smuggling gangs bringing migrants across the Channel, Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce.

The "elite" unit, to be part-funded by scrapping the Tories' Rwanda deportation scheme, will be led by a former police, military or intelligence chief and be granted new powers under the Counter Terrorism Act.

These powers will allow officers to conduct stop and searches at the border, carry out financial investigations and issue search and seizure warrants targeting organised immigration crime.

Sir Keir will outline the measures in a speech on the Kent coast on Friday, when he will vow to "replace gimmicks with graft" and draw on his experience as the former head of the Crown Prosecution Service.

Read extracts from Sir Keir's speech below:

The Sky News live poll tracker - collated and updated by our Data and Forensics team - aggregates various surveys to indicate how voters feel about the different political parties.

With the local elections complete, Labour is still sitting comfortably ahead, with the Tories trailing behind.

See the latest update below - and you can read more about the methodology behind the tracker  here .

Lord Cameron has just delivered his second speech of the day - this time at the Lord Mayor's banquet in central London.

Here are the key points of what he said (this post was updated live):

• The foreign secretary opens by saying: "I thought my days of dressing up in white tie and speaking in halls like this were well and truly over, so I want to thank PM Rishi Sunak for bringing me out of retirement";
• He says his six month as the UK's top diplomat "have been every bit a whirlwind as much as being prime minister" - but "not quite as exciting";
• Lord Cameron argues that foreign policy cannot be divorced from economic performance;
• He says movements to "pull up the drawbridge" and retreat into isolationism are "profoundly wrong" - but they cannot be ignored;
• The current dangerous world is "in stark contrast to my first years in politics", he says, and argues we must "face up to that situation";
• "My conviction is that we, with our partners, can choose to make a difference - we have agency. The question is whether we have the courage to use it, the courage to act";
• He says the government is "hardening" defences against attacks on our infrastructure - both physical and cyber following recent attacks;
• The foreign secretary reiterates his call for spending 2.5% of GDP on defence to be the standard NATO benchmark;
• He calls on the allies to join the UK in committing funding to Ukraine until 2030;
• On the Israel-Hamas war, Lord Cameron says he wants the fighting to end now and for the hostages released, but says: "Simply calling for an immediate ceasefire does not make it more likely", arguing that practical steps need to be taken;
• He concludes by saying: "We are at a crossroads: if we make the right choices, if we act now, a bright future awaits, but if we hesitate, our adversaries will write our futures for us";

The foreign secretary is giving his second speech of the day.

Lord Cameron will be donning his white tie at Mansion House for a slightly shorter version of the speech he gave this morning on the UK's foreign policy and national security.

Follow live coverage here in the Politics Hub.

The government has triggered emergency plans to be able to hold prisoners in police cells due to a shortage of places in the system - and is blaming it on barristers taking industrial action.

Operation Safeguard triggers the availability of cells in police stations for prisoners sentenced by the courts when there is a critical shortage of normal spaces.

Sky News understands the Ministry of Justice has formally requested that a limited number of cells be made available.

The government insists that this is "not an unprecedented measure" and has been deployed over four periods since 2006 - and most recently in February and April this year.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said the emergency measure "is helping us respond to acute capacity pressures caused in part by barristers' industrial action and the aftermath of the pandemic, while we press ahead with delivering the biggest expansion of prison places in a century including six new jails".

On this episode, Niall Paterson speaks to one of the doctors who worked to restore the hearing of an 18-month-old girl – who was born deaf.

Medics at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge have used gene therapy to help a rare condition, auditory neuropathy. It's caused by the disruption of nerve impulses travelling from the inner ear to the brain.

Opal Sandy can now respond to her parents' voices and can communicate words such as "Dada" and "bye-bye".

Plus, Natalie Elphicke, the MP who defected from the Conservatives to Labour yesterday, apologises for comments she made after her ex-husband, and predecessor as MP for Dover, was convicted of sexual assault in 2020.

She said at the time that being "attractive" and "attracted to women" had made him an "easy target".

Niall talks to deputy political editor Sam Coates about the disquiet within Labour over Mrs Elphicke’s arrival.

👉  Listen above then tap here to follow the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts  👈

In a short while, the foreign secretary is due to give his second speech of the day.

We will have live coverage here on the Politics Hub, so do follow along.

Above: The last time David Cameron addressed a Mansion House audience, just weeks before the Brexit vote and his resignation.

By Jennifer Scott , political reporter

In a dramatic move just moments before Prime Minister's Questions got under way this week, Natalie Elphicke joined Labour as her surprised Conservative colleagues looked on.

What exactly happens when an MP defects to another party?

Ms Elphicke  is far from the first MP to change sides between elections, but it was incredibly rare - until recently - for a member of the governing party to switch to the opposition.

She is the third Tory to do so in just over two years, following  Christian Wakeford in 2022  over the partygate scandal and  Dan Poulter just two weeks ago  over the Tories' handling of the NHS.

Before that, it hadn't happened since 1995, when Alan Howarth became the first ever Conservative to cross to Labour on the eve of his party conference, citing the "divisiveness" of policies under John Major's leadership.

Only three MPs in the past 25 years have gone the other way - from main opposition to government - all leaving the Conservatives to join Labour.

Defecting to smaller parties happens more often, such as moves  from both Conservative and Labour to Change UK  during the Brexit years, or  Douglas Carswell  and  Mark Reckless  heading over to UKIP ahead of the referendum.

By Jenness Mitchell, Scotland reporter

John Swinney has axed the post of minister for independence from his ministerial team.

The role, the first of its kind, was created last year by then first minister Humza Yousaf.

Jamie Hepburn, who previously held the Scottish government post, has now taken over from George Adam as minister for parliamentary business.

Earlier on Thursday, SNP MP Alyn Smith appeared to confirm during a radio interview that the role had been "subsumed" into Angus Robertson's constitution, external affairs and culture brief.

Mr Swinney was  legally sworn in as Scotland's seventh first minister   at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Wednesday morning.

Read more on the new Scottish cabinet here:

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