Crossing the Pressure Line

Laura Anne Bird

Middle grade fiction, 243 pages

Orange Hat Publishing, March 1, 2022

Reviewed by Lisa Lickel, www.lisalickel.com

Twelve, going on thirteen-year-old Clare is part of Grandpa Anthony’s last pet project—getting his girls to just get along better. Grandpa’s will has two surprising directives, neither of which sounds like any fun, especially not when both Mom and Grandma can’t even agree on what to pack for a summer exiled up north at Grandpa’s favorite place in the world.

“No friends, no swim team, no you, and a mom and grandmother who are experts at arguing.”

But a little voice inside of her says, “Just make it work, Clare Burch.”

It’s a summer of revelation as Clare makes goals, and works to achieve them. She keeps up with her friends at home, makes new friends who have surprising international backgrounds but aren’t really much different, keeps in shape by swimming in the lake, tries to reel in that elusive musky, and learns to drive. But when Grandma Lulu makes a devastating decision, it’s just one more hurdle to try to handle.

Revelations come in many forms; revelations of self-acceptance at any age or stage of life as Clare works to overcome survivor’s guilt and learn empathy, her mother works to accept her talents, and Grandma to accept her new life without her husband. The Burch family makes their mark in the late Grandpa Anthony’s hometown, but for how long? Anything can happen above the pressure line, crossing into northern Wisconsin—where the air is more breathable and the stress of problems seem easier to resolve.

Middle grade, pre-teen girls will find much to enjoy about Clare’s eye-opening summer, where she learns to look past outside and recognize grief plays out in many forms. Just a note: keeping certain endangered or predatory bird feathers is illegal in Wisconsin, but if you want to know more about that, you’ll just have to read the book.

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Reviewer Lisa Lickel lives in the rolling hills of western Wisconsin, loves to read and write, and help authors live their dreams. She’s an award-winning mentor and book coach at Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp and  Writing Retreat, and currently serves as WWA Press manager and editor of Creative Wisconsin Magazine.