A Very Fine Line

by Julie Johnston

Rosalind Kemp is the youngest in a family of sisters. She lives a comfortable life in a small town in Ontario. Ros is active, loving, and artistic. And, she has second sight.

It is a part of her nature with which she has trouble coming to sometimes it is nothing more than a pleasant parlor trick, like knowing that King Edward will abdicate; sometimes it is a curse that makes her feel freakish; and sometimes it is just plain terrifying. Ros tries everything she can to suppress the gift, and subsequently herself, but nothing works. If she is going to live her life fully, she will have to come to terms with every part of her being, just as everyone must.

This brilliant novel is Julie Johnston at her very it is funny, frightening, and painfully insightful.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Canada, Young Adult, Childrens

198 pages, Hardcover

First published September 12, 2006

About the author

Julie Johnston grew up in a small town in eastern Ontario, then went to the University of Toronto to study physio and occupational therapy. After university she and her husband, whom she met while in Toronto, worked for over a year at the Ontario Hospital School for physically and mentally handicapped children in Smith Falls, then travelled for four months in Europe, moved to Kingston, then Toronto and, finally, settled in Peterborough where she raised four daughters. Over the years, she published many short stories in several magazines, but not until an encouraging interview with a writer-in-residence at Trent University, did she begin work on a novel. Hero of Lesser Causes was completed (the first time) in 1986. After many re-writes and several publishing delays, it was published to great acclaim in 1992, winning the Governor General's Literary Award / Children's Literature (for English text) that year. Julie Johnston's second novel, Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me, was also honoured with the Governor General's Literary Award, making her the first author to win the award for both her first and second books.

Awards

1992 Governor General's Literary Award / Children's Literature (for best English text) for Hero of Lesser Causes.

1993 National Chapter of Canada IODE Violet Downey Book Award for Hero of Lesser Causes.

1994 Governor General's Literary Award / Children's Literature (for best English text) for Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me.

1995 Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Award (Young Adult/Middle Reader Category) for Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me.

1995 Young Adult Canadian Book Award (Canadian Library Association) for Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me.

Reviews

[Yusra ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book free from my library in the summer, mainly because it was near the end of the program and this was the only one left. It stayed in my bookshelf for at least a year, bc little old me couldn’t take a somewhat creepy scene at the beginning. I think somewhere in 2016 I was like, I really need to read something new... and this was the only book I had (unread).
I learned a lot of things.
1. Don’t judge a book by its cover. I mean, look at this disgusting cover (no offence to whoever is on it and whatnot).
2. Give a book a chance.
This book is completely unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Thinking about it still, I get so confused and in awe and just FEEL THE NEED TO READ THIS. It’s such a beautiful novel of coming of age, family and set against the backdrop of a magical curse. It’s all about finding out who you really are, and how decisions impact your life.
I would literally read this right now if not for the 8 books on my currently reading. I LOVED THIS ! 💗💗

[Marianna Baer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written book about a girl coming of age in 1941 and learning to accept her gift/curse of clarivoyance. Great characters, quitely suspenseful, and thoughtful. I highly recommend it.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chance meeting with some elderly aunts and a peculiar woman reveal to Rosalind that she is the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter and that like her great grandmother she is clairvoyant. Refusing to accept this burden, even though she has often seen ahead, she decides to become a boy, Ross. Taunted by the kids at her school she flees the classroom and her strong mother finds her a tutor. All of this is set in a small town in Ontario in 1941. The effects of war are clearly felt through the rationing of sugar and other staples and the decision of one sister to leave for the front. A beautifully told coming of age story.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an okay read for a couple of chilly fall days. The protagonist is a tween girl - one who's not sure whether she's ready to be an adult, a woman, and a clairvoyant (or whatever you want to call it). It's set in rural 1940s Canada, which is what sucked me in, and it takes on some interesting questions of gender construction. It gets a "meh" from me because the plot accelerated much faster than the development of the book's themes. But it *is* a kid's book, so I suppose I shouldn't gripe.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful coming of age story, set in my mom's era. Nice added element of second sight.

[Casle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ros thinks she the 6th daughter of a 7th daughter, but learns that she’s really 7th and feels cursed by the clairvoyance that makes her different. She hides by trying to become a son, and no daughter, 7th or otherwise. Then she falls in love with her tutor. I really liked this and look forward to sharing it.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this book while weeding. I want to read her other books but our library doesn't seem to own any. Interlibrary loan here i come.

[Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Almost historical fiction with a twist.

[Rhiannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was actually pretty surprised at how easy and enjoyable this read was. I didn’t know the premise before reading it, and to be honest, I went in to it without any high expectations because sadly, I was pre-judging the book by its cover…but I actually really did like it. The author wrote it in a manner that I can’t explain but really liked. I thought it was unpredictable and enjoyed the little quirks of Rosalind. The characters were likable and relatable. I’d recommend to anyone looking for a solid, summer read.