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Crossing the Pressure Line
Twelve-year-old Clare Burch has just lost the person she loves most in the world. She wonders if her feelings of sorrow and self-blame over her grandfather's death will ever go away.
Out of the blue, a special request sends Clare on a journey from her home in Chicago to the Northwoods of Wisconsin. She knows that she must honor Grandpa Anthony's last wishes, even though they completely upend her summertime plans.
Clare heads to rural Alwyn with her little blind dog and a duffel bag full of worries. What will she do without her best friends and swim team? Who will take her fishing and spoil her with candy now that her grandfather is gone? And most important, is she strong enough to let him go, forever?
During her summer up north, Clare stumbles upon the answers to her many questions. Even more, as she makes peace with why she couldn't save Grandpa Anthony, she ends up rescuing someone else from danger.
Above all, Clare learns to listen to the courageous voice inside-and discovers just how tough she really is.
Out of the blue, a special request sends Clare on a journey from her home in Chicago to the Northwoods of Wisconsin. She knows that she must honor Grandpa Anthony's last wishes, even though they completely upend her summertime plans.
Clare heads to rural Alwyn with her little blind dog and a duffel bag full of worries. What will she do without her best friends and swim team? Who will take her fishing and spoil her with candy now that her grandfather is gone? And most important, is she strong enough to let him go, forever?
During her summer up north, Clare stumbles upon the answers to her many questions. Even more, as she makes peace with why she couldn't save Grandpa Anthony, she ends up rescuing someone else from danger.
Above all, Clare learns to listen to the courageous voice inside-and discovers just how tough she really is.
- GenresMiddle Grade
254 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2022
4 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Laura Anne Bird
3 books36 followersA Milwaukee native, Laura Anne Bird graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in English. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband, three big kids, and little dog. When she’s not reading, writing, or reviewing books, she loves to exercise and explore the outdoors.
Marvelous Jackson is a follow-up to her middle grade debut, Crossing the Pressure Line, which garnered awards from the Independent Book Publishers Association, the Midwest Independent Publishers Association, and the Arts + Literature Laboratory's Wisconsin Writers Awards program.
Join Laura on Instagram @laura_at_the_library, where she celebrates all things literary.
Marvelous Jackson is a follow-up to her middle grade debut, Crossing the Pressure Line, which garnered awards from the Independent Book Publishers Association, the Midwest Independent Publishers Association, and the Arts + Literature Laboratory's Wisconsin Writers Awards program.
Join Laura on Instagram @laura_at_the_library, where she celebrates all things literary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 8, 2024
I really wanted to love this book
I liked the characters and the end but it was sooo slow
Almost no plot and was In 3rd person
I’m glad I read it but wouldn’t read again
I liked the characters and the end but it was sooo slow
Almost no plot and was In 3rd person
I’m glad I read it but wouldn’t read again
December 27, 2021
This debut novel has everything my 10 year old daughter loves: a strong female protagonist, adventures in nature, and realistic friendships. As a mom (who is also a coach), I loved that Clare Burch was a goal-setter. The goals gave the book structure to keep all the subplots moving. The story was a little predictable in some ways and surprising in others. Both my daughter and I were invested until the very end.
If you're looking for a middle grade novel that has diverse characters and real world relationships and includes emotional struggles familiar to this age group, Crossing the Pressure Line is a winner.
(I was given an ARC.)
If you're looking for a middle grade novel that has diverse characters and real world relationships and includes emotional struggles familiar to this age group, Crossing the Pressure Line is a winner.
(I was given an ARC.)
January 10, 2022
CROSSING THE PRESSURE LINE is such a sweet and endearing coming-of-age story. I felt transported to the summertime, to the north woods of Wisconsin—even back to my own childhood. Clare Burch is an earnest and plucky heroine, and it is impossible not to root for her as she navigates finding sweetness in life again after deep loss.
December 4, 2023
Crossing the Pressure Line is a book so full of heart that I could not help but get caught up in all the emotions. As a forty something year old adult, I found myself crying my eyes out during several parts of this middle grade book. It just goes to show that a good book is a good book. I loved the characters and the growth that we see throughout the story. I especially enjoyed that we see this happening in three generations of women, a testament to the idea that we all have room to learn and grow no matter our age or life experience. The setting in the Northwoods of Wisconsin felt alive and vibrant. Between that and the way the book describes Clare's swimming, it felt like these were things that Bird was intimately familiar with, lending an authenticity to the page. The book touches on a number of themes - loss, love, family, guilt, growing up, etc. - and handles them all well. Perhaps there are moments where things fall into place a little too conveniently or a character changes their ways quicker than expected, but these are minor things that end up getting overshadowed by the warmth of the tale. Crossing the Pressure Line was a lovely coming of age story with a strong female lead and great Midwest representation. Though a heads up to fellow vegans out there, the book does contain quite a lot of fishing.
April 27, 2024
An enjoyable coming-of-age story in a lovely summer setting. I love how Grandpa Anthony's character feels as alive as any of the others . He's a sweetheart and the bond between him and Clare is strong and believable. Clare's growth and confidence is wonderful to witness. An inspiration for all of us to live our best lives. Nicely done!
February 25, 2022
A heart-warming tale of strength that will resonate with everyone and anyone - middle grade readers and anyone who has ever been a middle grade reader. Clare Burch learns to overcome tough life lessons for a 12-year-old. She leans on and learns about her support network of friends and family. Most importantly she learns how capable she is through goals she sets for her summer. You will want to be Clare’s cheerleader. This book will remind of you your childhood and make you want to head north to find a lake for fishing, swimming, and s’mores.
September 19, 2024
Picked up this book because a local bookstore is having the author come to speak and do a reading. I plan on going with my 11 y/o daughter. OMG. Great coming-of-age book with a strong female character! Clare Burch lost her grandfather, but, in her grief, finds ways to honor him and his memory. Furthermore, she challenges herself to grow by setting some goals. Making friends, working through grief and loss, encountering a bully, building traditions and fostering community—this book has a little of everything! Winner!
March 22, 2022
Excellent debut novel on so many levels! Author offers a little bit of everything- sports, nature, tween friendships ( and bullies), family relationships, dogs , art and reading - All wrapped up in lovable Clare Burch. But underpinning all of that is a powerful story about love and grief and growth. Cannot think of a better book for all ages to enjoy as we emerge from the pandemic driven time of grief and learn to grow again.
April 14, 2022
An excellent middle school book! Thoughtfully written and wonderfully entertaining. The author, Laura Anne Bird, handled an extremely difficult subject in a refreshing and beautiful way. The main character, twelve-year old Clare, visits the Northwoods while honoring the loving memory of her grandfather. It brought back lovely memories of staying in a cabin, swimming in a fresh water lake, and meeting new friends. I’d definitely recommend.
September 22, 2022
A heartwarming coming of age that practically begs you to leave it "dog eared , highlighted and wonderfully scruffy". It has the comforting nostalgic feel of a childhood favorite. Writing is full of wonderful analogies and descriptions with moments that range from tender to funny. Clare is spending the summer she turns 13 away from home at her grandfather's old cabin to honor his final request. Her story is about overcoming grief and finding your strength. I recommend it for all ages.
November 12, 2021
Excellent middle grade book with compassion, adventure and friendships.
May 12, 2023
Everything about this book made me happy! The love and support shared between Grandma Lulu, Helen, Claire and their friends/community as they grieve the loss of Anthony is simply heartwarming. Watching Claire working through her grief with goals, positive self dialogue and books is so inspiring. No more feeling like Playdough! I'm definitely donating a copy to my school library!
May 20, 2022
The sweetest, most endearing book! A great story of love, family, and working through grief.
July 9, 2023
This book is cataloged as juvenile fiction, but it's a great story of family, friends, change, and grief. The characters are relatable, as are the situations they find themselves in.
November 25, 2022
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—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.
“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—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.
March 2, 2022
Such a sweet nostalgic trip down memory lane. This book took me right back to age 12/13 and all the emotions, worries, hopes, and dreams of that stage, when you are right on the cusp of leaving childhood.
This book is set primarily in northern WI, in a small town where many people spend their summers "up north" getting away from it all. Going "up north" is such a rite of passage for so many Wisconsinites (and folks from Illinois!). The fishing, the small general store, a rustic cabin, bike riding, swimming off the dock and raft, rainy days spent reading or passing the time inside, nature... all details the author includes in the book that really capture the area and feeling of being "up north."
I loved the combination of light fun summer life, and the tougher subject of grief and family relationships and growing up. The main character, Clare, is likeable and relatable. The author includes many asides and thought that Clare has, and those felt authentic to a 12 year old girl who is sometimes optimistic and wise, and other times dramatic and suitably immature. Another detail I loved was Clare finding a list of books her grandfather wanted her to read. And Grandma Lulu! What a character.
I will set this one aside to either use as a read-aloud with my young daughter, or to encourage her to pick up on her own anywhere between ages 8-12. Adults will enjoy this book with their kids (or on their own) for its timeless feel, its heartfelt coming of age story, and its easy to digest plot and fairly predictable plot points.
This book is set primarily in northern WI, in a small town where many people spend their summers "up north" getting away from it all. Going "up north" is such a rite of passage for so many Wisconsinites (and folks from Illinois!). The fishing, the small general store, a rustic cabin, bike riding, swimming off the dock and raft, rainy days spent reading or passing the time inside, nature... all details the author includes in the book that really capture the area and feeling of being "up north."
I loved the combination of light fun summer life, and the tougher subject of grief and family relationships and growing up. The main character, Clare, is likeable and relatable. The author includes many asides and thought that Clare has, and those felt authentic to a 12 year old girl who is sometimes optimistic and wise, and other times dramatic and suitably immature. Another detail I loved was Clare finding a list of books her grandfather wanted her to read. And Grandma Lulu! What a character.
I will set this one aside to either use as a read-aloud with my young daughter, or to encourage her to pick up on her own anywhere between ages 8-12. Adults will enjoy this book with their kids (or on their own) for its timeless feel, its heartfelt coming of age story, and its easy to digest plot and fairly predictable plot points.
July 14, 2022
What a lovely debut. I read this book with the intentional lens of an adult reading a middle-reader book. Laura Anne Bird captures that elusive isthmus between Lake Readable for a young audience, and Lake Engaging. It's a difficult balance and she has found it. This is a story about grief, grieving, family, reflection, motivation, and caring for those who appear unlovable. If a child from Wisconsin reads this book, they will identify quickly with Clare Burch and the "Up North" mentality that many Wisconsinites enjoy. If a child from outside Wisconsin reads this book, Laura makes this shift in mentality understandable; children could easily connect to a "pressure line" that they cross when they head to a special venue. Many children see families that look different from their own. Laura leads us to understand that families are both who we are given and who we choose. All children see other children who are unkind and who really, really don't invite kindness and friendship. Laura demonstrates that those who are unkind have a reason for their attitude. Children will recognize themselves in Clare and her adventures; that is what hooks kids into reading, and all kids need more reading! I am proud to not only admire Laura's writing, but to admire her as a person. She is a neighbor and a dear friend. Her genuine kindness and respect for children shines through her book, and I am happy that more people (especially kids) will get to know her, too.
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April 11, 2022Read this book just under the wire for #middlegrademarch and what a lovely one at that! It’s especially cool that it’s a bookstagram buddy who published her first novel!
Thank you so much Laura aka @laura_at_the_library for thinking of me and sending a copy my way. I can no longer get my kids to read what I tell them to, but *I* loved following Clare’s coming of age journey.
After witnessing the death of her beloved grandfather, she must spend the whole summer at his cabin, to put it on the market and spread his ashes at the lake. Despite going every summer for two weeks, Clare is not looking forward to having to spend the entire summer away from swim team and friends while in the company of her bickering mother and grandmother.
I love the ‘bummer summer’ trope in kids books, and despite the heavy themes on grief, the tone is one that is perfectly balanced with the seriousness called for, as well as buoyant hopefulness. It was especially poignant to me as someone who grew up in the Chicago suburbs, on the swim team, with a single mom, and family up in Wisconsin.❤️
Definitely put this in the hands of the MG reader in your life, particularly if they enjoy realistic fiction and friendship stories!
Thank you so much Laura aka @laura_at_the_library for thinking of me and sending a copy my way. I can no longer get my kids to read what I tell them to, but *I* loved following Clare’s coming of age journey.
After witnessing the death of her beloved grandfather, she must spend the whole summer at his cabin, to put it on the market and spread his ashes at the lake. Despite going every summer for two weeks, Clare is not looking forward to having to spend the entire summer away from swim team and friends while in the company of her bickering mother and grandmother.
I love the ‘bummer summer’ trope in kids books, and despite the heavy themes on grief, the tone is one that is perfectly balanced with the seriousness called for, as well as buoyant hopefulness. It was especially poignant to me as someone who grew up in the Chicago suburbs, on the swim team, with a single mom, and family up in Wisconsin.❤️
Definitely put this in the hands of the MG reader in your life, particularly if they enjoy realistic fiction and friendship stories!
September 7, 2022
I was fortunate to receive a gifted copy of this book from the author, a fellow Midwesterner who I've befriended on Instagram and whose reviews of books I enjoy online.
Laura Anne has done a tremendous job of penning a book that explores what it means to be young and to grapple with the grief that accompanies losing someone you love. What I also appreciated is how this book is a love letter to the Midwest, specifically Wisconsin in high summer. I want to encourage my children to read widely, and I believe that diversity in books should include geography as well as race, gender, ethnicity, and religion. Given the Midwest isn't represented in fiction as much as I'd like, my son was excited to discover the book's main character, Clare Burch, hails from outside of Chicago and loves to fish as much as him.
For youngsters, this book offers up great age-appropriate themes—family strife, the comings and goings of friends, and how to make nice with bullies among them. Bonus: There's a cute dog in the mix! I recommend this read to children ages 8-12. As a parent, I especially enjoyed reading it aloud to my son (which I can't always say about the pacing of every book we read together!)
Laura Anne has done a tremendous job of penning a book that explores what it means to be young and to grapple with the grief that accompanies losing someone you love. What I also appreciated is how this book is a love letter to the Midwest, specifically Wisconsin in high summer. I want to encourage my children to read widely, and I believe that diversity in books should include geography as well as race, gender, ethnicity, and religion. Given the Midwest isn't represented in fiction as much as I'd like, my son was excited to discover the book's main character, Clare Burch, hails from outside of Chicago and loves to fish as much as him.
For youngsters, this book offers up great age-appropriate themes—family strife, the comings and goings of friends, and how to make nice with bullies among them. Bonus: There's a cute dog in the mix! I recommend this read to children ages 8-12. As a parent, I especially enjoyed reading it aloud to my son (which I can't always say about the pacing of every book we read together!)
March 22, 2022
🎣 Ready to armchair travel to the Northern woods of Wisconsin, where lazy summers can be spent fishing for new friends and musky, and meat raffles and curling up with a good book in a cabin are what busy nights are made of?
🙌🏼Our fantastic Bookstagram friend @laura_at_the_library has penned her first novel and it’s a charming and heartwarming story of loss, friendship, family, and figuring out who you are as you become a teen. Don’t let the “middle grade” designation fool you; Clare and her family and friends will wind their way into your heart no matter your age. As Grandpa Anthony said, “great literature can cross lots of boundaries.”
⭐️Amazon doesn’t make it easy for new authors, and Laura could use some bookish love to mess with their algorithm. If you’ve read the book please take a minute to leave a review, and if you haven’t read it but trust my reviews by now, drop a few stars and a smiley face to help her reach the magical 50 reviews Amazon likes to have in the first month of publication. Thanks!!!!
https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Press...
🙌🏼Our fantastic Bookstagram friend @laura_at_the_library has penned her first novel and it’s a charming and heartwarming story of loss, friendship, family, and figuring out who you are as you become a teen. Don’t let the “middle grade” designation fool you; Clare and her family and friends will wind their way into your heart no matter your age. As Grandpa Anthony said, “great literature can cross lots of boundaries.”
⭐️Amazon doesn’t make it easy for new authors, and Laura could use some bookish love to mess with their algorithm. If you’ve read the book please take a minute to leave a review, and if you haven’t read it but trust my reviews by now, drop a few stars and a smiley face to help her reach the magical 50 reviews Amazon likes to have in the first month of publication. Thanks!!!!
https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Press...
March 24, 2022
This beautiful book is about 12 year old Claire spending the summer at her grandparents cabin in northern Wisconsin after the death of her grandfather. Claire is stuck all summer with her mom and grandmother while her friends are back in Chicago. But as the summer moves on Claire begins to see positive changes in her mother, grandmother and herself and starts to wonder if her Grandfather's last wish, of them being together at the cabin for a summer, was the best thing ever.
I loved everything about this book...Claire and her grandfather's love of books...the WI characteristics (which made me chuckle)...the meat raffles! This book touched my heart and made me happy my kids have an up north place in WI to experience!
I loved everything about this book...Claire and her grandfather's love of books...the WI characteristics (which made me chuckle)...the meat raffles! This book touched my heart and made me happy my kids have an up north place in WI to experience!
January 17, 2023
13 year-old Clare is still mourning the loss of her grandfather, but in his will he has instructed that his wife, daughter, and granddaughter spend the summer at his cabin Alywn, Wisconsin and have his ashes spread over his favorite lake. Clare sets some goals for the summer: to meet new friends, swim to the island in lake and back without a life jacket, and to catch a muskie. Meanwhile her grandmother LuLu is planning on selling the cabin and their is local bully for Clare to deal with. Clare is a confident and independent girl but the story is a little too predictable, especially the ending, but it still makes for a enjoyable read for 10 to 12 year-olds who are adventurous and love the outdoors.
April 5, 2022
My ten year old says “I WANT TO RATE THIS 100 STARS!”
What a beautiful adventure, both outdoors in the Northwoods and inside Clare’s emotional heart. Clare is such an incredible talking piece on bravery, kindness, grieving, and doing what’s right as well as forgiveness and working through big feelings. I love seeing the transformation in her familial relationships after the loss of such an important figure in her life as well as her own transformation during her big Alwyn summer. Such a beautiful story and so well written with great imagery and character build up, I couldn’t help but love every second of it myself as I read it to my kids.
What a beautiful adventure, both outdoors in the Northwoods and inside Clare’s emotional heart. Clare is such an incredible talking piece on bravery, kindness, grieving, and doing what’s right as well as forgiveness and working through big feelings. I love seeing the transformation in her familial relationships after the loss of such an important figure in her life as well as her own transformation during her big Alwyn summer. Such a beautiful story and so well written with great imagery and character build up, I couldn’t help but love every second of it myself as I read it to my kids.
March 7, 2022
Cross the pressure line into Northern Wisconsin, drop your worries and begin the summer of growing! In this middle grades novel, you can almost feel the cheese curds squeaking in your teeth and hear the loons calling on the lake. Clare Burch grows into her 13 years as she makes new friends, swims and grows closer to her mother and grandmother. There's plenty of adventure and thought about loss and saying goodbye. Laura Bird has some beautiful prose in this engaging story. Highly recommend for ages 10-15 for a great summer read!
April 4, 2022
Oh my goodness, my Wisconsin heart is bursting with love and pride for this book and author!! Set in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, this story about a 13 year old girl is inspiring, heartwarming, adventurous, and reflective. I loved how the relationship between Clare, her mother and Grandma Lulu grew into a strong bond. There were so many Wisconsin gems in the story from meat raffles to cheese castles to the Vogel brothers. And the ending was so darn cute! This is a middle grade novel but I really enjoyed the book and it would be a great opportunity for a parent/child read.
November 28, 2022
After Clare's grandpa suddenly dies, she finds herself on the way to their family cabin in Northern Wisconsin with her mom and grandma. The cabin holds a special place for Clare and her grandpa. Clare's grandma is considering selling the cabin after her husband's death and Clare is fighting this at every turn. During the summer "Up North" Clare sets some goals, meets some new friends, and learns a lot about herself.
I really enjoyed this book, especially since it's set near my hometown. Laura does a nice job of capturing the welcoming people and small town feel. A nice coming of age story.
I really enjoyed this book, especially since it's set near my hometown. Laura does a nice job of capturing the welcoming people and small town feel. A nice coming of age story.
June 12, 2022
While I purchased this book with my 11-year-old daughter in mind, I opted to read it first - and I couldn't put it down! The diverse and relatable characters really stood out to me, but I also greatly enjoyed the description of places, because I could envision the setting beautifully without it bogging down the swiftly-moving plot (a must for today's young readers!). I would love to spend my summer in Alwyn, and hope to reunite with the Burch Family and friends soon!
March 5, 2024
The story and message are both sweet, but I had the hardest time getting through the book. The writing felt very immature to me (ie the dialogue tags often pulled me out of the story, the dialogue felt immature, the characters that were adults did not act or talk like adults). I wished I liked it more.
November 17, 2024
I heard of this book on the Bookpop! podcast. The author is from Madison and is a huge public library evangelist. So I loved her even before I read this. She claims that middle grade books are for everyone and I have to agree. I’ve read most of Kate DiCamillo’s, and picked up some other suggestions from the podcast
May 9, 2023
This was a very heartwarming story. Two generations coping with the death of a family member and how they learned to find their way in the world with new exciting ventures. I really enjoyed reading this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews