Jodi Picoult has written 24 novels, many of which have been bestsellers. When thinking of her work, I often recall her knack for crafting hyper-realistic fiction that frequently incorporates legal elements. This might come from my “Law and Order” phase and my reading habits back then, but what truly stands out is her talent for tackling current and controversial topics from multiple viewpoints.
For the novel “Between the Lines,” Picoult collaborated with her then-teenage daughter Samantha Van Leer. In interviews, Van Leer mentioned that she used to wonder what happens in books when we’re not reading them and why no book explored the secret lives of characters. This curiosity led to the inception of “Between the Lines.”
This book is quite different from Picoult’s usual style as it fully embraces the fairy tale genre. The narrative centers around Delilah, a high school loner, and Prince Oliver, who lives within the pages of a book. Delilah is fascinated with fairy tales and particularly obsessed with one called “Between the Lines” by Jessamyn Jacobs. This fairy tale tells the story of the cowardly yet clever Prince Oliver on a quest to save Princess Seraphima.
Interestingly, the characters have lives of their own when the book is closed. Frump the dog is actually an enchanted knight in love with the princess, a pirate captain turns out to be an orthodontist, and the evil wizard is a butterfly-collecting painter who’s quite nice. Through Oliver’s perspective, we see both their fictional roles and their true selves.
In essence, the characters are actors replaying their roles whenever the book is opened, and they become their real selves when it’s closed. This imaginative setup leads to the main conflict: Prince Oliver is unhappy in his confined world and yearns to escape. He goes through the motions of loving the princess, but he desires a life beyond the pages.
Enter Delilah, a 15-year-old who notices something odd while rereading the book. Oliver had drawn on the sand, and unlike usual, the mark didn’t disappear. This mistake reveals that Oliver and Delilah can communicate. As they talk more, they begin to develop feelings for each other, even though Oliver remains trapped. They intensify their efforts to find a way to free Oliver, which causes confusion for Delilah, making her look odd to those around her, and forces Oliver to keep his motives secret.
“Between the Lines” explores fascinating questions like whether a character can leave their story, change their fate, or if it’s right to interfere with someone’s dreams. The book addresses these questions in a way that allows readers to decide for themselves, a hallmark of Picoult’s writing.
Without giving away too much, there’s a visit to the author and her son (on whom Prince Oliver is based) and an ending that fits a modern fairy tale well. The supporting characters become suspicious, and while the resolutions come quickly, they feel believable.
The book is creatively structured too. It starts with the fairy tale, using black font and colorful illustrations. Oliver’s chapters, depicted in purple, transition into Delilah’s, shown in green, making it easy to follow the separate threads of the story.
I enjoyed the setup since we get both the original fairy tale and the perspectives of the main characters. While I found Delilah initially less engaging, she grows on you as the story unfolds. Oliver’s journey to escape his unwanted destiny was intriguing and fun to follow.
The romance elements were interesting because Delilah and Oliver don’t know each other well initially. Their relationship develops as they communicate and work on freeing Oliver, and it becomes more believable and organic. Delilah’s realistic approach to their relationship, considering her young age, adds a refreshing touch. The romance seemed rushed but sweet, lifting my rating from a 3 to a 4.
If you enjoy modern fairy tale adaptations or stories about the inner lives of book characters, “Between the Lines” is worth a read. It offers a fun, captivating take on an intriguing concept. Although the romance felt hurried, it was still endearing. The characters are well-crafted, making you root for their happy ending, fitting the fairy tale tradition. Written with a sweet and engaging tone, it’s a book worth your time.
If adapted into a film, it would likely be a challenge due to its unique concept of characters coming alive from a book. An animation/live-action blend, similar to “Mary Poppins,” might work best. Both Picoult and Van Leer would need to be deeply involved to ensure the film stays true to their vision.
Overall, “Between the Lines” delivers a charming and thoughtful story that is both unique and engaging.
