Crossing the Line

Rating:
Summary: powerful contemporary relationship drama
Review: Though successful at work, Theadora Morgan struggles with her personal relationships. Her almost sixteen year old daughter is giving her a hard time over trusting her with boys. Her Aunt Della is giving her a hard time over attending her sister's third wedding though Thea and Selma are far from being close to one another. Her white in-laws want their granddaughter raised Caucasian-American though their son is dead and Thea is half African-American.

Thea attends Selma's wedding where the worst yank occurs as she meets her first love African-American minister Xavier Thornton. Ignoring her deep feelings that still exist for Xavier, Thea tries to live up to the image that her extended family expects of her even though they pull her in different directions. However, Xavier refuses to drop out this time as he knows he loves Thea, but she harbors a secret that will probably end several of her relationships if it surfaces.

Laura Castoro provides more than just an enjoyable relationship drama as she digs deep into the issue of racial classification in a world that is increasingly rainbow-ethnic. The story line centers on Thea as the pivotal point with several spokes going from her to various other characters. Because the under siege Thea seems so real, fans will feel for her daily plight as everyone tries to paint her to fit their by the numbers portrait of her. In turn she makes the novel as she learns you can't please everyone so it is time to start with yourself. CROSSING THE LINE is a powerful contemporary relationship drama that showcases the abilities of a wonderful author.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: powerful contemporary relationship drama
Review: Though successful at work, Theadora Morgan struggles with her personal relationships. Her almost sixteen year old daughter is giving her a hard time over trusting her with boys. Her Aunt Della is giving her a hard time over attending her sister's third wedding though Thea and Selma are far from being close to one another. Her white in-laws want their granddaughter raised Caucasian-American though their son is dead and Thea is half African-American.

Thea attends Selma's wedding where the worst yank occurs as she meets her first love African-American minister Xavier Thornton. Ignoring her deep feelings that still exist for Xavier, Thea tries to live up to the image that her extended family expects of her even though they pull her in different directions. However, Xavier refuses to drop out this time as he knows he loves Thea, but she harbors a secret that will probably end several of her relationships if it surfaces.

Laura Castoro provides more than just an enjoyable relationship drama as she digs deep into the issue of racial classification in a world that is increasingly rainbow-ethnic. The story line centers on Thea as the pivotal point with several spokes going from her to various other characters. Because the under siege Thea seems so real, fans will feel for her daily plight as everyone tries to paint her to fit their by the numbers portrait of her. In turn she makes the novel as she learns you can't please everyone so it is time to start with yourself. CROSSING THE LINE is a powerful contemporary relationship drama that showcases the abilities of a wonderful author.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: The lines are not as clear as we think
Review: What is Black and White and red all over? If you said a newspaper you would be wrong. It is Crossing The Line, a novel by Laura Castoro. Black is the color of his skin, White is the color of hers and Red is the color of their love.

In Crossing The Line, Ms. Castoro introduces us to Thea Morgan, a fair skinned Black woman, who could easily pass for White and made the choice to marry White. All was right in her world until her husband dies and leaves her with a teenage daughter to raise. At her sister's wedding she finds herself in the company of her first love, Xavier Thorton, an All American football player, affluent and prominent minister, and a dark skinned African American. Realizing she is still drawn to him, and he to her, causes her to have face some unresolved issues of the past that she thought were all behind her and introducing new ones that she wasn't ready for.

This book quickly gained my attention and moved at a pace that kept me reading. Ms. Castoro's ability to develop characters is highlighted in Xavier's and Thea's complex personalities showing their many layers; the prominent layer for Thea being a Black woman with White skin and that for Xavier being an ex-football player now prominent minister. Ms. Castoro creatively wove together an intricate past for these characters with what proved to be an overwhelming present.

Although I enjoyed reading this novel, I felt that there were some situations that were left undeveloped and I had unanswered questions. I was also a bit disappointed that the line that was crossed (noting the title) was not the primary aspect of the story. Nonetheless, it proved to be an entertaining read.

Kotanya
APOOO Bookclub