Off the Page (Between the Lines, #2)

by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

[jeannamichel]

Delilah has been obsessed with a children’s fairytale ever since she discovered it. Despite what others may think, she accomplishes the impossible by having the main character, Oliver, from the fairytale swap places with the author’s son in our world. Off the Page tells the story of Oliver’s transition of living life in the real world with the girl of his dreams and Edgar’s life inside the book his mother had written.

After reading what the book was about, I was intrigued. This concept of having the main character outside the book he has lived in for his whole life was so interesting. It had me thinking about all the books I have ever read. Could all those books have minds of their own when I wasn’t reading them? Picoult and Van Leer’s idea kept me up at night, staring at my bookshelves, wondering at the possibilities. The story was a unique, fresh twist.

Off the Page is a companion novel to Picoult and Van Leer’s first novel, Between the Lines. Not having read Between the Lines, Off the Page still made absolute sense.

At first, I thought this was definitely a middle-grade book. The characters seemed very young. High school was over-dramatized and clichéd but made for some good comic relief. The love between the prince, Oliver, and Delilah seemed like a feeling beyond their years or too mature for them. As the story progresses though, I began to realize the depth to the characters.

As for the plot, I think most of the story revolves around the marvelous concept of having a fictional character outside his own book that there was not much need for too much else. The romance was there but it did not carry the plot like it may have done in Between the Lines. Off the Page was sort of the aftermath of Oliver dealing with the changes of the real world and how his book dealt with the swap.

Picoult and Van Leer’s writing is gorgeous and their small inserts between chapters are quotes I would love printed on posters. However, one thing that bothered me was their insistence of a happy ending for all. It was not—please, remember your side characters.

Off the Page is YA, but I would peg it for younger YA, though it can be enjoyed by someone of any age. There is a little something for every reader.