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The Land of Lines
In the land of lines, anything is the connection between a boy and a girl from different worlds, the potential for self-discovery, and the vanquishing of a monster. While exploring mysterious terrain, the characters cascade down geometric cliffs and mountains, navigating the unknown and finding their potential. Readers will immerse themselves in this engaging wordless graphic novel that captures the timeless heroic journey and celebrates the power of art.
44 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
June 30, 2015
A wordless graphic novel with a very different approach that anything I've seen before. all illustrations are simple line drawings in red, blue and yellow, and the characters must navigate these lines like terrain. I can't imagine the hours that went into the details of some of these spreads.
However I did feel like this is 90% about the artwork, with not a huge amount of thought going into the plot itself. I'm all for weird and trippy, but it was just a bit too rushed and clichéd, taking down to the level of a very young reader in terms of content. Plus there's a damsel in distress who needs a guy to save her and blah blah.
In summary I guess... I could stare at it for hours, but I won't take too much notice of the story. Which may or may not be the point, who knows?!
However I did feel like this is 90% about the artwork, with not a huge amount of thought going into the plot itself. I'm all for weird and trippy, but it was just a bit too rushed and clichéd, taking down to the level of a very young reader in terms of content. Plus there's a damsel in distress who needs a guy to save her and blah blah.
In summary I guess... I could stare at it for hours, but I won't take too much notice of the story. Which may or may not be the point, who knows?!
May 15, 2015
Inventive in a number of visual/illustrative ways, but I just couldn't get past the gender stereotypes and the brave boy leading the way and saving the damsel in distress, with said damsel bestowing kisses.
July 12, 2015
A very unique take on a wordless picture book. An imaginative world has been drawn just using lines for the shapes with large landscape and small people in only three colors. The storyline is fairly easy to follow when looking at it closely, and I actually think my middle schoolers would enjoy the romance/friendship/adventure plot. I feel that this could be one that would be useful in art classes particularly for the unique drawing elements. Some may find it too busy, but I enjoyed reading it.
July 2, 2015
Wordless picture books always intrigue me since they depend so heavily on their illustrations to get their meaning/message/point across. I'm never quite sure if I understand all that is there, but I surely enjoy trying to do so. Middle graders and early high schoolers will have fun following a boy and a girl in this book originally published in Switzerland, separated by various shapes that resemble the tops of trees and buildings or mountain formations and colors. A little bit of exploration brings them together, and they hike through the area, taking risks, having fun, and generally, just bonding. She even gets kidnapped by a monster with a secret of his own, and after he rescues her, he walks her home. Who knows what's in store for the two of them, but her reaction to his departure and his thought bubble with her on his mind offer some clues. I enjoyed reading this and noting the endpapers, filled with the two of them in various poses. After all, it would seem that just about anything can happen in this particular land filled with lines.
February 9, 2020
I liked this book. If you pick this up thinking it is a picture book for children, you will be disappointed or maybe confused. If you have read some graphic novels, I think you will recognize the depth the author intended.
Our librarian asked me to see where other libraries had placed it because it puzzled her and she wanted a second opinion, so I read it and did some research. It got some pretty lackluster reviews here; yes the boy rescues the girl, but that isn't what the story is about. I see a journey, I see an individual overcoming a monster within himself and being forgiven. I see different kind of people being friends on an adventure.
Books are changing. Graphic novels are taking up more and more real estate on library shelves, and what we think of as the written word is morphing. It took me just moments to read this, but I will be thinking about it for a while yet.
Here is a link to an interview of the author.
http://www.chroniclebooks.com/blog/20...
Our librarian asked me to see where other libraries had placed it because it puzzled her and she wanted a second opinion, so I read it and did some research. It got some pretty lackluster reviews here; yes the boy rescues the girl, but that isn't what the story is about. I see a journey, I see an individual overcoming a monster within himself and being forgiven. I see different kind of people being friends on an adventure.
Books are changing. Graphic novels are taking up more and more real estate on library shelves, and what we think of as the written word is morphing. It took me just moments to read this, but I will be thinking about it for a while yet.
Here is a link to an interview of the author.
http://www.chroniclebooks.com/blog/20...
June 29, 2015
Kind of trippy. Wonder how it would look with 3-d glasses? Beware: smooching and girl needing to be rescued by boy. *sigh* Don't know why this disturbs me, but it does. Ending is unclear. Soooo MUCH time had to be put into the illustrations, but it seems the storyline itself is a bit neglected.
July 18, 2015
I like the concept of this book, but I don't understand what its purpose is. The story was confusing and lacked significance to me. This book is visually pleasing, but I wouldn't go so far as to say that it "celebrates the power of art." And this book being described as a "heroic journey" is debatable. Disappointed in this one.
May 8, 2020
This hardcover is a treat for fellow spine enthusiasts!
His fanciful art explores EVERY variety of angle within aggressively fantastical geography but I could see was 2D. Maybe it's me- could I be too blind to see or am I way too picky? When I venture into FrancoBelgi(Switz) terrain I've become accustomed to stepping into 3D.
The story is a heart-warming adventure that doesn't read too quickly. Even though its wordless you'll probably be compelled to diligently follow each of their navigationally complicated paths and contemplate the landscapes.
His fanciful art explores EVERY variety of angle within aggressively fantastical geography but I could see was 2D. Maybe it's me- could I be too blind to see or am I way too picky? When I venture into FrancoBelgi(Switz) terrain I've become accustomed to stepping into 3D.
The story is a heart-warming adventure that doesn't read too quickly. Even though its wordless you'll probably be compelled to diligently follow each of their navigationally complicated paths and contemplate the landscapes.
February 27, 2016
I spotted this with the juvie graphic novels the other day at the library and gave it a quick read. It's a book without words, but the pictures more than tell the story. It's the story of two little characters, one red and one blue, and they live in a land of lines. They go on an adventure together, rescue a yellow character they run into, and they do everything... maybe even fall in love? Nope! Definitely a cute twist.
The story was slow at the start and wasn't too complex by the end, but it was beautifully and creatively illustrated. It's great to see what just a few colors and a bunch of lines can amount to.
The story was slow at the start and wasn't too complex by the end, but it was beautifully and creatively illustrated. It's great to see what just a few colors and a bunch of lines can amount to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2019
Shelved with picture books in my library, but I think is intended to be a very short graphic novel for older readers.
I find the yellow hard to see on the page.
Cool how the red girl and blue boy meet each other in the landscape and explore together. She falls in love with him (see her thought bubble of a heart). After a yellow monster captures the girl, the boy rescues her. And, in the process, changes the yellow monster to a yellow boy. Thought it was a bit confusing as they dropped everyone off at home -- first the yellow guy, then the red girl. She wants the boy to stay, but he leaves to do things on his own. We see him sitting alone thinking of her.
I find the yellow hard to see on the page.
Cool how the red girl and blue boy meet each other in the landscape and explore together. She falls in love with him (see her thought bubble of a heart). After a yellow monster captures the girl, the boy rescues her. And, in the process, changes the yellow monster to a yellow boy. Thought it was a bit confusing as they dropped everyone off at home -- first the yellow guy, then the red girl. She wants the boy to stay, but he leaves to do things on his own. We see him sitting alone thinking of her.
September 10, 2015
Art teachers might really enjoy this book, but I know my kids will enjoy this wordless picture book.
May 16, 2017
Inventive three color wordless picturebook about a boy and girl navigating red and blue lines and a threat to the girl that requires, in the ensuing romantic development, that the boy "rescue" her from a "monster" yellow guy. That part of it is either sweet or gender-stereotypically disappointing. I, reading lots of comics and picture books about strong independent girls and women, will vote largely for the latter, but the spare, minimal (though not simple) visual style is inventive, though it is at times enough work to suggest it is less a kid book than an adult picturebook (Hey, we have adult coloring books, why not adult picture books?!)
May 16, 2018
The concept of this is good and almost interesting, but it was too short and very rushed. If I was teaching K-12, it would be fun to use it as an activity in either storytelling (you provide the words!) or to have conversations about how context is important to be established for readers and how subjective different forms of communication are (e.g. I'm sure that most of the class would reach different understandings about what this book is about--is that a good thing? in what contexts?).
January 31, 2019
An interesting wordless import in which a red girl and blue boy travel through a land of delicate lines. Sort of like Waldo meets Keith Haring. Very small format is a bit hard to "read"; girl is a damsel in distress.
February 8, 2017
I'm so confused!! This is a great book for me, the adult, the review and ponder and make meaning of... I just don't know of any kids I'd be able to "sell it" to.
June 1, 2017
Short and cute
I'm probably not the intended audience for this book. The illustrations were lovely, their simple lines, colors and figures drawing attention to the story.
I'm probably not the intended audience for this book. The illustrations were lovely, their simple lines, colors and figures drawing attention to the story.
July 5, 2017
Very cool use of a few colors to tell this story. I kept wishing that gender stereotypes didn't play such a prominent role in the narrative.
November 20, 2017
4.5 Stars
May 26, 2018
Cool minimalist story.
I don't think I liked the ending.
I don't think I liked the ending.
May 17, 2019
outstanding
May 10, 2020
The drawings are creative but as a whole it’s devoid of anything interesting. Maybe a movie it be better with music. But this way it’s just flipping to get to an interesting part that never occurs.
April 12, 2022
Cool but sad. All my kids liked it. Why the sad ending??!!
January 24, 2024
Wordless and some sequences in same picture but still moving.
November 30, 2015
This wordless graphic novel is creatively complex and simple at the same time. The book features two characters, little more than stick figures, who travel across a landscape that is made up of geometric shapes and lines. The only two colors present in the story are red, blue, and a small amount of yellow.
While there doesn't appear to be much action or plot to the story, in reality you become wrapped up in the characters' journey and their interaction and growing relationship with each other. The developing connection between the characters is mimicked in the growing integration of the red and blue lines in the landscape. While originally the colors were separate and created distinct patterns and shapes, as the characters interact more, so the lines begin to intertwine.
There is a brief moment where a yellow monster appears, different in color and form, but that is resolved and yellow starts to integrate as well. The ending of the story features a journey home. While at times the story felt repetitious, any question about the reader being able to relate to the characters and become involved in the plot is resolved when you realize the ending makes you feel sad in a way that I didn't anticipate.
This is a very different graphic novel that deserves a read for its artistic qualities as well as uniqueness of story.
While there doesn't appear to be much action or plot to the story, in reality you become wrapped up in the characters' journey and their interaction and growing relationship with each other. The developing connection between the characters is mimicked in the growing integration of the red and blue lines in the landscape. While originally the colors were separate and created distinct patterns and shapes, as the characters interact more, so the lines begin to intertwine.
There is a brief moment where a yellow monster appears, different in color and form, but that is resolved and yellow starts to integrate as well. The ending of the story features a journey home. While at times the story felt repetitious, any question about the reader being able to relate to the characters and become involved in the plot is resolved when you realize the ending makes you feel sad in a way that I didn't anticipate.
This is a very different graphic novel that deserves a read for its artistic qualities as well as uniqueness of story.
March 26, 2016
The mainly red and blue line work of this easy picture book is lovely to look, tracing the lines of landscape around the page and noticing all the little details is quite fun. The story itself about a boy and girl finding their way home is wordless yet says so much. It was hard to tell the ages of the characters surrounded as they were by a vast landscape, but I assumed they were not children, but adults. I enjoyed the simplicity of the two lines and two colors creating everything on the page and at first was only amused to note that the woman of course was red and the man blue. In Korean culture those color associations would be the opposite. As I read on, however, I became less and less amused by the rote nature of the story as it brought nothing new or interesting to the same old story of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy rescues girl, girl gives boy kiss on the cheek.
I was much more interested in the story of the Yellow person, who, was able to transform into some sort of monster, then after being kicked in the face by the Blue guy transforms back into a child and continues on the adventure with Blue and Red. One can only conclude that Yellow needed a Snickers Bar.
I was much more interested in the story of the Yellow person, who, was able to transform into some sort of monster, then after being kicked in the face by the Blue guy transforms back into a child and continues on the adventure with Blue and Red. One can only conclude that Yellow needed a Snickers Bar.
February 8, 2017
A woman and a man find each other in a land of lines, and go on to have adventures big and small in this wordless graphic novel. I think it was meant to be an adult graphic novel, but our libraries all shelve it in children's.
July 19, 2015
"The Land of Lines" is a universal story of a journey by a hero on his quest for self-knowledge and purpose amid an ever-evolving landscape. It is easy to see "The Land of Lines" as a picture book-meets-graphic novel in conversation with our particular moment in time: When connections are made and friendships maintained through mobile screens, and when vistas and views change depending upon whether a virtual window is open or closed.
With a minimalist approach — only red, blue, and some yellow — French illustrator Victor Hussenot makes magic with lines: They morph and merge and meld to create a landscape that moves with the characters, and that, in turn, make the characters feel alive.
With a minimalist approach — only red, blue, and some yellow — French illustrator Victor Hussenot makes magic with lines: They morph and merge and meld to create a landscape that moves with the characters, and that, in turn, make the characters feel alive.
September 22, 2015
I marvel at this author/artist’s ability to captivate the reader with what looks like doodles out of a notebook. Yes, of course, the doodles are more tedious - actually, I take back the word “doodle.” The illustrations are more like tedious ink drawings depicting a dramatic journey of a boy and girl. The couple travels through a series of obstacles including a bright yellow mountain monster! The use of primary colors sets off a unique vibration that remains pleasing to the eye. There are no words in the book except for the occasional action like, “splash” or “thwack!”
The book is simply brilliant for all ages but is actually geared toward PreK to 3rd graders. Who’s looking at age anyway?!
The book is simply brilliant for all ages but is actually geared toward PreK to 3rd graders. Who’s looking at age anyway?!
February 13, 2016
I can't see where I'm going now. I give it four stars for the massive amount of time it must have taken to draw all of these lines. After looking at this book a second time and reading more reviews I finding it disturbing that people are put off by the story itself, "A damsel in distress". What is wrong with that? That is the format of many great fairytales. What did you expect? I am sick of all this political correctness in our world. Get over it. That is truly what all people want, is to be rescued from the monsters of this world, whether you are male or female. I'm going to quit reading reviews. I am also giving it 5 ☆☆☆☆☆ now.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews