The Line Tender

Lucy’s mother studied great white sharks, and at the end of the novel, Lucy works with Dr. Robin Walker to investigate the resurgence of sharks off the coast of Massachusetts. Analyze how sharks—and other elements of the natural world—enhance the subject matter of this novel.

When Fiona and Lucy notice the drawings of women on comic book covers, Fiona tells Lucy, “Real women don’t look like that” (58). Discuss how Lucy’s ideas about womanhood and about herself as a young woman change throughout the novel.

Dr. Robin Walker and Lucy’s father both tell Lucy that her artistic sensibilities have a place in scientific research. Analyze how the novel develops this idea. How does this interdependence between the two fields enhance the other themes of the novel?