The timely issues of anti-immigration and Islamophobia are addressed in this YA novel by Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah. Abdel-Fattah is an attorney of Muslim of Palestinian and Egyptian heritage who served as the Media Liaison Officer at the Islamic council of Victoria, a role that gave her the opportunity to write for newspapers and engage with media institutions about how they represented Muslims and Islam. Although the story takes place in Australia, the issues with refugees and white Australians closely mirror similar beliefs and attitudes seen here in the United States.

The two main characters are Michael and Mina. Michael is a white Australian teen whose parents are active in an anti-immigrant group. They take him to anti-immigration rallies. Mina is a pretty girl he sees on the other side of the picket lines. She is a Muslim refugee from Afghanistan who has experienced many adversities as she fled her warn torn homeland. Mina receives a cold reception at private school she attends on scholarship. Once Michael meets Mina, his parents’ politics become very complicated.

Mina and Michael tell their story in alternate chapters. The reader hears first hand the conflict Michael has with his parents for taking a stand to defend Mina’s family and other refugees. The pain of the persecution and harassment that Mina and her family suffers is clearly shown. The Lines We Cross is a story of how fear and hate can destroy lives, and how important it is to chose tolerance and love.