What do you think?
Rate this book
Forbidden: A Young Adult Historical Tale of an Orphan, Ghostly Revenge, and Sinister Secrets in Nineteenth-Century Scotland
In early-nineteenth century Scotland, sixteen-year-old Josie, an orphan, is sent to live with an aunt and uncle on the rocky, stormy northwest coast. Everything and everyone in her new surroundings, including her relatives, is sinister, threatening, and mysterious. She's told that Eli, the young man she's attracted to, is forbidden to her, but not why. Spirited, curious, and determined, Josie sets out to learn the village's secrets and discovers evil, fueled by heartless greed, as well as a ghostly presence eager for revenge. An author's note gives the historical inspiration for this story.
224 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2015
16 people are currently reading
1481 people want to read
About the author
Eve Bunting
307 books406 followersAlso known as Evelyn Bolton and A.E. Bunting.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
October 19, 2015
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Forbidden by Eve Bunting
Publisher: Clarion Books
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
Summary (from Goodreads):
In early-nineteenth century Scotland, sixteen-year-old Josie, an orphan, is sent to live with an aunt and uncle on the rocky, stormy northwest coast. Everything and everyone in her new surroundings, including her relatives, is sinister, threatening, and mysterious. She's told that Eli, the young man she's attracted to, is forbidden to her, but not why. Spirited, curious, and determined, Josie sets out to learn the village's secrets and discovers evil, fueled by heartless greed, as well as a ghostly presence eager for revenge. An author's note gives the historical inspiration for this story.
What I Liked:
This book was incredibly short! While the timing for a short book was great, it was also not the best for the story, which really felt short (and not necessarily in a good way). Still, I finished this book quickly and was very engrossed in the novel. While it wasn't AMAZING, I was entranced and engrossed and I couldn't put this book down.
It's 1800s Scotland, and Josie is now a sixteen-year-old orphan. Her parents died just recently of influenza, and she has two more years until she can access her inheritance and live in her parents' house. She is sent to live with her uncle and aunt, and there is something very strange about the pair... as well as with the town of Brindle. Her uncle and aunt seem interested solely in her inheritance. The town is full of secrets and mysteries... as is the one kind person to her, Eli Stuart. Even Eli can't answer her questions - she'll discover exactly what's going on for herself.
Like I said, this book is super short! It's a double-edged sword, but it can definitely be seen as a positive. If you're in the mood for a short, paranormal historical fiction novel with a mysterious side, this book is satisfying.
Josie is so innocent and proper, worried about manners and propriety and doing right by her parents. Then she arrives at Brindle and realizes that there is more going on than anyone will tell her. Her uncle and aunt aren't proper folk like her parents, and they aren't as well off as her parents had thought. Josie wants to try to get along with her uncle and aunt, but she does not like being commanded or yelled at or ordered. She stands up for herself, but at the same time, she tries to forgive her aunt and uncle too.
The pace of this novel is fast, but the book is short, so it feels like there were only four or five real scenes in this book. Eli is introduced quickly, and he is a constant throughout the book. Eli is an enigma, helping Josie at every turn, yet not explaining anything to her. He is protective of her, realizing that she is a newcomer. You can't help but like Eli. But Eli is forbidden, though Josie is not told why. There is a lot of paranormal action in this book, surrounding just about everyone.
The climax and end of this book is when all is revealed, when we get to see what the people of Brindle are up to, and why Eli is forbidden. Some scenes were heartbreaking, but others were hopeful. I think the author gave the book a fitting ending - especially those last few lines!
What I Did Not Like:
My biggest complaint is something that I also liked about this book - the length. On the one hand, I read this book really quickly, and I was really intrigued by the book. On the other hand... it was short. There were not many scenes at all - maybe ten, maximum? Between five and ten? Like, we meet Eli once, and on the second meeting, Josie is already tingling from new feelings for the boy. Within no time, the book is halfway finished, and I felt like I'd only read about three completed scenes.
The scenes that I read were well-developed! But the book overall could have been more fluffed up, fleshed out, and developed. The romance could have been so much more - you could do SO MUCH with forbidden romance! The cruelty of the uncle and aunt could have drawn out, making Josie's situation so much more agonizing (this sounds awful of me, I know). The author could have made this book so much more!
I already touched on the romance, but the author could have had waaay more scenes between Josie and Eli. Way more scenes in general, but especially featuring the pair. The romance has a huge place in this book (or it's supposed to), so I would have developed their relationship and feelings, maybe throw in some steamy encounters, amp up the chemistry and romance in the forbidden sense, and then lock in the ending.
So you see, my biggest issue was with how short this book was! It could have (and should have) been so much longer, at least another fifty, one hundred, even one hundred fifty pages longer! It felt like a novella or super short novel!
Would I Recommend It:
Ehhh. Like if you're in the library and love the cover, maybe. But I wouldn't necessarily make a point to preorder it or buy it or put a hold on it. It's a decent story, definitely interesting, especially with the paranormal aspect (think ghosts!), but it's not one that I would tell people specifically to get, or would probably remember years from now.
Rating:
3 stars. Not bad! To be honest, I enjoyed the book. But I would have enjoyed it more (I would hope) if it were longer, and the romance (which is a big focus in this book) to be more frequent and developed in the book. Still, a good novel!
Forbidden by Eve Bunting
Publisher: Clarion Books
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
Summary (from Goodreads):
In early-nineteenth century Scotland, sixteen-year-old Josie, an orphan, is sent to live with an aunt and uncle on the rocky, stormy northwest coast. Everything and everyone in her new surroundings, including her relatives, is sinister, threatening, and mysterious. She's told that Eli, the young man she's attracted to, is forbidden to her, but not why. Spirited, curious, and determined, Josie sets out to learn the village's secrets and discovers evil, fueled by heartless greed, as well as a ghostly presence eager for revenge. An author's note gives the historical inspiration for this story.
What I Liked:
This book was incredibly short! While the timing for a short book was great, it was also not the best for the story, which really felt short (and not necessarily in a good way). Still, I finished this book quickly and was very engrossed in the novel. While it wasn't AMAZING, I was entranced and engrossed and I couldn't put this book down.
It's 1800s Scotland, and Josie is now a sixteen-year-old orphan. Her parents died just recently of influenza, and she has two more years until she can access her inheritance and live in her parents' house. She is sent to live with her uncle and aunt, and there is something very strange about the pair... as well as with the town of Brindle. Her uncle and aunt seem interested solely in her inheritance. The town is full of secrets and mysteries... as is the one kind person to her, Eli Stuart. Even Eli can't answer her questions - she'll discover exactly what's going on for herself.
Like I said, this book is super short! It's a double-edged sword, but it can definitely be seen as a positive. If you're in the mood for a short, paranormal historical fiction novel with a mysterious side, this book is satisfying.
Josie is so innocent and proper, worried about manners and propriety and doing right by her parents. Then she arrives at Brindle and realizes that there is more going on than anyone will tell her. Her uncle and aunt aren't proper folk like her parents, and they aren't as well off as her parents had thought. Josie wants to try to get along with her uncle and aunt, but she does not like being commanded or yelled at or ordered. She stands up for herself, but at the same time, she tries to forgive her aunt and uncle too.
The pace of this novel is fast, but the book is short, so it feels like there were only four or five real scenes in this book. Eli is introduced quickly, and he is a constant throughout the book. Eli is an enigma, helping Josie at every turn, yet not explaining anything to her. He is protective of her, realizing that she is a newcomer. You can't help but like Eli. But Eli is forbidden, though Josie is not told why. There is a lot of paranormal action in this book, surrounding just about everyone.
The climax and end of this book is when all is revealed, when we get to see what the people of Brindle are up to, and why Eli is forbidden. Some scenes were heartbreaking, but others were hopeful. I think the author gave the book a fitting ending - especially those last few lines!
What I Did Not Like:
My biggest complaint is something that I also liked about this book - the length. On the one hand, I read this book really quickly, and I was really intrigued by the book. On the other hand... it was short. There were not many scenes at all - maybe ten, maximum? Between five and ten? Like, we meet Eli once, and on the second meeting, Josie is already tingling from new feelings for the boy. Within no time, the book is halfway finished, and I felt like I'd only read about three completed scenes.
The scenes that I read were well-developed! But the book overall could have been more fluffed up, fleshed out, and developed. The romance could have been so much more - you could do SO MUCH with forbidden romance! The cruelty of the uncle and aunt could have drawn out, making Josie's situation so much more agonizing (this sounds awful of me, I know). The author could have made this book so much more!
I already touched on the romance, but the author could have had waaay more scenes between Josie and Eli. Way more scenes in general, but especially featuring the pair. The romance has a huge place in this book (or it's supposed to), so I would have developed their relationship and feelings, maybe throw in some steamy encounters, amp up the chemistry and romance in the forbidden sense, and then lock in the ending.
So you see, my biggest issue was with how short this book was! It could have (and should have) been so much longer, at least another fifty, one hundred, even one hundred fifty pages longer! It felt like a novella or super short novel!
Would I Recommend It:
Ehhh. Like if you're in the library and love the cover, maybe. But I wouldn't necessarily make a point to preorder it or buy it or put a hold on it. It's a decent story, definitely interesting, especially with the paranormal aspect (think ghosts!), but it's not one that I would tell people specifically to get, or would probably remember years from now.
Rating:
3 stars. Not bad! To be honest, I enjoyed the book. But I would have enjoyed it more (I would hope) if it were longer, and the romance (which is a big focus in this book) to be more frequent and developed in the book. Still, a good novel!
November 25, 2015
Actual Rating 1.5
***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato
Oh, Forbidden. I wanted to love you so much and I am sorry that this didn’t work out. I imagine, in an alternate universe, if you were more detailed and not so rushed, I could have loved you, but you weren't, and so our story must end.
My lamenting aside, I am really disappointed. There were so many interesting things going on in this book but everything was SO RUSHED. I wanted details, I wanted a build-up, actual character development, all of the things but didn't get nearly enough of any of them.
For starters, the main character was really hard to connect to. Whenever Josie did anything, she’d think about how improper it was and how much Mrs Chandler would disapprove. Mrs Chandler, by the way, isn’t even a real person. IT’S A BEHAVIORAL GUIDE for young ladies. I am all up for characters who aren’t traditionally strong and badass, but I don’t want to read about a character who cannot do anything without thinking about a behavioral guide. Even when she becomes ‘strong’ and ready to let go of all the stupid claims, she refers to Mrs Chandler. *shakes head*
Then there is the romance that comes out of nowhere. That is one of the things I was most excited about because I love me a forbidden romance but there was no romance. Sure there were ‘I Love Yous’ but there was literally no development. One minute she finds the guy sketchy and the next she cannot live without him? How did that jump happen? She even admits to not knowing him but somehow she can be in love and NOT know him? How does that even work?
This brings me to the love interest, who is mysterious but so mysterious we don’t find out anything about him. Also, I don’t think he and Josie ever have a conversation that is straightforward. It’s usually him being elusive, mysterious and vague and her falling for it.
One thing I did love about this book was that it is incredibly atmospheric. Right from the start, you can tell that something weird is going on. Something you don’t want the main character to be involved in, but it’s not like she can listen to us yelling on the other side for her to RUN FOR HER LIFE.
Then we find out what is going on behind the scenes and it is kind of really awful, but I wish we got more details. I wish the build-up was more clear, I wish there was more than just one scene where this awful thing takes place. I wanted more.
The same goes for the resolution to this conflict. Too rushed. Not detailed. Just plain sad.
The way the novel ended was really interesting and something I liked but because of the lack of details throughout the novel, it did not have the emotional impact on that it would have otherwise. I remained detached from the happenings of the novel with only the mystery keeping me glued to the pages. This book could have been great, mind blowing even, but it wasn’t because it was rushed. And hey, I like my quick reads but I don’t like them when it takes away from actual development.
Note that I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato
Oh, Forbidden. I wanted to love you so much and I am sorry that this didn’t work out. I imagine, in an alternate universe, if you were more detailed and not so rushed, I could have loved you, but you weren't, and so our story must end.
My lamenting aside, I am really disappointed. There were so many interesting things going on in this book but everything was SO RUSHED. I wanted details, I wanted a build-up, actual character development, all of the things but didn't get nearly enough of any of them.
For starters, the main character was really hard to connect to. Whenever Josie did anything, she’d think about how improper it was and how much Mrs Chandler would disapprove. Mrs Chandler, by the way, isn’t even a real person. IT’S A BEHAVIORAL GUIDE for young ladies. I am all up for characters who aren’t traditionally strong and badass, but I don’t want to read about a character who cannot do anything without thinking about a behavioral guide. Even when she becomes ‘strong’ and ready to let go of all the stupid claims, she refers to Mrs Chandler. *shakes head*
Then there is the romance that comes out of nowhere. That is one of the things I was most excited about because I love me a forbidden romance but there was no romance. Sure there were ‘I Love Yous’ but there was literally no development. One minute she finds the guy sketchy and the next she cannot live without him? How did that jump happen? She even admits to not knowing him but somehow she can be in love and NOT know him? How does that even work?
This brings me to the love interest, who is mysterious but so mysterious we don’t find out anything about him. Also, I don’t think he and Josie ever have a conversation that is straightforward. It’s usually him being elusive, mysterious and vague and her falling for it.
One thing I did love about this book was that it is incredibly atmospheric. Right from the start, you can tell that something weird is going on. Something you don’t want the main character to be involved in, but it’s not like she can listen to us yelling on the other side for her to RUN FOR HER LIFE.
Then we find out what is going on behind the scenes and it is kind of really awful, but I wish we got more details. I wish the build-up was more clear, I wish there was more than just one scene where this awful thing takes place. I wanted more.
The same goes for the resolution to this conflict. Too rushed. Not detailed. Just plain sad.
The way the novel ended was really interesting and something I liked but because of the lack of details throughout the novel, it did not have the emotional impact on that it would have otherwise. I remained detached from the happenings of the novel with only the mystery keeping me glued to the pages. This book could have been great, mind blowing even, but it wasn’t because it was rushed. And hey, I like my quick reads but I don’t like them when it takes away from actual development.
Note that I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
October 21, 2015
Forbidden was a quick and entertaining novel that I finished in two short sittings. The story kept me interested the entire time, and the main character’s plight immediately earned my sympathy.
When sixteen year old Josie Ferguson is forced to leave her Edinburg home after losing her parents to influenza in 1807, she goes to Brindle Point to live with her Uncle Caleb and Auntie Minnie in their cliff-side home Raven’s Roost. Immediately, Josie realizes her life will never be the same. Upon her arrival, the people of Brindle and the scenery casts a sinister feeling over her, and she soon discovers after meeting Eli Stuart, the forbidden resident, that the town and its inhabitants are harboring a secret that leaves her hoping to escape her new home.
I knew from the moment Josie walked through her uncle’s house that she was not going to last long under his care. His dark soul and hypocritical ways were clearly evident from the onset of the novel. Couple that with her aunt and their horrible dog that attacked Josie, and I really felt bad for her situation.
Eve Bunting did a good job of keeping the town’s activities and Eli’s true nature a secret, where you had to unfold the details with care. I have to admit that the twist was clever and the ending was filled with well-timed dramatic effect.
Overall, Forbidden was a quick hit that has the right atmosphere and setting to make you feel like you’re chartering sinister territory. Perfect read for this time of the year!
When sixteen year old Josie Ferguson is forced to leave her Edinburg home after losing her parents to influenza in 1807, she goes to Brindle Point to live with her Uncle Caleb and Auntie Minnie in their cliff-side home Raven’s Roost. Immediately, Josie realizes her life will never be the same. Upon her arrival, the people of Brindle and the scenery casts a sinister feeling over her, and she soon discovers after meeting Eli Stuart, the forbidden resident, that the town and its inhabitants are harboring a secret that leaves her hoping to escape her new home.
I knew from the moment Josie walked through her uncle’s house that she was not going to last long under his care. His dark soul and hypocritical ways were clearly evident from the onset of the novel. Couple that with her aunt and their horrible dog that attacked Josie, and I really felt bad for her situation.
Eve Bunting did a good job of keeping the town’s activities and Eli’s true nature a secret, where you had to unfold the details with care. I have to admit that the twist was clever and the ending was filled with well-timed dramatic effect.
Overall, Forbidden was a quick hit that has the right atmosphere and setting to make you feel like you’re chartering sinister territory. Perfect read for this time of the year!
November 17, 2015
My thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
Meh. It didn't really grab me. It was a quick read and the author's note at the end was interesting, but not overly in-depth regarding the topic at hand.
The quick read part was good, but that didn't leave much in the way of character development. The bad guys were all completely bad, though to be honest, to do what they did was really evil and I think it would have taken a LOT to paint any humanity into the bad guys.
There also was next to no development with regards to the love portion part of the story. The H and h had maybe four scenes together that didn't total a very great deal of time, yet they both loved one another. No love triangle, but insta-love. Not my cup.
The setting was rather well written. I completely felt the cold, wet and ruggedness of the landscape. Also, the dog, Lamb, was terrifying and I enjoyed the ending. So not all bad, but not enough to lift the book above a 2.5.
The historical part of the book is interesting and it may spark a reader to research more into the history of "wrecking", but other than that, I couldn't recommend it.
Meh. It didn't really grab me. It was a quick read and the author's note at the end was interesting, but not overly in-depth regarding the topic at hand.
The quick read part was good, but that didn't leave much in the way of character development. The bad guys were all completely bad, though to be honest, to do what they did was really evil and I think it would have taken a LOT to paint any humanity into the bad guys.
There also was next to no development with regards to the love portion part of the story. The H and h had maybe four scenes together that didn't total a very great deal of time, yet they both loved one another. No love triangle, but insta-love. Not my cup.
The setting was rather well written. I completely felt the cold, wet and ruggedness of the landscape. Also, the dog, Lamb, was terrifying and I enjoyed the ending. So not all bad, but not enough to lift the book above a 2.5.
The historical part of the book is interesting and it may spark a reader to research more into the history of "wrecking", but other than that, I couldn't recommend it.
March 30, 2016
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
Forbidden is a young adult mystery by Eve Bunting. It is a dark and mysterious, quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved the dreary, almost foggy atmosphere of the little Scottish fishing village, and I really liked how easily digestible the book was. It took me just under 2 hours to read Forbidden, and I walked away feeling like it was a complete story, not a novella. The romance in Forbidden is a nice aside but it is by no means the focal point of the story.
After Josie's parents both pass away from influenza, she is sent to live with her estranged aunt and uncle. When she gets to the town, everything seems a little strange. Just a tad off, including her Aunt and Uncle. It was hard not to get wrapped up in the creepy little town that Eve Bunting created in Forbidden. I could never pin down exactly what was going on. Eve did an excellent job of maintaining a mysterious air about her writing up until the very last minute. Was it something magical? Was it something nefarious? What is something obvious? And then what on earth was the deal with Eli, and why was everyone calling him Forbidden?
Forbidden was a fun little jaunt with a mysterious read. It would have been perfect to read on Halloween, and I love the author's aside at the end of the story where the inspiration for the tale came from. If you like darker, quick reads that have a hint of romance (but not too much) then Forbidden is the book for you. Seriously, check it out if you love a good atmospheric read.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Forbidden is a young adult mystery by Eve Bunting. It is a dark and mysterious, quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved the dreary, almost foggy atmosphere of the little Scottish fishing village, and I really liked how easily digestible the book was. It took me just under 2 hours to read Forbidden, and I walked away feeling like it was a complete story, not a novella. The romance in Forbidden is a nice aside but it is by no means the focal point of the story.
After Josie's parents both pass away from influenza, she is sent to live with her estranged aunt and uncle. When she gets to the town, everything seems a little strange. Just a tad off, including her Aunt and Uncle. It was hard not to get wrapped up in the creepy little town that Eve Bunting created in Forbidden. I could never pin down exactly what was going on. Eve did an excellent job of maintaining a mysterious air about her writing up until the very last minute. Was it something magical? Was it something nefarious? What is something obvious? And then what on earth was the deal with Eli, and why was everyone calling him Forbidden?
Forbidden was a fun little jaunt with a mysterious read. It would have been perfect to read on Halloween, and I love the author's aside at the end of the story where the inspiration for the tale came from. If you like darker, quick reads that have a hint of romance (but not too much) then Forbidden is the book for you. Seriously, check it out if you love a good atmospheric read.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
September 20, 2015
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
'Forbidden' tells the story of Josie, an orphan who is sent to live with her aunt and uncle after the death of her parents. This new home isn't welcoming and her new caretakers even admit they are only keeping her to collect money from her inheritance for doing so. A small romance pops up and the townspeople are weirdos, but for the sake of spoilers I'm not going to dive into that here.
Sadly, this is a very silly, juvenile book. There's virtually no character development or depth. There's good characters & bad characters. Josie's aunt and uncle are horrible people inside and out. Josie is sweet and kind and only wants to do good. It's all very black & white. No shades of gray to keep things interesting.
I didn't feel much happened in the book and it was also very short. Josie moves there, they are mean, their dog tries to attack her a bunch of times, girl meets boy, they are forbidden, townspeople are weird, she finds out, and that's kinda it. It just felt like a lot of blah.
I think this book would appeal to 11-12 year old girls. Young enough readers that don't need a ton of character dimension. It was all too simple and silly for me, sadly.
'Forbidden' tells the story of Josie, an orphan who is sent to live with her aunt and uncle after the death of her parents. This new home isn't welcoming and her new caretakers even admit they are only keeping her to collect money from her inheritance for doing so. A small romance pops up and the townspeople are weirdos, but for the sake of spoilers I'm not going to dive into that here.
Sadly, this is a very silly, juvenile book. There's virtually no character development or depth. There's good characters & bad characters. Josie's aunt and uncle are horrible people inside and out. Josie is sweet and kind and only wants to do good. It's all very black & white. No shades of gray to keep things interesting.
I didn't feel much happened in the book and it was also very short. Josie moves there, they are mean, their dog tries to attack her a bunch of times, girl meets boy, they are forbidden, townspeople are weird, she finds out, and that's kinda it. It just felt like a lot of blah.
I think this book would appeal to 11-12 year old girls. Young enough readers that don't need a ton of character dimension. It was all too simple and silly for me, sadly.
October 25, 2016
This is a great paranormal mystery set in Scotland in the 1800s. I liked the main character Josie, who was forced to live with her aunt and uncle when she becomes an orphan. Her relatives behave strangely and have a mysterious and frightening dog, and even the local townsfolk behave in a somewhat bizarre manner. Then there is the brooding Eli who Josie feels attracted to but is told by everyone to stay away from. I loved the setting of this story and enjoyed reading the evocative descriptions conjuring up the isolation of a little village on the land’s edge. The storyline was intriguing and I thought the plot was quite original. My interest in Josie and unravelling the mystery was piqued from the very beginning and never waned. The story is wonderfully written, full of the old words and phrases of the time, and the writing is very atmospheric. A very enjoyable read.
November 11, 2016
Ho-ly crap!! No book has ever made me cry so much!! The strong love Jessie had for the forbidden boy, Eli Stuart, was unbelievable. The way he died tore me apart! I started crying the second he finally told her he was in love with her. And when she found him, lying on the ground, that was when the tears started falling down my face. I almost screamed, but I managed to hold it in. It was one of the most beautiful and sad book I've read... Not many books ever make me cry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2016
4.5 stars
September 30, 2023
Okay, so I happened upon this book as part of dive into books by authors from Northern Ireland. Now, Eve Bunting has made residence in Southern California similar to myself, so this was the appeal to start with this one.
Unlike other Northern Ireland authors, this book is set in Scotland. It was historical fiction and created an atmosphere of suspense. Really enjoyed this book, even though it is very short. It didn't stry from the storyline and had a romantic twist to the tale at the conclusion.
Unlike other Northern Ireland authors, this book is set in Scotland. It was historical fiction and created an atmosphere of suspense. Really enjoyed this book, even though it is very short. It didn't stry from the storyline and had a romantic twist to the tale at the conclusion.
September 24, 2017
Author: Eve Bunting
Genre: Historical YA
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Year of Publication: 2015
Main Character: Josie—(3/5) Josie was a little naïve, but what she lacked in intuition, she made up for in bravery. Although Josie picked up that something was off about her new home, she was oblivious to the clues that are obvious to readers.
Secondary Characters: None of the secondary characters were very engaging or interesting, but they each served their function within the story quite well.
Pacing: The pacing on this one is difficult to explain. The story itself was set at an anxious pace, the plot moving along hurriedly and unceremoniously. Within the scenes themselves, the narrative would sometimes drag. You’d have to read it to understand.
Accuracy of Publisher’s Synopsis: The synopsis was dead on, though the narrative was lackluster in comparison.
Resolution: This was hands down the best part of the book. The last major scene resulted in embarrassing laughter and vindictive cheering on my part. And I am not ashamed.
The Good: The setting, particularly Bunting’s description of it, was very well conveyed and made the story seem tangible. One of the odd points was that the overall timeline of the book moved rapidly, although the narrative within each scene felt drawn out. Overall, this book had an interesting concept that I haven’t read before. The combination of supernatural elements with historical fiction was surprisingly delightful and original.
The Not So Good: On the whole, the plot was underdeveloped and failed to live up to the excitement and mystery promised by the synopsis. The story, which takes place in a mere forty-eight hours, was set at a rapid pace, which was offset by the lengthy descriptions that interrupted scenes frequently. This all would have been fine by me had I felt that Bunting had brought the story to its full potential. However, how much character development can be done in just two hundred pages over the span of two days? The love interest aspect was downright neglected. Eli and Josie only met maybe two or three times. Perhaps Josie’s constant thoughts of Eli were supposed to make him seem more present? But fantasy and worries are no replacement for scenes and real interaction. To be in love with someone you just met yesterday is a little farfetched for even a YA fantasy book.
Overall Impression: I had hoped this book would be a mysterious, action-packed quick read. For me, only one of those points was truly met. If Bunting had slowed down and given the plot its due, this could have been a fairly good novel.
Would I recommend it? I probably wouldn’t recommend this one. Not because it was poorly written or a bad story, but because it felt like an outline rather than a published book. Nevertheless, it’s well suited to anyone who loves to read, but doesn’t have much time.
Genre: Historical YA
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Year of Publication: 2015
Main Character: Josie—(3/5) Josie was a little naïve, but what she lacked in intuition, she made up for in bravery. Although Josie picked up that something was off about her new home, she was oblivious to the clues that are obvious to readers.
Secondary Characters: None of the secondary characters were very engaging or interesting, but they each served their function within the story quite well.
Pacing: The pacing on this one is difficult to explain. The story itself was set at an anxious pace, the plot moving along hurriedly and unceremoniously. Within the scenes themselves, the narrative would sometimes drag. You’d have to read it to understand.
Accuracy of Publisher’s Synopsis: The synopsis was dead on, though the narrative was lackluster in comparison.
Resolution: This was hands down the best part of the book. The last major scene resulted in embarrassing laughter and vindictive cheering on my part. And I am not ashamed.
The Good: The setting, particularly Bunting’s description of it, was very well conveyed and made the story seem tangible. One of the odd points was that the overall timeline of the book moved rapidly, although the narrative within each scene felt drawn out. Overall, this book had an interesting concept that I haven’t read before. The combination of supernatural elements with historical fiction was surprisingly delightful and original.
The Not So Good: On the whole, the plot was underdeveloped and failed to live up to the excitement and mystery promised by the synopsis. The story, which takes place in a mere forty-eight hours, was set at a rapid pace, which was offset by the lengthy descriptions that interrupted scenes frequently. This all would have been fine by me had I felt that Bunting had brought the story to its full potential. However, how much character development can be done in just two hundred pages over the span of two days? The love interest aspect was downright neglected. Eli and Josie only met maybe two or three times. Perhaps Josie’s constant thoughts of Eli were supposed to make him seem more present? But fantasy and worries are no replacement for scenes and real interaction. To be in love with someone you just met yesterday is a little farfetched for even a YA fantasy book.
Overall Impression: I had hoped this book would be a mysterious, action-packed quick read. For me, only one of those points was truly met. If Bunting had slowed down and given the plot its due, this could have been a fairly good novel.
Would I recommend it? I probably wouldn’t recommend this one. Not because it was poorly written or a bad story, but because it felt like an outline rather than a published book. Nevertheless, it’s well suited to anyone who loves to read, but doesn’t have much time.
May 23, 2017
Josie's parents are dead. Even though the 16-year-old is an heiress, she cannot live in her parents house alone. So she is shipped off to an aunt and uncle that she's never met. From the moment she lays eyes on them she knows something's fishy. She also understands that really, the only reason they agreed to be her guardians is because her lawyer is paying them to do so. Two years, she reminds herself; that's all she has to survive: two years. Two years in a town that isn't very welcoming, either.
However, it becomes quickly apparent that something really dark and sinister is going on. Her uncle apparently gave up his lucrative apothecary business to conduct whatever nefarious ongoings he and his wife are now involved in. And it becomes clear that she herself will be expected to participate.
It doesn't take nosy Josie long to figure out what the mystery is: the entire town comes out when there is a storm and a ship coming in. The townspeople, spearheaded by her uncle and aunt, trick the ships into wrecking on the rocks near the shores. Then everything that can be taken from the ship is stolen. No survivors are ever left. Ever.
In the midst of all this Josie meets Eli, grandson to the local healer. Both woman and grandson are scorned in the town. There's something about Eli that makes him irresistible to Josie; but his grandmother makes it clear that he is "forbidden." Josie thinks this is utterly ridiculous, but is also frustrated that she finds herself attracted to him in the first place.
Eli helps Josie understand what's going on. He also helps her to get away. But in the end she finds out that he is a ghost; hence being forbidden.
I was frustrated with this story. So much action happens over just 2-3 days. Granted, it's a short book. But a bit of character development would have been nice.
However, it becomes quickly apparent that something really dark and sinister is going on. Her uncle apparently gave up his lucrative apothecary business to conduct whatever nefarious ongoings he and his wife are now involved in. And it becomes clear that she herself will be expected to participate.
It doesn't take nosy Josie long to figure out what the mystery is: the entire town comes out when there is a storm and a ship coming in. The townspeople, spearheaded by her uncle and aunt, trick the ships into wrecking on the rocks near the shores. Then everything that can be taken from the ship is stolen. No survivors are ever left. Ever.
In the midst of all this Josie meets Eli, grandson to the local healer. Both woman and grandson are scorned in the town. There's something about Eli that makes him irresistible to Josie; but his grandmother makes it clear that he is "forbidden." Josie thinks this is utterly ridiculous, but is also frustrated that she finds herself attracted to him in the first place.
Eli helps Josie understand what's going on. He also helps her to get away. But in the end she finds out that he is a ghost; hence being forbidden.
I was frustrated with this story. So much action happens over just 2-3 days. Granted, it's a short book. But a bit of character development would have been nice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2015
There are two things this book had going for it. It's early-nineteenth century Scotland setting, and Josie, the main character. When you combine my love of historical settings, and strong female lead who goes against what's excepted of her in her time period, than you've got the makings of a book I'm going to like. At least hopefully.
Let's talk setting. This book had me at 'early-nineteenth century Scotland'. I am a sucker for a historical setting, not to mention on set in Scotland. The setting was just as eerie, and dark as the synopsis makes it sound. I love how the setting came to life in the story. I felt like the setting itself was more of a key character in the story than a place to set the story in. I love that when authors do that. The lore, and the weather were key elements in the story as well, and really added to the eeriness and mystery surrounding Josie's new home.
Read my FULL REVIEW here http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/2015/1...
Let's talk setting. This book had me at 'early-nineteenth century Scotland'. I am a sucker for a historical setting, not to mention on set in Scotland. The setting was just as eerie, and dark as the synopsis makes it sound. I love how the setting came to life in the story. I felt like the setting itself was more of a key character in the story than a place to set the story in. I love that when authors do that. The lore, and the weather were key elements in the story as well, and really added to the eeriness and mystery surrounding Josie's new home.
Read my FULL REVIEW here http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/2015/1...
December 26, 2015
I enjoyed this book. It did pack a lot into a short time period, but was fast paced the entire read. It had a very dark gothic Victoria Holtish- feel, and reminded me of the VH novels I borrowed from my grandmother when I was a kid.
April 27, 2016
I expected a two dimemsional book. It was, but I was able to make it to the end since it was short. It was basically a dark fairy tale, though I guess most are. The ending wasn't unexpected either.
June 12, 2016
that was a book? a real, honest to goodness book? someone read that, and thought the story made enough sense to publish?
I will never understand.
I will never understand.
October 21, 2019
Josie is thrown into a new world as her parents die of the flu and she is sent to live with her peculiar aunt and uncle in a tiny part in Scotland. She is relived that there is some family willing to take her in. But then things start to get strange. Their dog, Lamb, follows her Aunt orders like a soldier, her uncle is very quiet about what his job is and there's a strange boy, Eli who she finds herself strangely attracted to. Eli has a strange power to make Lamb leave her alone and she finds herself drawn to him in a way she cannot describe. But Eli is "forbidden." Though no one will tell her what that means or why, Josie just knows she's supposed to stay away from him. But she doesn't want to and her fear of her aunt, uncle and Lamb and attraction to Eli draw her into a dangerous and mysterious world that will change everything she's ever known.
This was so cool! I sort of knew about halfway through some of the secrets that would arise, but not all of them. It was definitely more mysterious and gruesome than I thought it would be for a YA book, but honestly it was the right amount to help lend some credibility to the story. Sure, it was a little predictable, but really, it was well done so I can't even be mad.
HOWEVER
I am still on the search for a book where the protagonist doesn't fall in love so quickly. She knew Eli for two days- TWO DAYS- and she still risked everything to go see him one more time because apparently while our life is in danger is the perfect time to start up a romance.
This was so cool! I sort of knew about halfway through some of the secrets that would arise, but not all of them. It was definitely more mysterious and gruesome than I thought it would be for a YA book, but honestly it was the right amount to help lend some credibility to the story. Sure, it was a little predictable, but really, it was well done so I can't even be mad.
HOWEVER
I am still on the search for a book where the protagonist doesn't fall in love so quickly. She knew Eli for two days- TWO DAYS- and she still risked everything to go see him one more time because apparently while our life is in danger is the perfect time to start up a romance.
March 25, 2024
⚠️ SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT ⚠️
"We had arrived - I'd taken two traps, a coach. and a carriage to get here from my old; beloved home in Edinburgh." - I love that opening sentence to the book. I showed my friend it, and even she was like what I said.
Robert calls (I think) every woman "Mistress". I mean I had to write that down from a review because why not?? I thought it was cute. Mostly everyone in the book was kind from the beginning of the book, which I thought the beginning to the middle was the best.
(Talking about music- The uncle of Josie talking about music was just MWHA! It describes everything. I don't know where the music talk came from but still, it made some sense. (I think I skipped a page. lol) - I read very a few times and Aunt Minnie was talking about playing an instrument. I liked that page (ish x)
Josie really never felt alone and it's a book about Josie living with her Uncle because both of her parents died. BUT it's also about spirits raising from the dead. There is some romance, and definitely fantasy. Young adult mystery. I would say it's a dark and a mystery type of book. Parents passed away from "Influenza" from what I read. Took me a short period of time to read. - 2 or 3 days if you pay attention to the plot and the book.
The ending was a very turning point from what I was expecting because I thought it was going to be happy but it did (kinda). The whole book was just kind of questioning. Share of the riches, haunted ships (what I really like about a book!) and wailing ghosts. SO the ending wasn't very bad but I wasn't expecting it. ----- "Perhaps they do." was the last paragraph. If you like some mystery and young adult romance, I recommend this book! (FYI 172-173 WAS AMAZING!!!)
"We had arrived - I'd taken two traps, a coach. and a carriage to get here from my old; beloved home in Edinburgh." - I love that opening sentence to the book. I showed my friend it, and even she was like what I said.
Robert calls (I think) every woman "Mistress". I mean I had to write that down from a review because why not?? I thought it was cute. Mostly everyone in the book was kind from the beginning of the book, which I thought the beginning to the middle was the best.
(Talking about music- The uncle of Josie talking about music was just MWHA! It describes everything. I don't know where the music talk came from but still, it made some sense. (I think I skipped a page. lol) - I read very a few times and Aunt Minnie was talking about playing an instrument. I liked that page (ish x)
Josie really never felt alone and it's a book about Josie living with her Uncle because both of her parents died. BUT it's also about spirits raising from the dead. There is some romance, and definitely fantasy. Young adult mystery. I would say it's a dark and a mystery type of book. Parents passed away from "Influenza" from what I read. Took me a short period of time to read. - 2 or 3 days if you pay attention to the plot and the book.
The ending was a very turning point from what I was expecting because I thought it was going to be happy but it did (kinda). The whole book was just kind of questioning. Share of the riches, haunted ships (what I really like about a book!) and wailing ghosts. SO the ending wasn't very bad but I wasn't expecting it. ----- "Perhaps they do." was the last paragraph. If you like some mystery and young adult romance, I recommend this book! (FYI 172-173 WAS AMAZING!!!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2020
This book really didn't do it for me. I knew I wasn't going into anything magnificent when I went in, I just wanted to read something before going into my April TBR, but it was a very close call to being DNF.
It was a very disappointing read, which is unfortunate because the premise was very interesting and a lot could have been done with the plot.
I'll start with the fact that Josie (our protagonist) can't do anything without thinking about how improper and unladylike it is. I understand we're in the 19th century, but every other page there's a mention about how abhorrent it is that her ankles are showing or that she doesn't have stockings on.
Also how does she go from being taken aback by this ungentlemanly man (Eli, the "love interest" I guess) to not being able to live without him in the span of barely a chapter? It's not well-developed, I love romances in my books but I could not have cared less about where this went.
I found myself skimming through parts because even with the lack of detail I found it quite boring and just wanting to get to the grit of it. Everything happened so quickly, (the book is only 250 pages, I know) but if there was more content added to connect all the dots instead of painfully straightforward hints the books could have really been a funner read.
It was a very disappointing read, which is unfortunate because the premise was very interesting and a lot could have been done with the plot.
I'll start with the fact that Josie (our protagonist) can't do anything without thinking about how improper and unladylike it is. I understand we're in the 19th century, but every other page there's a mention about how abhorrent it is that her ankles are showing or that she doesn't have stockings on.
Also how does she go from being taken aback by this ungentlemanly man (Eli, the "love interest" I guess) to not being able to live without him in the span of barely a chapter? It's not well-developed, I love romances in my books but I could not have cared less about where this went.
I found myself skimming through parts because even with the lack of detail I found it quite boring and just wanting to get to the grit of it. Everything happened so quickly, (the book is only 250 pages, I know) but if there was more content added to connect all the dots instead of painfully straightforward hints the books could have really been a funner read.
November 29, 2018
In my opinion, I thought that the book 'Forbidden' was a really good book. For me, it wasn't a very time consuming book and the story line was very easy to follow. I believe that there were times where the story line was missing out on stuff or just wasn't that interesting at times but overall a really good book. In addition, there were some things that you had to stop and think about to put certain things together.
Again, overall it was a good book. Through out the book, though there were some pretty boring parts, it kept you going for the most part along with the fact that the ending was totally unexpected for me. In conclusion, I do recommend this book!
Again, overall it was a good book. Through out the book, though there were some pretty boring parts, it kept you going for the most part along with the fact that the ending was totally unexpected for me. In conclusion, I do recommend this book!
February 22, 2017
This book provided exactly what I was looking for today: a swift read and an intriguing plot.
However, I think this could have been an AMAZING book if it slowed down, provided more details, and gave time for the story and characters to develop. There was a lot of potential here with a very unique and capturing story line, but we whisked it away in slightly more than 200 pages, which let to a quick and unsupported love story and that unsatisfied feeling of wanting MORE.
So in all, I enjoyed it for what it's worth and LOVED the premise, but am disappointed in "what ifs."
However, I think this could have been an AMAZING book if it slowed down, provided more details, and gave time for the story and characters to develop. There was a lot of potential here with a very unique and capturing story line, but we whisked it away in slightly more than 200 pages, which let to a quick and unsupported love story and that unsatisfied feeling of wanting MORE.
So in all, I enjoyed it for what it's worth and LOVED the premise, but am disappointed in "what ifs."
March 4, 2018
Never quite figured out who this book was written for. It felt like a juvenile sort of mystic-history adventure with its setting and rather heavy-handed conclusion, but the age of the characters made the lack of YA-level plot and detail jarring. I didn't mind the inclusion of its mystic pseudo-religious elements, but wished they'd been explored in their own right instead of used as a plot device. It was one book where I would have preferred a good predictable supernatural romance to the abrupt, moralizing conclusion.
September 12, 2018
This is, I think, billed as a juvie, which is good. If you're an adult who likes to read juvies (such as Harry Potter), you might give this one a miss. The plot is somewhat simplistic and derivative, although there are some nice touches, such as playing off historical occurrences and a supernatural aspect. The children liked it, which is the point. I didn't *mind* it, although there were times when it felt like a Harlequin romance writer had taken a turn writing a juvie. The audible narrator was competent, although some might be annoyed by her high, childish voice.
February 16, 2019
This had some good things going: Eerie setting and female lead doing against societal norms while admitting when falling prey to "love-struck teenager syndrome".
Unfortunately, it was too simple and predictable - something I would have enjoyed a lot more had I been ten years old.
Though, of this had been longer, more detailed, had a more intricate plot and more complex characters, I think it has the potential to be a lot more than it is.
Unfortunately, it was too simple and predictable - something I would have enjoyed a lot more had I been ten years old.
Though, of this had been longer, more detailed, had a more intricate plot and more complex characters, I think it has the potential to be a lot more than it is.
August 20, 2019
Gave it a 4, not a 5, cause it's just not my cup of tea.
That been said, it is in the first person, and the writing is gigantic. So it's actually quite a fast page-turner.
Though it's a hardback it's not that heavy to carry either.
Didn't notice any grammar mistakes.
Also, story-based in Scotland.
What I didn't like. It's very Christian based. But then it's based timeline is in the past. And very little romance in it.
That been said, it is in the first person, and the writing is gigantic. So it's actually quite a fast page-turner.
Though it's a hardback it's not that heavy to carry either.
Didn't notice any grammar mistakes.
Also, story-based in Scotland.
What I didn't like. It's very Christian based. But then it's based timeline is in the past. And very little romance in it.
Read
February 27, 2021BTSYA / Teen Reader (16): Forbidden is a short novel, both in terms of pages and time. [Josie’s stay in Brindle spans across all of two days.] Because of this, some aspects of the story just didn’t work for me. The pacing, however, wasn’t affected by the shortness. The resolution, in particular, is great. I didn’t expect it at all, and it fits well with the rest of the story.
Get more in the full review.
Get more in the full review.
September 30, 2021
This book is really good, I wasn't so happy with the ending though. Took such a turning point from what I expected. This book really is something you would want to read if you really want that suspense, the questioning. This book was entertaining. Some of the endings of the chapters really left me shocked and I just couldn't believe what had happened. This is a great book to read in your free time.
September 9, 2019
2.5 is maybe more accurate. I have no clue how I found this book, but what an odd experience it was reading it. It was a super quick, mysterious read and I think my biggest takeaway is learning about the history of Wreckers (I feel like this will be a Jeopardy! question later in life and I will be very excited to have it).
November 18, 2020
Curious tale that you can read through in one or two settings. I felt the plot was well structured in a unique way, but too rushed. Could have easily been a much longer novel. However still would recommend overall. Lovely read to escape into. Will remember the ending for a long time.
March 29, 2022
Beautiful characters with well rounded plot. Theme is on point and unexpected. Lovely story with engaging lines. This was a good discovery for me. Although it is for a younger audience, I truly enjoyed it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews