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Abomination
A dark tale of shameful secrets, religious intolerance, and breaking through the emotional chains binding one girl to an abusive home life Martha is 12—and very different from other kids, because of her parents. Strict members of a religious group—the Brethren—their rules dominate Martha's life. And one rule is the most important of she must never ever invite anyone home. If she does, their shameful secret—Abomination—could be revealed. But as Martha makes her first real friend in Scott, a new boy at school, she begins to wonder. Is she doing the right thing by helping to keep Abomination a secret? And just how far will her parents go to prevent the truth from being known?
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
91 people are currently reading
1040 people want to read
About the author
Robert Swindells
173 books104 followersRobert Swindells was born in Bradford in 1939, the eldest of five children. He left the local Secondary Modern School at fifteen to work as a copy holder on the local newspaper. At seventeen he enlisted in the RAF and served for three years, two in Germany. On being discharged he worked as a clerk, engineer and printer until 1969 when he entered college to train as a teacher having obtained five 'O' levels at night-school. His first book 'When Darkness Comes' was written as a college thesis and published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1972. In 1980 he gave up teaching to write full time. He likes travelling and visits many schools each year, talking and reading stories to children. He is the secutatry of his local Peace Movement group. Brother in the Land is his first book for Oxford University Press. He is married with two grown-up daughters and lives in Bradford.
Author description taken from Brother in the Land.
Author description taken from Brother in the Land.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
April 25, 2010
This book is my favourite children's book of all time. Never mind Charles Dickens or Roald Dahl; Robert Swindells is the man. I read this in a few hours and I could not put it down. I have never been so tense! I strongly recommend this book to any child, adult or even elderly person. This book is a real treat! 5 STARS!
March 6, 2013
Abomination Review
Plot:
Abomination is about two kids, Martha and Scott. Martha lives a life controlled by the Righteous, a religious group. The Righteous are very different from the rest of society. The Righteous have lots of rules that are enforced through the different Righteous families. Due to being part of the Righteous, Martha struggles to fit in with everyone else and even has to face torment in her school for being so “different”. One rule in her family is heavily enforced and if broken, may have dire consequences. If Martha chooses to ignore this rule, she may end up like her sister, Mary, who had been sent away for greatly disobeying the rules of the Righteous. The rule is- Do not invite anyone home. Otherwise, Martha may reveal her family’s deepest, darkest secret- Abomination - and if revealed, may cause a catastrophic aftermath that will wreck and bring Martha’s family apart.
Scott has just moved and is new to the school. One afternoon, Scott and Martha meet and actually get to know each other. Over time, their friendship develops greatly. But as their friendship grows stronger, Martha’s parents start to concern the possibility that they might get too close- close enough to reveal their dark, grim secret. Martha’s parents will do almost anything to hide the secret...
My opinion on the theme:
I feel like the theme of Abomination is even though you are facing hard experiences or you feel like you don’t fit in with everybody else, there is always a person to aid you and be at your side to bring you up. -At first, Martha faces great sorrow until she meets Scott and become true friends.
This novel made me want to continue reading...
I think Abomination is a very unique story as it combines friendship (Scott and Martha becoming great friends) and trust (Martha developed a very strong friendship with Scott and trusted him with her family’s deepest secret.) along with the conflict -Abomination.
But even though it kept me reading, it was not exactly what I thought it would be. At first, I anticipated a thrilling story filled with horror. But as I read on, I noticed that it didn’t include much of Abomination, but talked a lot about Martha and Scott’s growing friendship. Though this was not what I was expecting, it was a very interesting story.
My overall rating:
4.5/5
Plot:
Abomination is about two kids, Martha and Scott. Martha lives a life controlled by the Righteous, a religious group. The Righteous are very different from the rest of society. The Righteous have lots of rules that are enforced through the different Righteous families. Due to being part of the Righteous, Martha struggles to fit in with everyone else and even has to face torment in her school for being so “different”. One rule in her family is heavily enforced and if broken, may have dire consequences. If Martha chooses to ignore this rule, she may end up like her sister, Mary, who had been sent away for greatly disobeying the rules of the Righteous. The rule is- Do not invite anyone home. Otherwise, Martha may reveal her family’s deepest, darkest secret- Abomination - and if revealed, may cause a catastrophic aftermath that will wreck and bring Martha’s family apart.
Scott has just moved and is new to the school. One afternoon, Scott and Martha meet and actually get to know each other. Over time, their friendship develops greatly. But as their friendship grows stronger, Martha’s parents start to concern the possibility that they might get too close- close enough to reveal their dark, grim secret. Martha’s parents will do almost anything to hide the secret...
My opinion on the theme:
I feel like the theme of Abomination is even though you are facing hard experiences or you feel like you don’t fit in with everybody else, there is always a person to aid you and be at your side to bring you up. -At first, Martha faces great sorrow until she meets Scott and become true friends.
This novel made me want to continue reading...
I think Abomination is a very unique story as it combines friendship (Scott and Martha becoming great friends) and trust (Martha developed a very strong friendship with Scott and trusted him with her family’s deepest secret.) along with the conflict -Abomination.
But even though it kept me reading, it was not exactly what I thought it would be. At first, I anticipated a thrilling story filled with horror. But as I read on, I noticed that it didn’t include much of Abomination, but talked a lot about Martha and Scott’s growing friendship. Though this was not what I was expecting, it was a very interesting story.
My overall rating:
4.5/5
March 6, 2013
One day Martha made a friend called Scott. After a while he begins asking her a lot of questions. Later, Martha tells him about her and her older sister Mary who left the family when she was sixteen-year-old.. Then she shows him the house and tells him the last secret: Abomination is a six-year-old child who lives in the cellar. It is Mary’s child, but Mary does not know that she has got a child. Scott searches Mary in the Internet and after some time he finds her. He tells her all about Martha and Abomination. Next day Mary stands in front of Martha’s house, knocking on the door. Then she goes in, takes Abomination and Martha and drives away. This book is very engaging because Swindells has crafted a compelling novel with great characters and a fast action plot that will keep you reading to the last page. Often chilling, yet ultimately uplifting . . . Totally convincing . . . Absolutely unmissable (The Bookseller )That I could see the end coming fairly early in the book did not diminish my reading pleasure. I think the the theme is different people has different life, because Martha’s life is very different.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2021
This was probably the only book that I've read because of school and it wasn't even that bad
July 18, 2021
Similarly to Robert Swindells’ other book, Stone Cold, this centred on a fairly serious (and f*cked-up) concept which is interesting considering it’s meant to be aimed at pre-teens.
However, even though I wasn’t the ‘target audience’, I actually really enjoyed this book (perhaps even more than Stone Cold).
The only thing that let it down was the ending – the ‘concluding’ part of the story was extremely rushed and didn’t give the reader a lot of closure.
Overall though, this was a pretty good read and I’m probably going to have a look at more of Robert Swindells’ books in the future…
However, even though I wasn’t the ‘target audience’, I actually really enjoyed this book (perhaps even more than Stone Cold).
The only thing that let it down was the ending – the ‘concluding’ part of the story was extremely rushed and didn’t give the reader a lot of closure.
Overall though, this was a pretty good read and I’m probably going to have a look at more of Robert Swindells’ books in the future…
March 11, 2023
i'm gonna miss this book 😭
June 7, 2020
As an adult reading a book that's been written for children, I have to try to rate it for the impact it would have had when I was much younger, and not how it makes me feel today.
Abomination is about two twelve-year-olds - Martha and Scott. Martha is an outsider, bullied and abused by the other kids at school because she wears 'odd' clothes that her mother makes for her. Scott is the new kid who makes the dangerous mistake of siding with Martha against her abusers and is determined to force a friendship with this strange girl, regardless that it sets him up to be an outsider too.
Martha's family belong to a religious group called the 'Righteous'. The family have a secret that means Martha can't bring friends home or tell anybody about Abomination in the basement.
It's a quick read that manages to touch on some important topics and to encourage children to speak out against abuse, bullying and coercive behaviour. It reveals the redemptive power of friendship and gives a plug to organisations like Childline.
I'm unsure when it was originally written but it's before the widespread use of mobile phones and the internet.
Abomination is about two twelve-year-olds - Martha and Scott. Martha is an outsider, bullied and abused by the other kids at school because she wears 'odd' clothes that her mother makes for her. Scott is the new kid who makes the dangerous mistake of siding with Martha against her abusers and is determined to force a friendship with this strange girl, regardless that it sets him up to be an outsider too.
Martha's family belong to a religious group called the 'Righteous'. The family have a secret that means Martha can't bring friends home or tell anybody about Abomination in the basement.
It's a quick read that manages to touch on some important topics and to encourage children to speak out against abuse, bullying and coercive behaviour. It reveals the redemptive power of friendship and gives a plug to organisations like Childline.
I'm unsure when it was originally written but it's before the widespread use of mobile phones and the internet.
July 25, 2018
Having read Swindells' Stone Cold in school, I decided to read Abomination, which I enjoyed even more! I was the perfect age for these books (about 13 or 14) and the stories seemed so intriguingly dark. In this one, Swindells follows the journey of a very unpopular schoolgirl who is often bullied for her strange clothes. It quickly transpires that this is not the fault of the child, but the fault of the family, who lead some very strange lives. As we soon discover, though, some of their behaviours are far more gruesome than some slight neglect when it comes to their daughter's wardrobe. This book is incredibly well written and is the perfect book for young readers.
May 4, 2018
This book starts as a book about a religious cult. As the story unravels though you come to realise in essence this book is a simple love story. Martha who is 12 is different from other kids —no TV, no computer, no cool clothes, and especially no friends. That is until she meets Scott a new boy to the school.
Both characters are engaging and well written. This is my second Robert Swindells novel and I was not disappointed. The cults rules dominate all Martha’s life but not as much as the secret her parents are hiding. Abomination is in the cellar and cannot be revealed. As Scott and Martha become closer will Abomination be revealed?
The story charts the struggle Martha has. With both juggling her families rules with her blossoming friendship with Scott. Every page turn takes us closer to the conclusion. This book is a real page turner I could not put down. The quick pace and intriguing plot makes it a must read for all ages.
Anyone who likes a thrilling read that keeps you guessing to the end must read Abomination. I will be picking up more from this author.
Both characters are engaging and well written. This is my second Robert Swindells novel and I was not disappointed. The cults rules dominate all Martha’s life but not as much as the secret her parents are hiding. Abomination is in the cellar and cannot be revealed. As Scott and Martha become closer will Abomination be revealed?
The story charts the struggle Martha has. With both juggling her families rules with her blossoming friendship with Scott. Every page turn takes us closer to the conclusion. This book is a real page turner I could not put down. The quick pace and intriguing plot makes it a must read for all ages.
Anyone who likes a thrilling read that keeps you guessing to the end must read Abomination. I will be picking up more from this author.
June 26, 2021
I was surprised by just how dark this book was for a middle grade/YA following 2 twelve year olds, but I was really impressed with it! As an older reader, I did have some issues with how quick and easy the ending was, and I don't think it would have worked out like this in real life in a million years, but for a MG/YA books I understand why it had to end the way it did.
The pacing was excellent, and there was a really tense and suspenseful atmosphere which I really enjoyed, and I'm looking forward to reading another piece of Swindell's work that is on my university summer reading list!
The pacing was excellent, and there was a really tense and suspenseful atmosphere which I really enjoyed, and I'm looking forward to reading another piece of Swindell's work that is on my university summer reading list!
July 13, 2023
What the hell did I just read
August 22, 2023
Was a nice easy read. Was not the plot twist I was expecting but had a good ending. Nice book to break things up.
October 14, 2022
I really enjoyed this book, but I am really really disappointed about the ending. The end could have been so special and it could twist the whole story, but nope. It's a boring ending in my opinion
March 30, 2019
I really love this book. It is gripping and suspenseful and intense without being overwhelmingly terrifying. You could definitely read this with children who might generally avoid 'horror' writing and find they enjoy it. The slow accumulation of information, drip fed to the audience through out the book, allows the author to keep building the tension right up until the crucial moment. It is a fantastic model of suspense writing. Moreover, the two main characters are complete contrasts and yet both fully realised, as is their relationship.
The themes of this book are quite intense. One of the main characters is bullied and ostracised for being different - her family is strictly religious. This theme may be something being influenced by children themselves and so, whilst discussion of bullying would and should be an important part of discussing the text, it would need to be handled with appropriate consideration. Another theme, and one even more difficult but important to discuss, is that of abuse. It happens to one of the main characters who, in turn, helps to abuse another character. This only becomes clear over the course of the story and is part of what adds to the suspense. It can lead to some excellent debates amongst about the morality of her actions and whether fear is acceptable as a motivation for doing something terrible. However, it could obviously be a difficult issue and an awareness of the children and their experiences would be needed.
My biggest criticism of this book is the disappointing romantic relationship which the author attempts to shoehorn into the story. There is no need for the romance and often these scenes interrupted the suspense in a way which jarred and held the story back.
The themes of this book are quite intense. One of the main characters is bullied and ostracised for being different - her family is strictly religious. This theme may be something being influenced by children themselves and so, whilst discussion of bullying would and should be an important part of discussing the text, it would need to be handled with appropriate consideration. Another theme, and one even more difficult but important to discuss, is that of abuse. It happens to one of the main characters who, in turn, helps to abuse another character. This only becomes clear over the course of the story and is part of what adds to the suspense. It can lead to some excellent debates amongst about the morality of her actions and whether fear is acceptable as a motivation for doing something terrible. However, it could obviously be a difficult issue and an awareness of the children and their experiences would be needed.
My biggest criticism of this book is the disappointing romantic relationship which the author attempts to shoehorn into the story. There is no need for the romance and often these scenes interrupted the suspense in a way which jarred and held the story back.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2009
Reviewed by Grandma Bev for TeensReadToo.com
Martha is bullied at school because of her clothes and introverted personality, but Scott is also new at this school, and feels sorry for Martha. Soon he, too, is being bullied by the other kids.
In ABOMINATION, the bad guys are a religious extremist group that encourages child abuse, dictates what its parishioners wear, and regulates how they behave. It is a condemning look at a religious faction in which the families do not have television, computers, or cell phones.
Twelve-year-old Martha is not allowed to have friends, and can never invite anyone to their house...they might learn of the actual Abomination that lives in the basement.
Her older sister, Mary, was expelled from the family at age 16 for bad behavior, and now sends an occasional post card to Martha, which is promptly torn up by their father, and then retrieved and saved by Martha. Though Martha is required to feed and care for the Abomination, the identity of this creature is not revealed until near the end of the book.
When Martha realizes what has actually happened with her sister, she and Scott decide to try to contact her, and the suspense kicks into high gear as the kids defy Martha's parents to right a terrible wrong.
Swindells has crafted a compelling novel that will keep you reading to the very last page.
Martha is bullied at school because of her clothes and introverted personality, but Scott is also new at this school, and feels sorry for Martha. Soon he, too, is being bullied by the other kids.
In ABOMINATION, the bad guys are a religious extremist group that encourages child abuse, dictates what its parishioners wear, and regulates how they behave. It is a condemning look at a religious faction in which the families do not have television, computers, or cell phones.
Twelve-year-old Martha is not allowed to have friends, and can never invite anyone to their house...they might learn of the actual Abomination that lives in the basement.
Her older sister, Mary, was expelled from the family at age 16 for bad behavior, and now sends an occasional post card to Martha, which is promptly torn up by their father, and then retrieved and saved by Martha. Though Martha is required to feed and care for the Abomination, the identity of this creature is not revealed until near the end of the book.
When Martha realizes what has actually happened with her sister, she and Scott decide to try to contact her, and the suspense kicks into high gear as the kids defy Martha's parents to right a terrible wrong.
Swindells has crafted a compelling novel that will keep you reading to the very last page.
August 29, 2010
Audio book review from 2008:
Yup, the book Lacey listened to some time ago. She was disappointed about how soon she found out who/what abomination was, and so was I. However, I did enjoy the audio book for the purposes it served for me-I listened to it while I was working out, and it was pretty perfect for that because it's very simple and moves along very quickly and is direct. Boring descriptions are not good for making time go by fast when you're working out (I'm currently listening to Louis Lowry's The Silent Boy, and I could use with less boredom on that one).
Anyways, it didn't bother me that the book was dated-that's always going to happen. Due to bad copying, I was missing one chapter of the book, but it was in the middle and I got the gist of what happened. :p The accent of the reader was pretty dang annoying. The ending was too perfectly worked out, I think. Actually, with the gravity of what the book was actually about, the whole thing should have been a hell of a lot darker and more disturbing, but it wasn't. And maybe that's OK for an adolescent book.
So, not a great book, but still pretty good entertainment to exercise to.
Yup, the book Lacey listened to some time ago. She was disappointed about how soon she found out who/what abomination was, and so was I. However, I did enjoy the audio book for the purposes it served for me-I listened to it while I was working out, and it was pretty perfect for that because it's very simple and moves along very quickly and is direct. Boring descriptions are not good for making time go by fast when you're working out (I'm currently listening to Louis Lowry's The Silent Boy, and I could use with less boredom on that one).
Anyways, it didn't bother me that the book was dated-that's always going to happen. Due to bad copying, I was missing one chapter of the book, but it was in the middle and I got the gist of what happened. :p The accent of the reader was pretty dang annoying. The ending was too perfectly worked out, I think. Actually, with the gravity of what the book was actually about, the whole thing should have been a hell of a lot darker and more disturbing, but it wasn't. And maybe that's OK for an adolescent book.
So, not a great book, but still pretty good entertainment to exercise to.
July 8, 2018
I really enjoyed this story. And that surprises me a bit, because if you analyse it, it's not that special. It actually contains quite a few predictable moments and some very fortunate outcomes. But... I don't care. :-) I just loved it. Although it's a gripping subject, the story isn't heavy. There's more emphasis on friendship, endurance and unconditional love than on the horrible things that go on behind closed doors. I liked this different approach on such a story.
I loved the main characters so much. The way they think and their loyalty towards the people they love are so heartwarming.
The writer also makes us understand why the parents act the way they do, which is pretty skillful!
All in all a story that touches your heart.
I loved the main characters so much. The way they think and their loyalty towards the people they love are so heartwarming.
The writer also makes us understand why the parents act the way they do, which is pretty skillful!
All in all a story that touches your heart.
March 28, 2023
An absolute page turner! A very easy book to read and one that kept me interested all through. The short chapters made the book really exciting and addictive. Interesting storyline!
I wouldn't mind reading again in the future. Swindells really pulls you in with his writing style. Quick and concise , but the right amount of detail to get you emotionally involved.
Was a pleasant surprise at just how good the book was and how much I enjoyed it. Having read the premise of the book beforehand I really didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I'd recommend to anyone! (Don't judge a book by its cover)
Big up to Scott ....what a guy!
3.5 stars would be my rating if it were possible....
I wouldn't mind reading again in the future. Swindells really pulls you in with his writing style. Quick and concise , but the right amount of detail to get you emotionally involved.
Was a pleasant surprise at just how good the book was and how much I enjoyed it. Having read the premise of the book beforehand I really didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I'd recommend to anyone! (Don't judge a book by its cover)
Big up to Scott ....what a guy!
3.5 stars would be my rating if it were possible....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2024
we read this book in school and i didn’t have any idea if i would like it. but it turns out the book wasn’t as bad as other books i read in school so it’s worth a shot. i think a really good thing about the book is that it only has 100 pages so you could definitely finish it in one day. another interesting thing about this book was to see how other people live and what their reality is like. the plot was guessable but it was still pretty shocking. so i would recommend to read it!
January 14, 2011
i strongly like this book because it is hard for me to find books like this but this book was brillant from start to finish. i also love the way the author wrote this book using split narrative. Abomination is about a girl named martha who has to keep a very important secret about whats in her house. This book was so powerful that i couldnt put it down.
May 23, 2012
I read this when I was about 11/12, at the time I really loved it as it was different to a lot of the books I read at around that time, it was dark in some places but really made you think when you went to bed at night.
One of these day's I'm going to read it again as an adult, for the sake of nostalgia I'm holding off at the minute.
One of these day's I'm going to read it again as an adult, for the sake of nostalgia I'm holding off at the minute.
February 1, 2014
Like Stone Cold, I loved the writing style and the switching of viewpoint to move the story on. I felt the build up was perfect and really wanted to keep reading. The problem was that the ending didn't feel right and seemed to move a million times quicker than the rest of the plot. Chapters are manageable and offer a lot of discussion points.
December 8, 2015
The concept is intriguing but the story drags itself way too much, 70% in and still these kids are debating whether or not the guy should go to the girl's place. Not terrible, but not that good.
April 23, 2020
ummm
unexpected, weird, still catching and cute???
my thoughts are just as confused as my feelings about this book lol
unexpected, weird, still catching and cute???
my thoughts are just as confused as my feelings about this book lol
December 28, 2024
I now completely understand why this is chosen for KS3 study of the novel. It’s great for exploring structure. And my Year 8 class are gripped — even the most reluctant of readers.
May 24, 2021
Actual rating is more like 3.25
Abomination is basically about two kids, Martha, who is the resident strange kid to pick on at school and Scott, the new guy. Scott has a pretty normal life for a kid living in Britain. Martha, however, has a very different life with her parents who are part of a rather radical religious group known as the Righteous.
The Righteous are a rather extreme Christian group. As a result her mother makes Martha conservative clothes complete with long skirts, the heat and electricity are off for the first half of every Sunday, which is devoted to prayer, sermons, and fasting. Martha's sister Mary (referred to as Jezebel by her parents if they mention her at all) refuses to conform and was thrown out of their house at 16 years old. After first you think it's just because she wouldn't conform to the Righteous social 'norms,' but anyone who has read anything similar or watched the Outer Limits (when it was on), instantly knows what's going on in the basement/cellar.
Anyhow, Scott doesn't like how the kids at school pick on Martha and tries to step in a little and help her out, which instantly paints a target on his back. As a result, he becomes friends with Martha after she finds a way to stop the kids from kicking the tar out of him after school. Martha isn't supposed to be friends with him, it's against her father's rules, but starved for some sort of connection she does so and starts breaking the family rules. It's nothing mind blowing. She talks to him at school, he hangs out at the grocery store to hang out with her while she does her family's shopping and generally do things normal preteens would do.
Things get hairy when Scott decides to push the limits and shows up at her home while her parents are both working. Here she decides to break the one rule her parents have always been stern about, Invite No One To The House. No one can know about the abomination hiding in the cellar. That's when she decides to be brave and her parents reveal just how far they are willing to go to hide their secret from the outside world and their Righteous peers.
Thoughts?
This is a super fast read that definitely was interesting enough, though I don't necessarily agree with how everything ended. It's pretty true that having one person who supports you and is willing to share some of your burdens with can really ease the stress and provide a mental and emotion relief of sorts. If you suspend your disbelief well enough, this could even be a 4 star read. I'm just not that good at it today. Scott solves all Martha's problems using the 1998 power of the internet. lol
Though nothing is really said, it leaves it to be believed that Martha's parents don't get charged for their actions and that Martha and her sister and her sister's son get all this help without anyone asking any questions. Now maybe Martha just wasn't aware of what was happening because her sister was just that good at hiding it all, but I highly doubt it considering how smart Martha is, as this book leads you to believe.
Conclusion?
Abomination comes off as a fast paced, high interest, low comp read that is written in British terminology (buckle up for some crisps, stuff, choc bars, scoff the lot, pogged, etc). It's interesting enough and doesn't take long to read. Could definitely be a gateway book for kids interested in books containing extreme religion (cults?) fiction, mild 'horror' fiction, parental abuse fiction, etc.
Abomination is basically about two kids, Martha, who is the resident strange kid to pick on at school and Scott, the new guy. Scott has a pretty normal life for a kid living in Britain. Martha, however, has a very different life with her parents who are part of a rather radical religious group known as the Righteous.
The Righteous are a rather extreme Christian group. As a result her mother makes Martha conservative clothes complete with long skirts, the heat and electricity are off for the first half of every Sunday, which is devoted to prayer, sermons, and fasting. Martha's sister Mary (referred to as Jezebel by her parents if they mention her at all) refuses to conform and was thrown out of their house at 16 years old. After first you think it's just because she wouldn't conform to the Righteous social 'norms,' but anyone who has read anything similar or watched the Outer Limits (when it was on), instantly knows what's going on in the basement/cellar.
Anyhow, Scott doesn't like how the kids at school pick on Martha and tries to step in a little and help her out, which instantly paints a target on his back. As a result, he becomes friends with Martha after she finds a way to stop the kids from kicking the tar out of him after school. Martha isn't supposed to be friends with him, it's against her father's rules, but starved for some sort of connection she does so and starts breaking the family rules. It's nothing mind blowing. She talks to him at school, he hangs out at the grocery store to hang out with her while she does her family's shopping and generally do things normal preteens would do.
Things get hairy when Scott decides to push the limits and shows up at her home while her parents are both working. Here she decides to break the one rule her parents have always been stern about, Invite No One To The House. No one can know about the abomination hiding in the cellar. That's when she decides to be brave and her parents reveal just how far they are willing to go to hide their secret from the outside world and their Righteous peers.
Thoughts?
This is a super fast read that definitely was interesting enough, though I don't necessarily agree with how everything ended. It's pretty true that having one person who supports you and is willing to share some of your burdens with can really ease the stress and provide a mental and emotion relief of sorts. If you suspend your disbelief well enough, this could even be a 4 star read. I'm just not that good at it today. Scott solves all Martha's problems using the 1998 power of the internet. lol
Though nothing is really said, it leaves it to be believed that Martha's parents don't get charged for their actions and that Martha and her sister and her sister's son get all this help without anyone asking any questions. Now maybe Martha just wasn't aware of what was happening because her sister was just that good at hiding it all, but I highly doubt it considering how smart Martha is, as this book leads you to believe.
Conclusion?
Abomination comes off as a fast paced, high interest, low comp read that is written in British terminology (buckle up for some crisps, stuff, choc bars, scoff the lot, pogged, etc). It's interesting enough and doesn't take long to read. Could definitely be a gateway book for kids interested in books containing extreme religion (cults?) fiction, mild 'horror' fiction, parental abuse fiction, etc.
October 31, 2017
A fascinating book, giving rise to many discussion topics ranging from religious fanatism to child abuse. Told in diary - style from alternating viewpoints it swiftly draws the reader into the minds of two teenagers coming from opposite social backgrounds. The girl's family belongs to a sect called "the righteous" whose holier - than - thou attitude is a contradiction in itself to the cruelty and callousness they exert towards their weakest members, their children.
The boy is from a near atheist household but grows up in a loving environment and is sure about what's right and what's wrong. This attitude leads him to defend the socially outcast girl from the bullies rendering him their next target. The two outsiders form a friendship and the girl is tempted to share her secrets with him, including the one dreadful secret that has overshadowed (or more appropriately named "undermined") her past.
Together they manage to find a way to change her life, whether the two shall ever meet again remains open, but the last 25% are so dramatic it reels off an entire film behind your eyes just from the simple descriptions the author has ascribed to his two teenage MCs.
The characters, the writing and all deserve 5 stars, BUT there are some fundamental inconsistencies in the plot that annoy me enough to take 2 stars off again. This isn't the place to discuss because it would spoil too much of the contents, and I guess once the reader has overcome the first shock and starts to think clearly again he /she will probably come up with the same criticism
It is a necessary book nowadays especially since religious fundamentalism seems to become increasingly obvious in our everyday life.
The boy is from a near atheist household but grows up in a loving environment and is sure about what's right and what's wrong. This attitude leads him to defend the socially outcast girl from the bullies rendering him their next target. The two outsiders form a friendship and the girl is tempted to share her secrets with him, including the one dreadful secret that has overshadowed (or more appropriately named "undermined") her past.
Together they manage to find a way to change her life, whether the two shall ever meet again remains open, but the last 25% are so dramatic it reels off an entire film behind your eyes just from the simple descriptions the author has ascribed to his two teenage MCs.
The characters, the writing and all deserve 5 stars, BUT there are some fundamental inconsistencies in the plot that annoy me enough to take 2 stars off again. This isn't the place to discuss because it would spoil too much of the contents, and I guess once the reader has overcome the first shock and starts to think clearly again he /she will probably come up with the same criticism
It is a necessary book nowadays especially since religious fundamentalism seems to become increasingly obvious in our everyday life.
November 30, 2023
Excellent writing! It was so easy to feel intimately close to these characters through their first person povs. Really likeable and warm both of them. Loved how protective Scott felt of her and stuck up for her even though he was the new kid at school. Where she gets picked on terribly bullied because she’s from a majorly religious family who have no tv, normal clothes, food, music, they’re like really strict overtly first testament, savage Bible bashers. The unchristian Christian kind. Her father beats her with a cane and her mother tell her to be truthful but the family are covering up a huge lie. Abomination. Abomination lives in the cellar and makes strange noises. Martha is responsible for feeding and cleaning up after abomination. Her life is both utterly miserable at home and at school she gets no respite, until Scott. He’s a breath of fresh air and lifts her out of the darkness of her world with kindness and friendship. It’s so lovely. He sneaks her chocolate and crisps when she only eats the most basic and unprocessed foods because of their beliefs. He makes her laugh and smile. They’re loyal to one another. Without giving it all away he helps her immensely and it’s a real treat to read, it warms your heart because what her parents are doing is worse than you can imagine. A beautifully written children’s story and an important one with really relevant and meaningful themes of religious stigma, bullying and abuse. Really moving and touching.
September 11, 2022
read in english and loved.
Abomination is about two kids, Martha and Scott. Martha lives
a life controlled by the Righteous, a religious group. The
Righteous are very different from the rest of society. The
Righteous have lots of rules that are enforced through the
different Righteous families. Due to being part of the
Righteous, Martha struggles to fit in with everyone else and
even has to face torment in her school for being so "different
One rule in her family is heavily enforced and if broken, may
have dire consequences. If Martha chooses to ignore this rule,
she may end up like her sister, Mary, who had been sent away
for greatly disobeying the rules of the Righteous. The rule is-
Do not invite anyone home. Otherwise, Martha may reveal her
family's deepest, darkest secret- Abomination - and if
revealed, may cause a catastrophic aftermath that will wreck
and bring Martha's family apart.
Scott has just moved and is new to the school. One afternoon,
Scott and Martha meet and actually get to know each other.
Over time, their friendship develops greatly. But as their
friendship grows stronger, Martha's parents start to concern
the possibility that they might get too close- close enough to
reveal their dark, grim secret. Martha's parents will do almost
anything to hide the secret..
Abomination is about two kids, Martha and Scott. Martha lives
a life controlled by the Righteous, a religious group. The
Righteous are very different from the rest of society. The
Righteous have lots of rules that are enforced through the
different Righteous families. Due to being part of the
Righteous, Martha struggles to fit in with everyone else and
even has to face torment in her school for being so "different
One rule in her family is heavily enforced and if broken, may
have dire consequences. If Martha chooses to ignore this rule,
she may end up like her sister, Mary, who had been sent away
for greatly disobeying the rules of the Righteous. The rule is-
Do not invite anyone home. Otherwise, Martha may reveal her
family's deepest, darkest secret- Abomination - and if
revealed, may cause a catastrophic aftermath that will wreck
and bring Martha's family apart.
Scott has just moved and is new to the school. One afternoon,
Scott and Martha meet and actually get to know each other.
Over time, their friendship develops greatly. But as their
friendship grows stronger, Martha's parents start to concern
the possibility that they might get too close- close enough to
reveal their dark, grim secret. Martha's parents will do almost
anything to hide the secret..
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