Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Clarion Books
Pages
217
Description
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.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
217 p.; 8.5 inches
ISBN
9780544390928
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Media reviews
Publishers Weekly Reviews
No stranger to ghost stories or historical tales, Bunting returns with an eerie novel set in 1807 along the northern coast of Scotland. It centers on orphaned 16-year-old Josie Ferguson, who leaves Edinburgh to live for two years with her newly met, but unwelcoming and insensitive uncle and aunt.
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She befriends "brooding" Eli Stuart and his grandmother, only to learn that she cannot associate with or become attached to Eli, as he is mysteriously "forbidden." The town's inhabitants appear to be hiding a secret, and over the course of three days Josie seeks answers about Eli and the townspeople. Bunting skillfully drops clues about the cruel truth Josie will discover and cleverly incorporates supernatural elements into the historical aspects of the story about the intentional "wrecking" of ships for their bounty. Ages 12–up. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member LibStaff2
A quick and easy read, although I think it should have been a little longer with more development. A good setup, interesting setting and characters, and a decent ending; but the reader will want more. Some parts are choppy and some are lyrically dark.
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Net Galley Feedback
LibraryThing member sszkutak
This synopsis and the fact that this is a Young Adult stand-alone made me really want to read this book. I had heard some bad reviews about it but it seemed there was to be a strong female in it. Forbidden was a fairly short book at 244 pages and it was in fact a stand-alone, that being said the
On to the plot itself - Josie in the beginning was very strong - she had faced the death of her parents, a move to a strange place, and her unloving relatives, but as the book progressed she began to lean more on other characters rather than fending for herself. The action in this book is very mysterious and I don't want to give anything away for those of you who choose to read it - so if you like mystery, some spookiness, and the feeling that you aren't getting all the information, this book is for you.
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story seemed rushed. There was a lot of build up in the first half, telling the reader a little more about Josie the main character and how she has to move in with her uncle. It started to give off a very eerie vibe as it did so, and I enjoyed that. However, due to the rushed nature of the second half I was left feeling confused and a bit sad about the promptness of the ending. On to the plot itself - Josie in the beginning was very strong - she had faced the death of her parents, a move to a strange place, and her unloving relatives, but as the book progressed she began to lean more on other characters rather than fending for herself. The action in this book is very mysterious and I don't want to give anything away for those of you who choose to read it - so if you like mystery, some spookiness, and the feeling that you aren't getting all the information, this book is for you.
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LibraryThing member bookbrig
Good for kids who are into historical mysteries or ghost stories, but a bit slow and the insta-romance was a little much.
Call number
YA B Bun