Recent Reads: Forbidden by Eve Bunting

Source: Goodreads Giveaways and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Books in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this book in no way altered my opinion or review 

Forbidden by Eve Bunting
Publisher: Clarion Books
Publication Date:  December 1, 2015

 

Format: Paperback ARC


Rating:
 


 


Goodreads Synopsis: 

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.

Review: 
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 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.