Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma Review

Published: May 27th 2010 by Definitions
Paperback, 418 pages

Sixteen-year-old Maya and seventeen-year-old Lochan have never had the chance to be 'normal' teenagers. Having pulled together for years to take care of their younger siblings while their wayward, drunken mother leaves them to fend alone, they have become much more than brother and sister. And now, they have fallen in love. But this is a love that can never be allowed, a love that will have devastating consequences ...

How can something so wrong feel so right?

FYI, This Book is not Suitable for Younger Readers. As said on the back of the book itself.

Quote(s): "...Her face glows like an old fashioned streetlamp, lit from the inside, and everything else in the room disappears as if into a dark fog" -pg 120

This book was, well, let's just say I have never in my life been so emotional distraught...and amazed. At first, I couldn't believe the praise this book got because lets be honest...rarely does a person relate to a book about incest but to my astonishment, I haven't related to a book as much as I did this one.

Forbidden stole my heart on November 26, 2010 in which I couldn't think anything more important to do than to learn as much about the characters lives as possible. Every part of me felt for them to the point where I officially believed they were real, the writing is that good.

I couldn't sleep well that night and on the day after I'd tear up now and then as I helped my 9 year old brother with his homework, or hung out with my big sister at Starbucks. Tabitha Suzuma writes a compelling story about every kind of love there is.

Officially my second favorite author and second favorite book. After Stolen by Lucy Christopher.

5/5







Goodreads link: Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
Amazon link: Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Stolen by Lucy Christopher Review

Note: Photos will lead to GoodReads

Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost.

Excerpt:

"I thought you were going to...I thought..." The images were too horrible to get the words out.

"I know." You ran a hand through your hair, turning parts of it red from the sand in your fingers. You seemed serious. Your face was tired and empty-looking, your forehead wrinkled up.

"Just relax," you said again. "Please just relax. For once. Neither of us can go on like this. Just trust that it's all for the best."


This book I'm about to praise is not only directed to the story but to the author herself. I say this because it's a reminder to us readers that in a way, the story is the writer. Lucy Christopher is a true visionary and a giver of a life ignored. A story so vivid in "letter" form.

Entirely, the story is of a sixteen year old girl, Gemma, who writes a letter to her captor telling her story in her point of view. The situation is intricate but the story is told in a neat flow of lively words...promising to leave ya readers helpless with there wondering minds.

As Gemma awaits her faith trapped in an Australian outback with her captor, Ty, she begins to reminisce events in her life past and present that will shape her life to whatever it may come to be.( I can't believe the amount of realism in the events of this book, it merged perfectly with the characters.) Descions will be made, hearts will sink or swim...meanings will forever be changed.

Lucy Christopher is currently one of my top favorite authors. Her book is literally my favorite of all.

5/5

Masked by Norah McClintock Review

Note: Photos will lead to GoodReads

Rosie walks in on an armed robbery in her father's convenience store. Who is the masked man? And why does she think she knows him?

Everyone has something to hide.
------------------
There's a masked man in the store, and it isn't Halloween.
I duck down again—fast.
I hear someone say, "This is a stickup." It's the guy in the mask. He has a weird voice, like it's not a normal voice. He says, "Is there anyone else in the store?"
That tells me that the masked man hasn't seen me.
"No," my dad says without even a second's hesitation.

Excerpt:

...I feel her tremble, and I'm sorry about that. I'm sorry I have to scare her. But there's no other way. I watch the old man lower his hands to the cash cash register. I wonder how much money is in there...

Masked for me was envisioning with many unexpected turn of events. Norah McClintock has done a few Orca books as well as her popular novels published by Scholastic Canada. This is my second book by McClintock and although this one is placed on the pile for reluctant readers, I can't help but recommended this book to any YA books fanatic.

When I read, I like the feeling that I'm right by the characters side, (depending on who was telling the story from their point f view; Daniel, Rosie, or the masked man) feeling how they feel, thinking the way they think...it's real, so true.

Rosie, the daughter of the man whose store is getting robbed finds herself in a very sticky situation...maybe even more than Daniel, the boy who walks through the doors hoping for a grab and go rather than a stick up by a masked man. Corey (Rosie's boyfriend) who's somewhat a minor character in the story turns out to be quite essential himself...poor kid is waiting for Rosie to run off with but finds that people aren't always what they seem to be. Which brings me to story's' message...people aren't really honest with themselves, therefore dishonest with anyone in their path.

I was very impressed by McClintocks ability to write such as interesting story in a matter of 108 pages...the story came together really good too. This gets a 4/5 only because it's a little too short.

4/5