Saturday, March 12, 2016

Bunting, Eve. Forbidden.


Bunting, Eve.  Forbidden.  Houghton Mifflin/Clarion  2015  217p  $17.99  ISBN 978-0-544-39092-8  ms/hs  Historical fiction  VG-BN

Josie’s parents have died of influenza.  Her father had made arrangements for his brother to take care of her.  Josie travels from Edinburgh to the wild coast of northern Scotland.  Her uncle is not very inviting, and Josie feels that there are secrets all around her.  Her uncle and almost all of the town are Wreckers.  During storms, they mislead ships onto the rocks, causing them to crash, and plunder them.  Josie desperately wants to escape.  She meets a handsome but strange young man and is physically attracted to him.  He is surrounded by secrets and is “forbidden.  During one turbulent night, much is revealed to Josie.
   
This story seems very familiar, but is an excellently crafted story.  Readers in the upper-middle-school grades and high school will enjoy it, especially girls.  It has the aura of a gothic romance with mystery thrown in. 

Summary: When Josie arrives at the home of her uncle, she feels that all is not as it seems, but she does not understand.  Her uncle is a wrecker, who lures ships onto the rocks where they crash, and plunders them.  Can Josie escape?   


Shipwrecks-Fiction, Coast of Scotland-Fiction               --Joan Theal

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