Teen Reads Week: Forbidden

by:  Tabitha Suzuma
published by:  Simon Pulse
publish date:  June 28, 2011

She is pretty and talented - sweet sixteen and never been kissed. He is seventeen; gorgeous and on the brink of a bright future. And now they have fallen in love. But ...They are brother and sister.

This book deals with a big taboo.  Incest.  Is is appropriate for YA?  Maybe, maybe not?  Personally, I didn't find this book objectionable for older, mature teenagers, but I might not want say, like a 13 year old reading it. 

The situation in this book wasn't one where two strangers fall in love and they find out later that they are brother and sister and have been separated by something like adoption.  This is a brother and sister who live together.  They're forced into the roles of mother and father to their younger siblings when their father leaves and their alcoholic mother becomes increasingly absent. 

Adding to the situation, Lochan, while brilliant and gorgeous, has several social anxiety problems.  He only feels safe at home.  Maya is very sympathic to his problem.  The mess they're in and the circumstances seem to draw them together. 

I found this book to absolutely heart breaking.  By the end I was so incredibly sad for Lochan and Maya.  There were parts I had to read over because I was shocked at what was happening to them.  It's worth the read because it'll make you think and it's one of those books that will stay with you.