Forbidden

Rating:
Summary: Romance & Mystery: no match for the Tragedy the secret holds
Review: Forbidden by Caroline B. Cooney is one of the best books I have ever read. It tells the story of two young people desperate for love. One thing stands between Annabel Jayquith and Daniel Ransom's star crossed love, the murder of Senator Ransom who was shot to death as he stood to give his speech. Catherine Ransom and twelve year old Daniel watched as he died, and vowed they would find the murderer. A family made famous by a murder, looking for answers. But will the truth cause more pain? Ten years later, Daniel meets Annabel and they fall in love, but his search for his father's murderer leads him to believe Annabel's father is the killer. Daniel is faced with a life changing decision. Eighteen years ago, Annabel's aunt Theodora's career as a talk show host was flourishing when she became pregnant. She gave the baby up for adoption. Now Jade O'Keeffe wants everyone to know who her real mother is. Jade becomes jealous of Theodora and Annabel's relationship. She is desperate for love affection and attention, but how far is she willing to go to get them? Forbidden, is an intriguing romance mixed with mystery, suspense, and tragedy. I could not put it down. Every page is full of excitement and wonder. Every chapter is filled with suspense and some new little bit of information. It is fun trying to put the pieces together to solve the mystery first. If you liked Romeo and Juliet, you'll love Forbidden.

Rating:
Summary: A brilliant modern-day Romeo and Juliet retelling.
Review: In a wonderful and original way to approach the eternal story of forbidden love, Caroline B. Cooney blends the confusion and passion of adolescence with mystery, excitement... and a good deal of Shakespeare thrown in for good measure!
A lengthy read (my United Kingdom Scholastic Point edition has 309 pages,) Cooney has given herself the length necessary to chart the peaks, troughs and complications of infatuation, genuine love, parental disapproval, "the sins of the fathers", the role of the media and political manipulation- all shown through the eyes of contemporary teenagers. Through all this, the pace remains consistently rapid; a real page- turner in every sense.
Multi- layered, complex and genuine: if only someone had given it to me before I read Romeo and Juliet for the first time! Comparisons to the recent Shakespearean film, though cinema-goers would certainly find this novel interesting either before or after viewing, are un-necessary, for Cooney's fiction is so powerful it doesn't need the gratuitous violence; her personalities act and work for themselves. Much to the author's credit, their weapons are words.
Teenage or adult? Male or Female?Studying/ Teaching Literature?Or just want a darn- good yarn?I say, "GO FOR IT!"