Forbidden (2010) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

Summary edit see section history

Characters/People edit see section history

• Lochan Whitely: Lochan is 17 and brother to Maya, Kit, Tiffin, and Willa. He and his sister Maya have been taking care of their three younger siblings ever since their father ran off with another woman and their mother started drinking and partying and abandoning her children for days and even weeks to spend time with her new boyfriend. Lochan is extremely shy and rarely speaks to anyone at Belmont, the school he attends with Maya. He has a painful habit of biting the bottom of his lip when stressed or upset, and over time it has become a permanent sore that he continuously chews away at when under duress. Despite his extreme shyness bordering on social phobia, many girls at school fancy him, including his sister's best friend, Francie. However, he finds social interaction excruciating and is barely able to mumble more than a few words when approached, which earns him the nickname 'Weirdo Whitely'. However at home, he and Maya cook and clean, help the little ones with their homework, put them to bed, do the school run, attend parent-teacher meetings and take on the responsibility of parents - robbed of their childhood by a neglectful mother. Lochan, unlike his mother, is highly intelligent and although he cannot speak out in class because of his extreme shyness, manages to get by with impeccable grades. Literature and creative writing is his specialty - he is a deep thinker, troubled by life and scarred by his parents, unhappy, lonely with little self-confidence. He is dedicated to his family and does everything he can to care for them and protect them. He is a depressive, but hides it well.
• Maya Whitely: Maya is 16 and sister to Lochan, Kit, Tiffin, and Willa. She goes to Belmont too but is in the year below. Unlike Lochan, she is quite outgoing but doesn’t have many friends at all as she constantly feels different to other girls her age – mainly because unlike them, she cannot go out to parties or on dates because she has to pick up the little ones from school and help Lochan with household chores and looking after the kids. Her only friend is Francie, however she is often chatted up by guys at school as she is extremely pretty: straight auburn hair that reaches her waist, deep blue eyes and a smattering of freckles across her cheeks. She is loyal and loving, she puts her family first and often acts as peacemaker when Kit tries to start and argument with Lochan, or when their mother starts having a go at Lochan. She is fiercely protective of Lochan, is worried about losing him next year when he goes off to college, but at the same time is desperate to see him happy and tries to find ways to help him with his social anxiety and make friends. She admires him tremendously for all that he does for the family and has a lighter, more impulsive side and isn’t such a worrier.
• Kit Whitely: Kit is 13. The archetypal middle child on the brink of puberty. Scarred by the abandonment of his parents and still hoping his father might some day come back, he bitterly resents Lochan's authority and attempts at keeping the family together. He provokes arguments, tries to undermine Lochan at every chance, winds up the little ones and refuses to adhere to any kind of curfew. He is an argumentative, rebellious teenager, either locking himself in his bedroom or staying out all night with his gang, drinking and smoking weed. Despite being very bright, he does as little work as possible. Deep down, however, he is lonely and confused.
• Tiffin Whitely: Tiffin, aged 8 is rambunctious, cheerful, funny, soccer-mad but also hyperactive and mischievous. He resents his mother's absences and often acts out, especially now he is beginning to realize that his family is not like others. He is a little wild and has a shaggy mop of blond hair and blue eyes. He is able to understand when something is wrong, and is old enough to worry about it, however too young to act and question further about things he may not want to udnerstand.
• Willa Whitely: Willa is 5 and the baby of the family. She is brave and uncomplaining even though her brothers get more attention than she does and her mother barely acknowledges her existence. She has few toys, never gets to have friends over and is often teased by Tiffin, but she takes it all on the chin. She is particularly close to Maya whom she sees as a mother figure. She has long, fine, golden hair and eyes the color of deep water.
• Lily Whitely: Lily fell pregnant with Lochan when she was just eighteen. This forced her into marrying the father, who left her for another woman five years ago. She is very bitter and angry about this, blames Lochan for her lost youth and despite being 45, now acts like a spoiled teenager. She has had a number of flings - her latest is Dave, owner of the pub where she works whom she hopes to marry. However he is ten years younger than her, newly divorced with kids of his own and doesn't want the responsibility of another family. So Lily spends as much time as possible with him, neglecting her own family who she has decided are old enough to take care of themselves.
• Francie: Francie is 16 and Maya's closest and only friend outside the family. The two have known each other since the beginning of high school. Francie is loud and outgoing, witty and boy-mad. She has fancied Lochan for a while now and struggles to understand his social anxiety. She is desperate to get a boyfriend and just as keen to set Maya up too. She is dark-skinned with wild, frizzy hair and likes to wear bright red lipstick.
• Nico DiMarco: An attractive boy who attends Maya and Lochan's school. He is in the same grade as Lochan, but asks Maya out on a date, supposedly fancying her quite a bit. He takes her out to dinner, much to the dismay of Lochan, although he does not know it. Nico tries to kiss Maya, however she pulls away and tells him that she doesn't want to go out with him.

Quotes edit see section history

• “"At the end of the day it's about how much you can bear, how much you can endure. Being together, we harm nobody; being apart, we extinguish ourselves."”

  Maya Whitely

• “Despite the terror,the blinding white terror, I slip a second loop over my head. Tighten the noose. A harsh sob breaks the still air. And then I let go. Willa's big blue eyes, Willa's dimple-cheeked smile. Tiffin's shaggy blond mane Tiffin's cheeky grin. Kit's yells of excitement, Kit's glow of pride. Maya's face, Maya's kisses, Maya's love. Maya, Maya, Maya...”

  Lochan Whitely

• “You don't let Kit lose! I want to shout at the officers. You never let any of them lose. Even when giving them a run for their money, you always, always let them catch you in the end.”

  Lochan Whitely

• “I feel the longing ache in my body and sense Lochan's frustration as keenly as my own. When he kisses me so hard it almost hurts and his body thrums against mine, desperate to go further, I begin to worry that by sharing a bed every night we are tormenting each other. But whenever we talk about it, we always agree we would far, far rather be together like this than to go back to our separate rooms and not touch each other at all.”

  Maya Whitely

• Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers

• You can close your eyes to the things you do not want to see, but you cannot close your heart to the things you do not want to feel.

  Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers

• I might appear confident and chatty, but I spend most of my time laughing at jokes I don’t find funny, saying things I don’t really mean—because at the end of the day that’s what we’re all trying to do: fit in, one way or another, desperately trying to pretend we’re all the same.

  Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers

• I’ll marry her, if that’s what she wants. I mean, at the end of the day, what the hell does it matter who I end up with if it can’t be you?”

  Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• London

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Consensual sibling incest: Describe this theme.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Tabitha Suzuma (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• Premio Speciale Cariparma for European Literature (June 2011)
• Carnegie Medal (2011, Nominated)

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: Fic Suz

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Not suitable for younger readers. Has a bit of language and a lot of graphic and descriptive adult content. I would not recommend it for children under 13, but older would be an excellent choice.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Teens › Literature & Fiction › Love & Romance
• Books › Teens › Social Issues › Dating & Intimacy › Fiction
• Books › Teens › Social Issues › Prejudice
• Books › Parenting & Families › Family Relationships › Dysfunctional Relationships

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Tabitha Suzuma's Website: Video reviews, press reviews, blog reviews of FORBIDDEN and Suzuma's previous four books. Excepts from this book as well as from all of her others. Articles by Suzuma on what inspired her to write a book about consensual sibling incest. Articles about Suzuma's own personal struggles with mental illness. Video trailers. Photos of events: signings, awards, etc.
• Tabitha Suzuma on Facebook: Daily posts on writing, upcoming events, current book-in-progress, daily life, photos and videos. A chance to chat with readers and ask questions.
• Tabitha Suzuma on Twitter: Details of giveaways, competitions, book signings and links to related sites.
• Tabitha's Blog

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