Forbidden [Hardcover]

Judy Waite (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 7, 2006

Elinor has always been one of the Chosen, from as far back as she can remember. It is her destiny to become bonded to the cult leader as soon as she turns 16, a ritual that Elinor is happy and proud to be part of. But a chance encounter in the woods stirs emotions and memories that have long been suppressed. Suddenly all her beliefs are being challenged and she starts to question her role in the cult. But will she ever be able to break free of the bonds that tie her to true cause?

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up–This novel examines modern-day cults from an insiders point of view. Elinor, 15, is a Follower of the True Cause cult, which is headed by Howard, a power-driven, mentally unstable demagogue. The Followers, all of whom seem to be young females, earn their keep by selling The Book and encouraging Outsiders to become New Joiners. When they reach the age of 16, they become Howards brides. Elinors brainwashed life gradually changes after she encounters Jamie, a handsome Outsider who begins to sow doubts in her about the cult. She starts to have feelings, show self-awareness, take an interest in how she looks, and think independently. Her story is related through interior monologues permeated with references to the Newspeak-type of language True Cause foists on its members. Elinors first-person narrative gives readers a view of her changing, confused thoughts as well as her climactic escape and reintroduction to the outside world. The mantralike use of language is sometimes forced, but the story moves quickly to a message-laden climax that readers will not soon forget.–Jack Forman, Mesa College Library, San Diego
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 8-11. Elinor has never known anything but True Cause and its savior, Howard. As one of his Chosen girls, she lives only to work, worship, and Spread the Word until Endtime and the New Beginning. Lately, however, she's been plagued by Bad Thoughts. First she finds the punishment of another Chosen disquieting; then she is disturbed by the penetrating questions of Jaime, an Outsider boy. When Elinor's childhood memories of Outside begin to surface, her uncertainty grows, and she wavers between the beliefs she has always accepted and Jaime's assertion that Howard is more madman than messiah. Waite's look inside cult mentality is a thought-provoking and compelling psychological drama. Howard's manipulative power over his Followers is disturbing, as is their unquestioning obedience, and Elinor's struggle is totally believable. Her frequent inner reliance on True Cause mantras makes clear the power of her psychological conditioning, while her eventual immersion into the real world is credibly painful, slow, and filled with longing for her former life. Krista Hutley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 249 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum (February 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689876424
• ISBN-13: 978-0689876424
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,630,185 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing look at the world inside religious cults, February 24, 2006

By 

Teenreads.com (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forbidden (Hardcover)

Elinor is a Chosen One. There are many people who are a part of True Cause, but few are chosen. Elinor is lucky.

What she doesn't know, however, is that True Cause isn't just a religious group, but a dangerous cult headed by a man named Howard who claims to be descended from an ancient group of non-humans. Sound far-fetched? It is, but to Elinor, who has known scarcely anything but True Cause since she was a baby, it's life.

Each Saturday, members of True Cause have rummage sales, selling the old belongings of new recruits (New Joiners). It is here that Elinor meets Jamie, an Outsider. Jamie isn't very interested in joining True Cause, but he seems fascinated with learning about Elinor's thoughts. He questions them at every turn, encouraging Elinor herself to question both Howard and True Cause.

For some reason, Elinor is drawn to Jamie and continues to meet with him in secret. Then one day, everything changes, and Elinor needs to count on Jamie. Will she leave True Cause, or will she convince Jamie to join with her?

FORBIDDEN is an intriguing look at the world inside religious cults. While most teens won't be able to directly identify with Elinor's struggle to think for herself, they will see in Elinor struggles to find an inner self.

--- Reviewed by Hannah Gomez ([e-mail])

4.0 out of 5 stars Forbidden: A Fictional Examination of Cult Life, December 11, 2006

By 

Moniker "fantasyfreak" (Takoma Park, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forbidden (Hardcover)

"Forbidden" portrays the life of 15 year old Elinor, a curious and slightly predictable member of the True Cause cult. As one of the chosen, meaning that she will eventually become the bride of the cult's leader, she (and everyone else invovled in the cult - an undetermined number) have lived in relative isolation, only venturing out of the commune to sell copies of the Book, a code of rules and ideas of True Cause.

During one of these excursions, she meets teenage Jaime who is curious in how the cult works and how the members are treated. Through several secret meetings with Jaime, she begins to admire him, but stills trongly adheres to the words of True Cause. Gradually, Jaime's words and returning past memories allow Elinor her first chance to think for herself and see the truth.

The author's style allows for "Forbidden" to be an easy afternoon read, but the content stays with you. Knowing that cults similar to True Cause actually exist, is both creepy and intriguing. However, the content avoids being too strange (ex: sacrafices and the likes) and the worst it gets is when Elinor and the leader are consumating thier marriage, which the reader will find awkward and sad because of the obvious abuse of power occuring.

While the ending of "Forbidden" is predictable and easily guessed, the depth of the main character (though depth is severely lacking in secondary characters) is powerful. The trials that she must endure to become herself are amazing and Judy Waite does an excellant job in her fictional portrayal of cults.

Ages 13 and over.