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Title details for The Forbidden Book by Sacha Lamb - Available

The Forbidden Book

by Sacha Lamb
Sophie Amoss
Audiobook
2 of 2 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
2 of 2 copies available
POSSESSION, Missing Persons, AND A DEEPLY FORBIDDEN BOOK.
On the night before her wedding, seventeen-year-old Sorel leaps from a window and runs away from her life, grabbing men's clothes and a sharp knife. To keep from being found, she takes on the identity of Isser Jacobs—but it soon becomes clear that the real Isser Jacobs is a lawbreaker, a
revolutionary, and powerful people want him dead. Sorel is drawn into the dark underworld of her small city, where smugglers, forgers, and wicked angels fight for control of the Jewish community. In order to make it out, Sorel must discover who Isser Jacobs really is—and who she wants to be.
A pulse pounding mystery, and a riveting story of self-reinvention, Sacha Lamb's highly anticipated second novel is a soaring exploration of identity, survival, and ultimately, hope.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    December 3, 2024

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9798894862422
      • File size: 184876 KB
      • Duration: 06:25:08

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      August 19, 2024
      It’s the eve of her wedding night when Sorel Kalmans—the 17-year-old daughter of a wealthy Jewish merchant who, along with the Hasidic rebbe, rules her small Russian town of Esrog—heeding the advice of a mystical “shadowy reflection” in her mirror, disguises herself as a boy and flees. But Isser Jacobs, the new name she chooses for herself, is also the name of a man who printed illegal political pamphlets and had secret dealings with her father. Accompanied by a mysterious young man and Adela, Isser’s accomplice—both of whom may or may not be trustworthy—Sorel searches for her namesake, along the way uncovering more about what’s going on in her hometown. As the trio delve deeper into their investigations, Sorel also finds herself drawn to Adela. Throughout, Sorel contends with myriad personal challenges surrounding those she left in Esrog, the life she weaves as Isser, and the future she wants for herself, adding sometimes-meandering complications to her and her companions’ plight. Lamb (When the Angels Left the Old Country) packs their swift sophomore effort with adventure, folklore, and
      Jewish mysticism: Sorel and her companions must not only confront people who wish them ill but also face existential questions regarding angels and the future. Ages 12–up. Agent: Rena Rossner, Deborah Harris Agency.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Sophie Amoss narrates this story set in nineteenth-century Russia's Jewish communities. After fleeing from an arranged marriage, 17-year-old Sorel navigates gender identity. Sorel assumes the masculine identity Isser Jacobs, only to learn that Isser Jacobs is a real person who sold illegal political pamphlets translated into Yiddish. Magical elements including dybbuks (angels) and demons, some of whom have Russian accents, are interspersed in the story. Characters speak in hushed tones when discussing censorship, growing determined as they seek answers. Sorel often stutters when flustered, and when Sorel becomes Isser, Amoss uses a deeper voice. Amoss masterfully handles the pronunciation of Yiddish and Hebrew words in this solid, well-paced performance. L.M. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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