The Forbidden Book

Gr 9 Up–When the prospect of marrying into a prominent family feels too dire a reality to withstand, 17-year-old Sorel Kalmans leaps from her window and flees into the unknown. Disguising herself in the stable-boy’s clothes and stealing a knife for protection and an impromptu haircut, Sorel takes on the name of Isser Jacobs. Her momentary freedom as Isser is short-lived, however, as it turns out that there is a real-life Isser Jacobs and that undertaking his existence also means taking on his significant troubles. As she navigates the world as Isser, Sorel finds that their lives are far more interconnected than she could have ever imagined. Beyond the chilling and enticing first line, this novel presents many hurdles for readers. Undefined Yiddish words are prominent, excluding all but intermediate to advanced students of the language. A disorienting journey is intensified by the presence of two Issers and a protagonist that goes by three first names. The plot lacks a sense of urgency and momentum, and the characters’ motives and desires are unclear.