"Rooted in Jewish history and brimming with magic, The Forbidden Book is at once a heart-pounding mystery and a poignant tale of identity and found family. Whatever the opposite of forbidden is (mandatory?) that's what The Forbidden Book should be." - Isaac Blum, Morris Award Winning author of The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen
“Captivating… wonder-filled. Sorel is swept into a mystery involving stolen magic and a probable murder... Her growing affection for Adela is an electric undercurrent to her story of defiance, bravery, and unexpected friendships.” – Foreword
“Fascinating.” – Kirkus
[STAR] “Unique and absorbing…page-turning and attention-grabbing… There are many gripping twists and turns, along with dubious motivations, questions of faith and orthodoxy, friendship, identity (gender and otherwise)—and a stolen book that was ‘written by an angel, with its own hand.’” – Horn Book (starred)
[STAR] “A precise and deliberate storyteller… Lamb creates a historical fantasy world that is both deeply lived-in and immersive. This is a story that will undoubtedly possess more advanced readers from beginning to end.” – Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred)
"Lamb 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." – Publishers Weekly
"With a delightful folkloric cadence that gives a classic Disney tone combined with a high-stakes tale of intrigue, everything about Sorel’s story has wide appeal. Heavily underrepresented Jewish mythology and the prolific use of untranslated Yiddish take the classic girl-impersonating-boy trope to interesting places, with the added twist of acknowledged queerness. Overall, an easily accessible bridge to YA that remains a fantastic adventure for readers of all ages." – Booklist
"Full of magic, mystery, passion, and friendship, it’s a story that readers of all ages will appreciate… There is nothing missing from this master stroke of literature." – Jewish Book Council
"The Forbidden Book is the perfect follow up to the masterpiece that was When the Angels Left the Old Country... Steeped in Jewish folklore and magic, I could not put this book down. The characters are all amazing—Sorel is brash in the best way, and I love them, and the ending had the perfect pay off." – Katherine Nazzaro, Porter Square Books, Boston MA
"A gripping plot, intriguing protagonist, and unforgettable secondary characters make pages fly." – The Boston Globe
"Thrums with fervent tension…steeped in Jewish folklore, queer awakening, and a reckoning of body and spirit…offers a fresh way into the messy tangle of gender, its freedoms, and its restrictions.” – Reactor
