Abomination [Paperback]

Martha, the youngest daughter of fanatically religious parents, is all too aware that her family is unusual. Taunted and bullied at school, and lonely at home with only postcards from her elder sister to keep her sane, Martha knows there has to be some other way of living. But it is only when she is befriended by the new boy, Scott, that she decides to reveal the terrible secret that has so far kept her in emotional chains.

Carnegie Award-winning author Robert Swindells cleverly draws the reader into Martha's lonely, nightmarish, yet somehow disturbingly and inexplicably comfortable, world by using his mastery of character and mood to create a sense of overpowering tension that is often horrifying but ultimately incredibly sad. Abomination is certainly not a book for the faint- hearted, but lovers of page-turningly gripping suspense coupled with compassionate and forceful storytelling will find it utterly irresistible. --Susan Harrison

""A dark compelling story of religious intolerance . . . absolutely unmissible."" --The Bookseller --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

A powerful and shocking new chiller from a master storyteller --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Martha is twelve - and very different from other kids, because of her parents. Strict members of a religious group - the Brethren - their rules dominate Martha's life. And one rule is the most important of all: she must never ever invite anyone home. If she does, their shameful secret - Abomination - could be revealed. But as Martha makes her first real friend in Scott, a new boy at school, she begins to wonder. Is she doing the right thing by helping to keep Abomination a secret? And just how far will her parents go to prevent the truth from being known?

A powerful and shocking new chiller from a master storyteller --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Martha is twelve, and very different from other kids. No TV. No computer. No cool clothes. Especially, no friends.

It's all because of her parents. Strict members of a religious group, their rules dominate Martha's life. But one rule is the most important of all: Martha must never ever invite anyone home. If she does, their terrible secret - Abomination - could be revealed. . .

'A taut and thrilling novel from a master of the unpredictable' Daily Telegraph

Shortlisted for the Children's Book Award and the Whitbread Children's Book Award.

Winner of the Stockport and the Sheffield Children's Book Awards.

Cover: Tracey and Jerry Paris

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

ROBERT SWINDELLS left school at fifteen to work on a local newspaper. At seventeen, he joined the RAF for three years, then trained and worked as a teacher. Now a full-time writer, he is the author of a number of bestselling titles for the Random House children's list. In 1994 he won the Carnegie Medal for STONE COLD (Hamish Hamilton), a teenage novel about a serial killer. RUBY TANYA won the Salford Children's Book Award 2005. 'Plots which grip the reader from the opening paragraph' THE SUNDAY TIMES 'Robert Swindells writes the kinds of books that are so scary you're afraid to turn the page' YOUNG TELEGRAPH