Series ✦ Penny’s Take
Forbid Them Not
Michael Farris · 2002
52/100
👎 Skip It
Farris is a skilled advocate for parental rights and homeschooling, but this novel makes no real attempt to be good fiction — the political messaging overwhelms the story, characters read as vehicles for argument, and Publishers Weekly called it 'ultra-conservative even by Christian publishing standards.' Readers who share Farris's views on UN treaties and parental rights will find the concerns resonant; those looking for a well-crafted legal thriller should look elsewhere.
✦ Penny’s Take — this is The Review Group’s own editorial assessment. Penny’s analytical review line researched this book from real sources and scored it across the lenses shown below. It’s an honest first-party read — not a page-by-page personal one. The gold ✓ Penny Tested mark is reserved for books Penny reads cover to cover herself.
⚠ Parent note — our reviewers flagged: Highly politically charged content with thinly veiled political caricatures; polarizing reception. We still scored it 52; these are context for your family, not an automatic skip.
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Show the math
Verdict receipt0–100
Faith & family safety80
Substance / usefulness50
Craft & writing42
Originality55
Evidence & accuracy58
Hype vs delivers60
Age-fit65
👁 Human-eye gut-check45
Penny’s verdict52
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