Customer Reviews

Forged By Fire

5 star:		(111)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Hi and in advance, thanks for checking out my review. I being a little older than the targeted audience (I'm a 17 y/o {black} male in 11th grade who usually dosen't like to read unless it's for school) recently picked up this book at my local library. The book was not used for a school project but, I got it because I thought it would be interesting.

I will say that I would promote the book for classroom use for probably 6-9th graders. The book deals with very strong issues plauging the present time in a clear, contemporary style. The book is very fast paced.. (lightning fast, actually) which I think kids will like better than reading a full novel (I would) and with this fast-paced movement, it does get a tad confusing at times while dealing with multiple conflicts.

The main problem is that there are so many problems that are thrown out to the main character Gerald, (Who the book deals with through age 3-17) that not not one is comnpletely resolved before another occurs. (I still have a few questions myself after reading) The characters are very believeable but the problems that happen and mostly when they do happen are the things that bring the book down. I would recommend the book to any teen wishing for some good, heartfelt, fast paced reading.

I've seen a review that says the book deals with bulimia along with other issues... actually, it does not. It states that the character Angel throws up a lot but, that's mostly because she's so nervous around her father.

Oh, and if the Author is out there... Hear me out... Ever since reading the end, I would like to see a sequel. I don't know about the rest of you but, I'd pick it up. (No, I haven't had a chance to read "Tears of a Tiger" yet, but I will be soon.)

Thanks for hearing me out.

I want to stress that the actual plot of the story and the characters were interesting and I enjoyed their purpose, action, dialogue. But I read a review about this book somewhere that said that too much happened at once in the beginning. I don't take peoples' reviews too seriously until I read the book, but this time around, I wish I would have listened. The author tried to cram FAR too much into one small book of 156 pages. The boy was 3 years old at the beginning and by the time it ended, he was 17. People were on drugs, in jail, out of jail, court cases complete, basketball tryouts, friends made, learned to cook, car accidents, dying, all within a few pages. The whole time I read this story, I felt like the author had written an outline of what should happen in each chapter and instead of fleshing it out and letting it grow progressively, she just rammed it altogether and then threw in stuff that happened in a previous book. I read one book by her and bought them all...and now I'm starting to regret it. I hope the fourth one is better, because I loved the first one about Andy, couldn't get into the "Romiette and Julio" book at all, and now this one is crammed. I'm confused over whether I like this author or not--in the book about Andy, the dialogue was on point and the plot was organized and easy-to-understand. In the "Romiette and Julio" book, the dialogue was out of wack and the story was slow. This book had great dialogue and an interesting plot like the Andy book, but it went entirely too fast. I feel like I'm reading books from several different people instead of one.

Forged by Fire by Sharon Draper shows the story of a kid that has to deal with his problems and the problems of people around him. It is about a kid standing up to his abusive stepfather and protecting his family from his abusive stepfather.

When Gerald's mom (Monique) gets sent to prison for drug abuse, Gerald goes to live with his Aunt Queen in Cincinnati. Suddenly, Aunt Queen dies and Gerald has to go live with Monique since she was released from prison. He is now living with his Mom, His sister (Angel), which he didn't even know he had, and his stepfather (Jordan).

Gerald finds out that Jordan is an alcoholic. Every time Jordan got drunk, he would abuse Angel, Gerald, and Monique. Gerald just knew he had to do something about it. Therefore, one day he got the police to arrest Jordan because he was molesting Angel. They were having a good life without Jordan. When Jordan got out of prison he was acting extremely nice, but Gerald knew something was going to happen. The problem is going to be fixed for the last time.

I recommend this book to kids between the ages of 10-15. It shows hatred, sadness, and emotion. The emotion in this book is just incredible.

For anyone who likes adventure and "edge of the seat" books, you will love this book. In addition, you will like it if you have already read one of the "Hazelwood High Series" and liked it.

Gerald, a determined young teenager, faces a drastic change in his life. He is suddenly thrown into a household that is filled with anger, abuse, and addiction. He is forced to face a mean stepfather and to discover the house secret. Faced with his past and new challenges, he learns how to grow into a positive and caring role model, especially for his stepsister Angel. An excellent book for middle school children and up on facing what could possibly be happening behind closed doors.

This book is about Gerald, at 3 yrs old, was abused himself by his mother. His mother will hit him and leave him in his diapers all day if he poops in them, to teach him a lesson. His mother was on drugs and often left him in the apartment alone. Well, one day, his mother left to buy some drugs from Leroy, some man that smell sweet. And Gerald decide to play with his GI Joe and a lighter. Suddenly, the apartment is on fire. He goes and hide behind the couch. The neighbor decide to check up on him, if it wasn't for the neighbor, Gerald would of die from smoke inhallation.

His mother goes to prison for child endangerment. And also she goes to drug rehab. Aunt Queen comes to the rescue and Gerald went to live with her for six years. Then his world comes crashing down on his ninth birthday. Aunt Queen dies and he have go to live with his mother. His mother is married to Jordan, who claim to be Angel's father, but isn't. Jordan is violent and will hit Gerald, his mother, and his sister, Angel, whenever he gets drunk. Also, Jordan will sexually molest Angel, which disgusts me. When Gerald went to move in with his mother, he couldn't bring himself to call her mama anymore, so he call her by her first name, Monique.

Well, from the day Gerald moves in, he vows to protect his sister. His sister like to dance like any typical 7-yr-old. Well, Gerald turns in Jordan for sexually abuse, and he finally gets out of prison when Gerald is 17 and Angel is 13. Ok, when Gerald is 17, his best friend, Robert Washington, dies in a car crash because Andy was driving drunk and crash into a wall.

This, indeed, is a real sad book that I read and I couldn't put it down. I have to order "Tears of a Tiger" and "Dawn by Darkness" one of these days. I read this book back when I was in the 10th grade. This book will made you angry against abuse of kids, and make you want to do something..

Draper, Sharon M. Forged by Fire. New York, NY: Simon Pulse, 1997.

The story of Gerald, who from a very young age learns to struggle to survive, moves into his aunt's house after a fire sends his mother away to jail for child endangerment and for being a drug addict. As his mother returns after leaving jail, Gerald finds out she is married to Jordan, a bad tempered man, and that he has a younger sister, Angel. He is forced to move back with his mother after his aunt abruptly passes away, where he is forced to be strong and protect his younger sister from his stepfather. He soon finds out that his mother does not have free will and is controlled by Jordan. He finds his strength to stay hopeful and struggle to survive for his sister, who is being abused by Jordan. He is able to send Jordan away once, but once Jordan returns again, he needs to find the inner strength to confront Jordan again.

The 156 page book is very well written and has a strong storyline that will entertain many of the young adults who read it. The main character, Gerald, is a character to admire for his inner strength and will to survive in uncontrollable circumstances. He is an example of how to reach out to others who are in more of a need than you, through difficult circumstances in life. The book could be a very intense and at times feels very overwhelming and implausible because he faces the death of his teammate, his stepfather, Jordan, is attacking his sister, a confrontation with Jordan, and a fire that threatens the lives of everyone. Although at a fifth grade reading level, it does address many of the social issues young people have to face and experience in real life, such as physical, sexual and emotional abuse, drug addiction, eating disorders, and domestic violence. The story is about finding your inner strength and will to live not just for yourself, but for others who depend on you to continue to survive. Gerald is an example of a strong young man who is willing to go over any boundaries to protect those whom he loves.

Forged By Fires was my first time reading a book by Sharon M. Draper and it definitely made a good impression. It starts at an apartment where 3-year-old Gerald (who was abused by his mother) was playing with a lighter for entertainment. Even with that little flicker of fire, it resolves into a smoke filled room with firefighters coming to save him. Since his mother was sent to prison he is sent to his aunts where he experiences joy and sorrow. When his aunt dies he is moved back to his mother where he finds Angel, his loving half sister and Jordan Sparks, his cruel stepfather where he has to go against him once and for all. I personally think the purpose of the book was to explain abuse and how children can feel and react to it.

...Have you ever been abuse by a adult or you know someone who is been abuse by an adult. Forege by Fire by Sharon Draper you will experience the life a teenager boy who is been abuse by his abusive step dad. This book made me cry at first then rejoice at the ending.
When 9 year old Gerald favorite aunt dies he must to move with his mom,step dad, and his little step sister who always has sad eyes. At his new home he will experience the life his stepsister had already experience. He feels that is his job to save Angel his mom from Jordan (stepfather).
Sharon Draper did an Excellent job Making you feel the character emotions. When you read this book you will feel like you watching a move inside your head.She creates images in your head. For example Angel says "No Gerald, e didn't hurt me, but he scares me so bad." With this incridable worlds you see a scared little girl hugging her brother for a comfort. "Gerald said Nothing for a moment, but stared at Jordan with hatred and pain. His hand clenched in to tight,angry fists, threatened at any moment to explode with purple in Jorden's face." Sharon M. Draper chose to use words that are so simple and understandable. In this quote you can see an angry young man standing front of a a brutal step dad.You can see a real images in your mind in her powerful worlds she chose to use.
The author's massage in this book is not to stand around and wait for the abusive person to change, is to get help before is to late. This massage means a lot to me and the society, because teenagers like myself and others can learn a lesson if they suspect if some one is not treating them right. You can also learn the special relationship between brother and sister. when you finish with this book you thinking about the last book that got you emotion.

Hard to put down! Even if you don't like to read, it's an interesting story.

Forged By Fire by Sharon M. Draper is about a teenager Gerald and his little sister Angel, making it through life the "uneasy way." The book first talks about Gerald living with is mother Monique. His mother during that time was on drugs and wasn't taking care of herself nor Gerald. Gerald then goes to live with his Aunt Queen until his ninth birthday where she dies and Gerald has to now go and live with is mother, his sister Angel, and his mother's boy friend,Jordan. Jordan is very abusive to Monique, Angel,and Gerald himself. Jordan also sexually assaults Angel. Now Gerald and Angel is forced to make it through life watching out for each other and watching for Jordan! Monique will not listen to her two children because she is "sprung" on Jordan and she doesn't want to except the idea of what kind of man Jordan really is. I rate this book a four star because it is a realistic fiction book and the style of the writing catches my attention every mintute. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good book to read especially if it's realistic fiction.