Laurie Halse Anderson is a New York Times bestselling author known for tackling tough subjects with humor and sensitivity. She's twice been a National Book Award finalist, for Chains and Speak; Chains also received the 2009 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction. Laurie was chosen for the 2009 Margaret A. Edwards Award and received the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2023, presented to her by the Crown Princess of Sweden. She lives in Pennsylvania, and you can follow her adventures on X (previously known as Twitter) @HalseAnderson or visit her at MadWomanintheForest.com.
[STAR] Forge [Seeds of America] by Laurie Halse Anderson
Intermediate, Middle School Atheneum 297 pp. 10/10
978-1-4169-6144-4 $16.99 Chains (rev. 11/08) ended with slave girl
Isabel escaping from 1776 New York with fellow slave Curzon, who
takes over the narration in this sequel. Only fifteen, he enlists
in the Continental Army in late 1777. His experiences as a young
runaway slave during the American Revolution differ greatly from
Isabel's; though he lives in fear of discovery, he befriends a
white soldier boy named Eben and even gains a sense of patriotism
and camaraderie serving alongside other soldiers encamped for the
winter at Valley Forge. Unfortunate circumstances bring Curzon and
Isabel back together, and it is the struggle to mend their
friendship and continue their quest for freedom that drives the
latter half of the novel. Anderson seamlessly weaves her fictitious
characters into history in a cohesive, well-researched narrative
about the Revolutionary War that still focuses foremost on
developing characters and their interpersonal relationships.
Relevant historical quotes at the beginning of each chapter add
authenticity, as does Curzon's firsthand account of daily life at
Valley Forge; his detailed narration of privations, inequalities,
and hard work compellingly conveys the plight of the common
soldier. As one man in Curzon's regiment explains, Valley Forge "is
a forge for the army; it's testing our qualities. Instead of heat
and hammer, our trials are cold and hunger. Question is, what are
we made of?" With this riveting sequel, Anderson certainly passes
the test. Cynthia K. Ritter
--The Horn Book, Nov/Dec 2010 Issue, *STAR
Kidsreads.com FORGE
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9781416961444
Ages 10-up
304 pages
About the Book Read an Excerpt Author Interview -- Month YYYY
When Laurie Halse Anderson's novel CHAINS was published in 2008, it
became a finalist for the National Book Award and won the Scott
O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction. The book introduced young
people to an important --- and often overlooked --- chapter in
American history, as Anderson told the story of the dawn of the
American Revolution through the eyes of a young slave girl.
Anderson now continues this work in FORGE, the second book of what
will eventually be a trilogy. Here the narrative shifts gears from
Isabel to her friend Curzon, a fellow runaway who becomes separated
from Isabel but finds safety --- of a sort --- when he enlists as a
soldier fighting on the American side during the Revolutionary War.
As one of the few black soldiers, he is disrespected --- and worse
--- by some of his peers and his officers. With his customary
courage, hard work and loyalty, however, Curzon gains the respect
and even the friendship of many of his fellow soldiers. All the
young men's fortitude is brutally tested, however, when they are
told to report to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, during the winter of
1777 and 1778. As Curzon and his comrades struggle just to survive,
Anderson vividly brings to life the horrifying details of life in
Valley Forge, unflinchingly documenting the hardships that most
high school history books just gloss over. From surviving days
without food to digging trenches in frozen ground to trudging
through snowdrifts in just a pair of wet, stinking socks, Curzon's
story, and that of all the men, will both repulse readers and
remind them of the soldiers' remarkable fortitude and bravery.
Besides being a compelling, unfailingly realistic account of the
winter at Valley Forge, though, FORGE's story also serves as a
powerful metaphor: "This camp is a forge for the army," remarks one
character. "It's testing our qualities. Instead of heat and hammer,
our trials are cold and hunger. Question is, what are we made of?"
What indeed? Curzon finds himself asking this question and others
when his past as a runaway slave starts to catch up with him. By
all accounts, he should be freed; he has kept his part of a bargain
that he made months earlier. But he doesn't have paperwork showing
he's been freed, and if he's revealed as a runaway, hunger and cold
will be the least of his problems. One beloved but complicated
relationship from his past also resurfaces when he encounters
Isabel once more and must deal not only with their shared and
separate histories but also with his evolving feelings toward her.
Once again, in FORGE, Laurie Halse Anderson has managed to compose
a historical novel that feels both entirely true to its period and
completely contemporary. Curzon's voice rings true as that of an
18th-century young man, but its sophisticated narration and
storytelling style introduce contemporary perspectives seamlessly
in ways that will not only allow readers to reflect on their own
times but also to reconsider their understanding of and approach to
history. With its extensive historical notes and glossary, FORGE
(like CHAINS) would be an ideal classroom companion to more
traditional history-book fare, one that readers will likely relish
as much for its sensitive storytelling as for its gutsy depictions.
--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl
Second in the Seeds of America trilogy, this sequel to the National
Book Award finalist Chains is narrated by Curzon, the slave Isabel
freed from prison while escaping her own enslavement in 1777 New
York City. Curzon immediately explains how he and Isabel lived in
New Jersey for a few months, before she ran away with their meager
funds in hopes of finding her sister, a quest Curzon refused to
support. Months later, Curzon is doing his best to forget Isabel,
though the depth of his feelings is made evident in flashbacks of
their time together. After Curzon saves the life of Eben, a young
rebel soldier, he joins the army and suffers through the winter at
Valley Forge; tension mounts when Curzon's former owner arrives.
Anderson includes meticulous details about the lives of soldiers
and, with just a few words, brings readers deep inside Curzon's
experience ("My belly voted louder than my wits"). Her masterful
storytelling weaves themes of friendship, politics, love, and
liberty into a deeply satisfying tale that will leave readers
hungry for the final volume. - PW, September 13, 2010, *STAR
Forge.
Anderson, Laurie Halse (Author) Oct 2010. 304 p. Atheneum,
hardcover, $16.99. (9781416961444). Anderson follows her searing,
multi-award-winning novel Chains (2008) with this well-researched
sequel, also set during the Revolutionary War and narrated by a
young African American. This time, though, her central character is
male, and the heartbreaking drama shifts from Chains' domestic town
houses to graphically described bloody battlefields. After a
narrowly successful escape from Manhattan, former slaves Isabel and
Curzon separate, and Curzon is once again on the run. He finds
necessary food and shelter as a private with the Continental army,
and through Curzon's eyes, Anderson re-creates pivotal historical
scenes, including the desperate conditions at Valley Forge. Curzon
isn't as fully realized here as Isabel was in Chains, resulting in
a less-cohesive and -compelling whole. Once again, though,
Anderson's detailed story creates a cinematic sense of history
while raising crucial questions about racism, the ethics of war,
and the hypocrisies that underlie our country's founding
definitions of freedom. Chapter heads excerpted from historical
documents and a long appendix that offers research suggestions and
separates fact and fiction add further curricular appeal.
-- Gillian Engberg
Forge
by Laurie Halse Anderson, *STAR Forge is the sequel to Chains
(2008), but it can be read independently. Anderson has done her
research and accurately portrays the horrors of serving in the
first Continental Army at Valley Forge. The story within is of
slavery in a fledgling nation; the freedom that the founding
fathers were fighting for did not extend to their slaves. The hero
of the story, Curzon, has already served in the army, but in trying
to get away from a cruel master, he is re-enlisted. When his former
master reappears, his friends from his squad help him escape, along
with Isabel, the heroine of Chains. The book contains an appendix
with glossary, further readings, and Q&A about the historical
background and primary sources used. Each chapter begins with a
quote pertaining to the war or slavery. While the details are
accurate, the book is not gratuitously violent. Curzon is an
empathetic character to whom most young people will relate. At the
end, when Curzon and Isabel escape, the reader can only hope that
all will end well in the next book. Laurie Halse Anderson has again
written historical fiction at its finest. --Library Media
Connection, Jan/Feb 2011, *STAR
Gr 6-10-This sequel to Chains (S & S, 2008) opens with Curzon, an
enslaved teen who was freed from prison by Isabel, recalling his
escape and anticipating the future. After an argument with Isabel
about where they should go next, the 15-year-old battles the
British at Saratoga and winters in Valley Forge with the Patriots.
He reveals many details of the conditions endured by the soldiers
during the winter of 1777-1778, including the limited food supply,
lack of adequate shelter, and tattered clothing. When Curzon and
Isabel meet again, they have both been captured and must devise a
plan of escape once again. While the Patriots are fighting for the
freedom of a country, these young people must fight for their
personal freedom. This sequel can be read alone but readers will
benefit from reading the first book, which develops the characters
and reveals events leading up to the winter at Valley Forge. An
appendix clarifies historical facts and real-life characters. A
list of colloquial terms used throughout the novel is
appended.-Denise Moore, O'Gorman Junior High School, Sioux Falls,
SD -SLJ Oct. 2010
Anderson, Laurie Halse Forge.
Atheneum, 2010 [304p] (Seeds of America) ISBN 978-1-4169-6144-4
$16.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 7-10 Curzon and Isabel, runaway
slaves in Anderson's Chains (BCCB 11/08), have parted company--she
is headed south to find her sister Ruth, and he finds work driving
a cart for Patriot soldiers. An impulsive act of battlefield
bravery leads to Curzon's enlistment as a freeman with the 16th
Massachusetts Regiment, and he's now a tentmate with Eban Woodruff,
the young man whose life he saved, and John Burns, a sly bigot who
waits for an opportunity to drum Curzon out of the army. Personal
animosity simmers as the soldiers encamp at Valley Forge for the
winter of 1777-8, but Curzon and his comrades cooperate to make the
best of dire circumstances. When Burns rises to the rank of
sergeant, though, and Curzon's legal owner, James Bellingham,
reclaims his service, Curzon begins to plot yet another escape. His
situation is immediately complicated by the appearance of Isabel,
who has been recaptured and sold to Bellingham. Bellingham knows
Curzon will withhold his labor, so he threatens to punish Isabel,
who already wears a locked metal cuff around her neck, for each
infraction he may cause. Desperate but unable to plan a foolproof
escape, Curzon and Isabel are blessed by chance and the unexpected
aid of Curzon's old comrades at arms with some slim hope of freedom
as the novel ends and they march out of Valley Forge, protectively
surrounded by decamping troops. The saga that began as Isabel's
tale loses none of its tension as it switches to Curzon's plight,
and the pair's situation at the novel's conclusion is precarious
enough to suggest--even demand--another volume. Again Anderson
crafts her source notes into a reader-friendly Q&A discussion
and appends a glossary of eighteenth-century terms. As one of
Curzon's mates observes, "This camp is a forge for the army; it's
testing our qualities. . . . Question is, what are we made of?" For
Curzon and Isabel, it's sorrow, grit, and a passion for freedom.
EB
--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, November 2010
At the end of Chains (2008), Isabel rescues her friend Curzon from
Bridewell Prison and rows away from Manhattan in their escape from
slavery. Now, in the second of the planned trilogy, Isabel goes her
own way, and 15-year-old Curzon takes over as narrator. Passing as
free, he joins the Continental Army at Valley Forge during the
winter of 1777-78, where, against the most desperate of
circumstances, he forges a friendship with fellow soldiers. When he
is enslaved again and meets up with Isabel, he and she must once
again take liberty into their own hands and find a way to escape.
Weaving a huge amount of historical detail seamlessly into the
story, Anderson creates a vivid setting, believable characters both
good and despicable and a clear portrayal of the moral ambiguity of
the Revolutionary age. Not only can this sequel stand alone, for
many readers it will be one of the best novels they have ever read.
A good match with Russell Freedman's Washington at Valley Forge
(2008). - KIRKUS, September 1, 2010, *STAR
[STAR] Forge [Seeds of America]
by Laurie Halse Anderson Intermediate, Middle School Atheneum
297 pp. 10/10 978-1-4169-6144-4 $16.99 Chains (rev. 11/08) ended
with slave girl Isabel escaping from 1776 New York with fellow
slave Curzon, who takes over the narration in this sequel. Only
fifteen, he enlists in the Continental Army in late 1777. His
experiences as a young runaway slave during the American Revolution
differ greatly from Isabel's; though he lives in fear of discovery,
he befriends a white soldier boy named Eben and even gains a sense
of patriotism and camaraderie serving alongside other soldiers
encamped for the winter at Valley Forge. Unfortunate circumstances
bring Curzon and Isabel back together, and it is the struggle to
mend their friendship and continue their quest for freedom that
drives the latter half of the novel. Anderson seamlessly weaves her
fictitious characters into history in a cohesive, well-researched
narrative about the Revolutionary War that still focuses foremost
on developing characters and their interpersonal relationships.
Relevant historical quotes at the beginning of each chapter add
authenticity, as does Curzon's firsthand account of daily life at
Valley Forge; his detailed narration of privations, inequalities,
and hard work compellingly conveys the plight of the common
soldier. As one man in Curzon's regiment explains, Valley Forge "is
a forge for the army; it's testing our qualities. Instead of heat
and hammer, our trials are cold and hunger. Question is, what are
we made of?" With this riveting sequel, Anderson certainly passes
the test. Cynthia K. Ritter
--The Horn Book, Nov/Dec 2010 Issue, *STAR
Kidsreads.com FORGE
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9781416961444
Ages 10-up
304 pages
Anderson now continues this work in FORGE, the second book of what will eventually be a trilogy. Here the narrative shifts gears from Isabel to her friend Curzon, a fellow runaway who becomes separated from Isabel but finds safety --- of a sort --- when he enlists as a soldier fighting on the American side during the Revolutionary War. As one of the few black soldiers, he is disrespected --- and worse --- by some of his peers and his officers. With his customary courage, hard work and loyalty, however, Curzon gains the respect and even the friendship of many of his fellow soldiers. All the young men's fortitude is brutally tested, however, when they are told to report to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, during the winter of 1777 and 1778. As Curzon and his comrades struggle just to survive, Anderson vividly brings to life the horrifying details of life in Valley Forge, unflinchingly documenting the hardships that most high school history books just gloss over. From surviving days without food to digging trenches in frozen ground to trudging through snowdrifts in just a pair of wet, stinking socks, Curzon's story, and that of all the men, will both repulse readers and remind them of the soldiers' remarkable fortitude and bravery. Besides being a compelling, unfailingly realistic account of the winter at Valley Forge, though, FORGE's story also serves as a powerful metaphor: "This camp is a forge for the army," remarks one character. "It's testing our qualities. Instead of heat and hammer, our trials are cold and hunger. Question is, what are we made of?" What indeed? Curzon finds himself asking this question and others when his past as a runaway slave starts to catch up with him. By all accounts, he should be freed; he has kept his part of a bargain that he made months earlier. But he doesn't have paperwork showing he's been freed, and if he's revealed as a runaway, hunger and cold will be the least of his problems. One beloved but complicated relationship from his past also resurfaces when he encounters Isabel once more and must deal not only with their shared and separate histories but also with his evolving feelings toward her. Once again, in FORGE, Laurie Halse Anderson has managed to compose a historical novel that feels both entirely true to its period and completely contemporary. Curzon's voice rings true as that of an 18th-century young man, but its sophisticated narration and storytelling style introduce contemporary perspectives seamlessly in ways that will not only allow readers to reflect on their own times but also to reconsider their understanding of and approach to history. With its extensive historical notes and glossary, FORGE (like CHAINS) would be an ideal classroom companion to more traditional history-book fare, one that readers will likely relish as much for its sensitive storytelling as for its gutsy depictions. --- Reviewed by Norah Piehl
Oct 2010. 304 p. Atheneum, hardcover, $16.99. (9781416961444).
Anderson follows her searing, multi-award-winning novel Chains
(2008) with this well-researched sequel, also set during the
Revolutionary War and narrated by a young African American. This
time, though, her central character is male, and the heartbreaking
drama shifts from Chains' domestic town houses to graphically
described bloody battlefields. After a narrowly successful escape
from Manhattan, former slaves Isabel and Curzon separate, and
Curzon is once again on the run. He finds necessary food and
shelter as a private with the Continental army, and through
Curzon's eyes, Anderson re-creates pivotal historical scenes,
including the desperate conditions at Valley Forge. Curzon isn't as
fully realized here as Isabel was in Chains, resulting in a
less-cohesive and -compelling whole. Once again, though, Anderson's
detailed story creates a cinematic sense of history while raising
crucial questions about racism, the ethics of war, and the
hypocrisies that underlie our country's founding definitions of
freedom. Chapter heads excerpted from historical documents and a
long appendix that offers research suggestions and separates fact
and fiction add further curricular appeal.
-- Gillian Engberg
Forge
by Laurie Halse Anderson, *STAR
Forge is the sequel to Chains (2008), but it can be read
independently. Anderson has done her research and accurately
portrays the horrors of serving in the first Continental Army at
Valley Forge. The story within is of slavery in a fledgling nation;
the freedom that the founding fathers were fighting for did not
extend to their slaves. The hero of the story, Curzon, has already
served in the army, but in trying to get away from a cruel master,
he is re-enlisted. When his former master reappears, his friends
from his squad help him escape, along with Isabel, the heroine of
Chains. The book contains an appendix with glossary, further
readings, and Q&A about the historical background and primary
sources used. Each chapter begins with a quote pertaining to the
war or slavery. While the details are accurate, the book is not
gratuitously violent. Curzon is an empathetic character to whom
most young people will relate. At the end, when Curzon and Isabel
escape, the reader can only hope that all will end well in the next
book. Laurie Halse Anderson has again written historical fiction at
its finest. --Library Media Connection, Jan/Feb 2011, *STAR
Gr 6-10-This sequel to Chains (S & S, 2008) opens with Curzon, an
enslaved teen who was freed from prison by Isabel, recalling his
escape and anticipating the future. After an argument with Isabel
about where they should go next, the 15-year-old battles the
British at Saratoga and winters in Valley Forge with the Patriots.
He reveals many details of the conditions endured by the soldiers
during the winter of 1777-1778, including the limited food supply,
lack of adequate shelter, and tattered clothing. When Curzon and
Isabel meet again, they have both been captured and must devise a
plan of escape once again. While the Patriots are fighting for the
freedom of a country, these young people must fight for their
personal freedom. This sequel can be read alone but readers will
benefit from reading the first book, which develops the characters
and reveals events leading up to the winter at Valley Forge. An
appendix clarifies historical facts and real-life characters. A
list of colloquial terms used throughout the novel is
appended.-Denise Moore, O'Gorman Junior High School, Sioux
Falls, SD
-SLJ Oct. 2010
Anderson, Laurie Halse Forge.
Atheneum, 2010 [304p] (Seeds of America) ISBN 978-1-4169-6144-4
$16.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 7-10
Curzon and Isabel, runaway slaves in Anderson's Chains (BCCB
11/08), have parted company--she is headed south to find her sister
Ruth, and he finds work driving a cart for Patriot soldiers. An
impulsive act of battlefield bravery leads to Curzon's enlistment
as a freeman with the 16th Massachusetts Regiment, and he's now a
tentmate with Eban Woodruff, the young man whose life he saved, and
John Burns, a sly bigot who waits for an opportunity to drum Curzon
out of the army. Personal animosity simmers as the soldiers encamp
at Valley Forge for the winter of 1777-8, but Curzon and his
comrades cooperate to make the best of dire circumstances. When
Burns rises to the rank of sergeant, though, and Curzon's legal
owner, James Bellingham, reclaims his service, Curzon begins to
plot yet another escape. His situation is immediately complicated
by the appearance of Isabel, who has been recaptured and sold to
Bellingham. Bellingham knows Curzon will withhold his labor, so he
threatens to punish Isabel, who already wears a locked metal cuff
around her neck, for each infraction he may cause. Desperate but
unable to plan a foolproof escape, Curzon and Isabel are blessed by
chance and the unexpected aid of Curzon's old comrades at arms with
some slim hope of freedom as the novel ends and they march out of
Valley Forge, protectively surrounded by decamping troops. The saga
that began as Isabel's tale loses none of its tension as it
switches to Curzon's plight, and the pair's situation at the
novel's conclusion is precarious enough to suggest--even
demand--another volume. Again Anderson crafts her source notes into
a reader-friendly Q&A discussion and appends a glossary of
eighteenth-century terms. As one of Curzon's mates observes, "This
camp is a forge for the army; it's testing our qualities. . . .
Question is, what are we made of?" For Curzon and Isabel, it's
sorrow, grit, and a passion for freedom. EB
--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, November 2010
Ask a Question About this Product More... |