Forged by Fire (Hazelwood High, #2) (Hazelwood High, #2)

Mar 25, 2011 Jessica Vilaysouk added it

Were you born with a reckless mother? Have you ever had an abusive stepfather? Some people grow up having a hard life, dealing with drama, and fighting through struggles. That's the problem that Gerald has to deal with in the book Forged By Fire.

Gerald is a kid with a troubled past and a troubled future. With all his struggles and losses he still survives. As a young boy his mother leaves him alone; he starts a fire and almost dies. His mother is immediately arrested for child abandonment and...more

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Sep 28, 2007 Meaghan rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: no one

Shelves: childrens-young-adult-fiction, books-i-hated, read-in-2007

This. Book. Sucked. The characters were cardboard, the plot was contrived, too much time was covered in too short a space, and everything was told rather than shown. It was like Sharon Draper was trying to cram as many issues as possible into the story and they all ended up spilling out, leaving an empty shell. There are so many other, great books out there that deal with the same themes -- please look elsewhere!

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Oct 29, 2007 Antonia rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who likes Drama!

So far this book is about a young boy who is only 3 and has been neglicted by his mother... and one day when she leaves him alone he starts a fire while playing with his G.I joe toy. When he is released from the hospital he goes to live with his auntie... On his nineth birthday his mother came back into his life and the same day... his aunt passed away! He was forced to move with his mother and step-father. His step father beat on both him and little sister- Then he found out that his step fathe...more

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Dec 28, 2007 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: teens

Shelves: fiction, young-adult-lit

Second in the Hazelwood High trilogy.

Gerald's story is like a bad soap opera: We frist meet Gerald, a battered and neglected child, when he is severely burned in a fire after being left home alone by his addict mother, Monique. He finds a safe and loving home with his Aunt Queen. When he is nine, his mother and her abusive new husband take him back into their home. The only bright spot for Gerald is Angel, his four-year-old half sister. Gerald finds out that Angel is being sexually abused by her...more

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Oct 09, 2008 Alana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone

Shelves: book-club

Alana:
I would have to say that this book is fantastic! It jus became my favorite story. The way the author created the situations are so much like real life and that's what made me like it so much. I thought it was going to be just like any other book, but guess what? I was wrong! It exceeded my expectations. It is about a boy named Gerald that is faced with child abuse and a drugged mom. He was very brave and this story had a very suspenseful ending. My favorite part was when I found out what...more

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Jan 27, 2009 Christine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 7th-grade-ir-books-stacy

This book is about a teenager name Gerald who currently attending Hazelwood Highschool.When he was 3 years old, his mother was addicted to drugs.She always left Gerald alone at home.One day when his mother needed to go out for a while, Gerald played with a lighter and suddenly the house was on fire.The good thing was that Gerald was rescued, except now his mother had to go to jail or pay the charges, but because she didnt have enough money to pay for the charges, she went to jail for a year.Whil...more

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May 21, 2013 Tytannie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Gerald is three years old and his mother, Monique, is screaming at him to sit down in the shopping cart. Gerald doesn't want to sit because he has had an accident in his pants and it's very uncomfortable, but he sees that his mother is serious and does as she demands. Gerald doesn't know many things three-year-old boys know because he's never been allowed that knowledge. For example, he doesn't even know that the name of his hometown is Cincinnati. But he has a great deal of knowledge vital to h...more Gerald is three years old and his mother, Monique, is screaming at him to sit down in the shopping cart. Gerald doesn't want to sit because he has had an accident in his pants and it's very uncomfortable, but he sees that his mother is serious and does as she demands. Gerald doesn't know many things three-year-old boys know because he's never been allowed that knowledge. For example, he doesn't even know that the name of his hometown is Cincinnati. But he has a great deal of knowledge vital to his survival - things like he should never try to get his mother's attention if she is in bed, regardless of whether she's alone or has a man in bed with her. Gerald has also learned to hide behind the couch anytime Leroy has been to visit because he knows that Monique might go on a rampage. When Gerald was a child he was fascinated by fire. But fire is dangerous and powerful. His mother always left him home along. When she was there he played with lighters and matches.one day she made him hold his out and do move it and, it burned the palm of his hand. She got dressed and told Gerald that she’ll be right back. Gerald didn’t put up a fuse, because he knew that he would get into trouble. He was playing with his toys and he had some matches .he light it up and he called it a blow torch. He got too close to a curtain and it burst up into flames. He watched it for a while then he went hide behind the sofa. A boy are a girl went to see if he was almost dead from smoke. They call 911 I think and the came Gerald was rushed to the hospital they seen all the bruise took him from his mom. She went to jail she pregnant but Gerald didn’t know. He was scared then aunt queen came he stayed with her then wen Gerald was 9 his mom came back for him. Monica wanted him to stay with her Jordan and his little sister angle. He left mad came back his mom and Jordan had left but angle stayed. They played outside came in aunte queen was dead. Gerald had no chose but live with his mom now. Jordan treated ever one in the house wrong. He love to play I touch you don’t tell with angle. She didn’t know what to do too scared to tell someone. Gerald finally did something and Jordan went to jail. Jordan was out 6 years after the arrest and went back for angle. Gerald caught his again, but this time by himself angle was cooking so the house is on fire she ran Jordan kick Gerald with his cowboy boot to in the knee. Gerald had to crawl him and then they got up Jordan left them to die but he died leaving out. They tripped over his and they feel down the steps but they were saved. Jordan was gone for good. Gerald loses a best friend in a car accident also that was very sad. Drinking and driving it’s not god look what happened to Andy.(less)

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Mar 27, 2013 Andrea Henderson rated it 5 of 5 stars

In the beginning Gerald was three years old and stayed with his drug abusing mother in an apartment in Cincinnati. When he misbehaved his mother would scold him very badly. Even though he really didn't know any better his mother expected a lot out of him. He knew a lot of things for his age. He knew not to play with his mother's cigarette lighter, even though the colors were fascinating to him. He also don't bother his mother while she was in bed with someone or not to come out while his mother...more In the beginning Gerald was three years old and stayed with his drug abusing mother in an apartment in Cincinnati. When he misbehaved his mother would scold him very badly. Even though he really didn't know any better his mother expected a lot out of him. He knew a lot of things for his age. He knew not to play with his mother's cigarette lighter, even though the colors were fascinating to him. He also don't bother his mother while she was in bed with someone or not to come out while his mother was sniffing crack. One day while Gerald's mother left him in the house all day and he was bored so he picked up her lighter and started flicking it. He knew he wasn't suppose to but he continued to then the fire spreaded to the curtains and a huge fire started. He was scared and curled up in a ball behind the couch. When he woke up he ended up in the hospital and his mother would be going to jail for child endangerment. His great aunt Queen took him in and raised him for the next six years. On his ninth birthday his mother came to visit him he didn't really want to see here because he started to resent her. But he soon founf out that he had a little sister and a stepdad. The same day his Aunt Queen had a heart attack and passed away and was forced to move with his mom, sister and stepfather.

The rest of the story took place at Gerald's mother Monique's house. Over time he noticed how mean and abusive his stepfather Jordan was to all of them. He would hit Gerald his little sister Angel and his mother for stupid reason. Gerald soon found out that Jordan was molesting Angel when nobody was around. Angel was very afraid to talk about it because Jordan threatened to kill them if Angel told anyone. Gerald was so hurt finding out that his little sister was being touched by her own father that he went to his friends dad and told him what was going on. Jordan was arrested and put on trial and Gerald and Angel had to testify to the courts what had been going on. Their mother didn't believe them and kept calling them liars. But Jordan was put into jail for a little time. Years later he was released and came back to the house and attempted to do the same thing againg but Gerald much older and stronger fought him off and Jordan ended up dying. (less)

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Mar 13, 2013 Merissa added it Recommends it for: teenagers

Recommended to Merissa by: a teacher

If you think you have had a lot of troubles in your life then “Forged by Fire” by Sharon M. Draper, which is a realistic fiction, will make you think twice about that! It will actually make you thankful for the life you live. I came across this book in my schools library looking for a book to read for class, I read the back of the book and thought it sounded interesting so I decided to read it. The book turned out to be really good. It also made me very blessed to have the family I have. I woul...more If you think you have had a lot of troubles in your life then “Forged by Fire” by Sharon M. Draper, which is a realistic fiction, will make you think twice about that! It will actually make you thankful for the life you live. I came across this book in my schools library looking for a book to read for class, I read the back of the book and thought it sounded interesting so I decided to read it. The book turned out to be really good. It also made me very blessed to have the family I have. I would strongly encourage people to read it!
In “Forged by Fire” the main character Gerald faces so many troubles in his life, it’s really sad. Gerald’s mom was on drugs so she didn’t pay much attention to him, he was only a toddler and his mom would just leave him home alone. Little Gerald would be home for hours alone, this sounds bad but, something bad was bound to happen, he was too little to know what to do when he was home alone. You think that’s bad? Yeah, me too, well I did until I kept reading, it gets worse than that.
“SPOILER ALERT”
Gerald ends up living with his aunt who he adored so much. And of course things couldn’t always go good for him. For a couple years things were okay and Gerald was happy, but something heartbreaking happened to his aunt, and he had to live with his other again and there was a little surprise for Gerald, he now had a little sister, who he cared so much for. Once he moved in with his mom things immediately went down hill. Mind you, through everything that happened at his mommas he always stayed strong, and would tell his self he’s doing it for his precious little sister. Want to know the details of Gerald hard times? You should read the book then, it’s really good!
This book really did break my heart to read about those crazy things that happened to Gerald but it made me think about my life and how good I have it. Maybe your life is as rough as Gerald’s but I bet it will make you feel like you’re not alone. I don’t really have recommendations of any other books. If you like this book or this author you should read some of her other books, like “Tears of a Tiger” or “Just another Hero!” Hope I was some help to you!
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Jan 24, 2013 Lorna rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: No One

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Not my typical book to read. I read it for a friend. I would NOT recommend this book to anyone younger than 16. This book deals with incest/sexual abuse, child abuse, domestic abuse, and drugs.

First, I would like to say it was a very tough book to read, and I am an adult. However, I can understand why a person may want to read it; it addresses some painful social issues - issues that have been going on since the beginning of time - issues that one can see on the news. However, with that said - T...more Not my typical book to read. I read it for a friend. I would NOT recommend this book to anyone younger than 16. This book deals with incest/sexual abuse, child abuse, domestic abuse, and drugs.

First, I would like to say it was a very tough book to read, and I am an adult. However, I can understand why a person may want to read it; it addresses some painful social issues - issues that have been going on since the beginning of time - issues that one can see on the news. However, with that said - THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AGE KIDS!

I am not even sure if some high school kids should read it - especially the sensitive ones.
The book addresses some good things. Like, for one, Gerald finally has the courage to tell someone, which causes the arrest of Jordon. Nevertheless, there are way too many other things wrong with the book.

1. It shows women/mothers in a bad light - shows them as the weaker sex and that as that weaker sex the man is the "boss.” Domestic abuse is a huge problem in America and kids that age need Positive role models. The only positive role models were Mr. Washington and Aunt Queen. For a young girl to read how the mother was portrayed could be damaging to her self-esteem and outlook as a future mother - especially if she finds herself in that type of situation. In addition, with the man portrayed as he was, some young guy might just follow in those footsteps.

2. True, Gerald finally spoke up - but the "system" failed him (and Angel) from the beginning. If a social worker was doing his or her job - the abuse would have stopped the first time Angel went to the hospital. Yes, the "father" was arrested but look at the emotional abuse he inflicted on them when he returned.

3. The reading of the abuse is awful. Thankfully, it was not any more graphic than it was.

4. This may be real life but for a child going through those situations in real life - pushing those issues down them may push them away even further. True, reading this book may help the child who is being abused by them seeing that they can tell someone to get help - but that was not the main focus of the book - just a couple of chapters - a sub-thought if you would call it that.

Even at the end of the book when the fire takes place, it is violent. Kids see this at the movies but it does not make it right. There is all this talk in the media about guns, violent video games, violent movies - why are they not addressing books like this or true-life family situations. It makes me sick. Reading a book like this is just as dangerous as watching a movie or playing a game.

In my opinion, it is possible this book could be used for good (if read in the senior year or even college) - provided that a guidance counselor or other "trained" individual be available for counseling and talks. (less)

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Jan 11, 2013 Sophia Chow rated it 3 of 5 stars

Forged By Fire Simon Pulse, 2011, 160 pp., $6.99
Sharon M. Draper ISBN: 0689818513

Being a High Schooler is definitely not easy, and it is even more though with a broken family or an unorganized family. Gerald, is a typical high school who attends HazelWood High School, but as a kid who grew up in a broken family, life isn't as easy as he thinks.

In the Book, Forged By Fire , Gerald is a highschooler in HazelWood High School and is also part of the school's basketball team. He is a very nice...more Forged By Fire Simon Pulse, 2011, 160 pp., $6.99
Sharon M. Draper ISBN: 0689818513

Being a High Schooler is definitely not easy, and it is even more though with a broken family or an unorganized family. Gerald, is a typical high school who attends HazelWood High School, but as a kid who grew up in a broken family, life isn't as easy as he thinks.

In the Book, Forged By Fire , Gerald is a highschooler in HazelWood High School and is also part of the school's basketball team. He is a very nice kid, and have a lot of friends, also do very well in showing his basketball skills. When Gerald was young, he faced a fire at home alone with his mom out with drug dealers. Because of this, his mom was arrested, and Gerald had to stay with his aunt. At this time, Gerald had wonderful times with his aunt, it was very enjoyable to him and he loved her. However, his aunt grew sick and died at last. Later, Gerald's mom is out of prison, and he also finds out that he has a little sister named Angel. Angel loves to dance, and this want to persue her dream of becoming a great dancer. They lived together, but Gerald finds out that his father is very scary and abusive. While trying to maintain his school life, and protecting and mom from his dad, Gerald is willing to do everything for their safety of being abused by his father. What will happen at the end? Will his mom and Angel be abused? What will they do to stay away from the abuzive father?

While reading this book, I felt how Gerald and his sister, Angel felt. I feel very bad for them for being so young and to face a serious problem and managing to maintain a family by themselves. This book is very good and I especially like to read Sharon M. Draper books because they usually connect to teen issues. I'll also like to recommend this book to teenagers because these issues can be related to many of you and Gerald and Angel's problem will be easily understood by teens.

Forged By Fire is a book with lots of surprises and a great plots. It is definitely entertaining to read and easy to make connections to people and our outer world. This book also contains a mortal/lesson to teach people to make wise decision and always stay out of problems.

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Jan 10, 2013 Cody Murphy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Forged by fire was a great book. I liked it because it was an easy read and it teaches a good life lesson. Gerald had a rough childhood to say the least. His mother was a drug addict and was constantly neglecting Gerald. Home alone, Gerald was playing with his moms lighter and started a fire in the house. Gerald almost died in the fire, but was rescued just in time. After his mother was sent to prison for child neglecting Gerald, he found his new hero and role model, his aunt and grew up living...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Josies123 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Book Review Project

1. A. Forged By Fire
Sharon M. Draper
Young Adults
Child abuse, neglect, and deaths
Young adults or Teenagers

B. This book starts out giving us back ground information about Gerald and his life living with his mother. She was on drugs and was not fit to be a mother. One day she leaves him alone and the house catches on fire. Not only did Gerald almost loose his life at age 3 but, this causes his mother to go to jail, his aunt Queen to get custody of his, and lost their home and...more

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Nov 27, 2012 Antonina Busalacchi rated it 4 of 5 stars

How would you feel if your favorite person in the world died? Seventeen year old Gerald Nickelby went through pain and fear when his loving and caring aunt passed away. His mom was an alcholic. When Gerald was only three he was taken to live with his aunt because his mom wasn't stable enough to take care of him. Gerald grew up with his aunt until he was about seven. Eventually she died because she had pains in her chest and couldn't breathe and know one was there to make it in time for her.
His m...more How would you feel if your favorite person in the world died? Seventeen year old Gerald Nickelby went through pain and fear when his loving and caring aunt passed away. His mom was an alcholic. When Gerald was only three he was taken to live with his aunt because his mom wasn't stable enough to take care of him. Gerald grew up with his aunt until he was about seven. Eventually she died because she had pains in her chest and couldn't breathe and know one was there to make it in time for her.
His mom eventually came back after four years for Gerald's birthday. Aunt Queen was alive at that time but died a couple of hours later as soon as she arrived. Gerald's mom Monique had a husband. His name was Jordan and they had one little girl together. Her name was Angel. As soon as Gerald and her met they were so close. They loved to be around each other. They all moved in with each other as one family. But things didn't go well.Not only Gerald had a stepfather, there was something that wasn't right with him. He was Brutal. He always slapped Gerald if he didn't do something and touched Angel in a way she didn't like it. He made her not tell what he was doing to her or else he would kill her cat Tiger that she got for Christmas. He always made Gerald's life miserable. As Gerald and Angel grew closer he strives to protect Angel at all times when Jodan was present.Will Gerald be able to step up to protect Angel or will he be afraid?
Gerald was a guy with a loving heart.He always loved to be around his Aunt Queen and did anything for her. He loved the way she would decorate for Christmas because his mom didn't do any of that for him. He always went to school and did what he was supposed to do. He felt like home when he was with his aunt and didn't want to change any of that. He did what he had to, to protect his precious little step sister from harm or anything that was bothering her.
I think this is a good book that can catch a reader's attention. It spills out that in life your going to come across tough situations and your going to need to go through some tough obstacles to get through it.For example, when aunt Queen died,Gerald had to live in a househould that was filled with anger and abuse and he had no escape but he evntually had to try harder and even go out of his way to make a change for him and especially for Angel. I recommend that everyone should read this book.
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Nov 11, 2012 Bradleywilliamson rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think this book was a very good read that shows extremely important values of leadership by the main character and shows other very important characteristics. It also has a very interesting and great storyline that keeps you wanting to read and not stop. I'm not much of a reader at all but I loved reading forged by fire. This book is about the main character having a very rough childhood growing up. His mom was very neglectful when he was young, and almost got him killed because she didnt pay...more

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Oct 21, 2012 Suzanna Passafiume rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed reading this book because Sharon M. Draper is one of my favorite authors. Her style of writing of makes it easier for me to understand what is going on in the book. She also uses very descriptive words to help me create an image of the story as I am reading it. I really liked the book Forged By Fire because it had a great story and was very suspenseful. I found myself wanting to keep reading the book to find out what was going to happen next.
The main character of my book is Ger...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Martha Nkangabwa added it

I have never felt the need to cry when reading a novel until I read Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper. The main character of the book is Gerald, who undergoes a life story that one can only imagine to be present in text and not reality. In the beginning of the novel,at the age of three, Gerald describes the relationship with his mother as one filled with both love and harsh parenting. “It wasn’t his friendly fire dancer, though, but a cruel red soldier that made his hand scream and made him di...more I have never felt the need to cry when reading a novel until I read Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper. The main character of the book is Gerald, who undergoes a life story that one can only imagine to be present in text and not reality. In the beginning of the novel,at the age of three, Gerald describes the relationship with his mother as one filled with both love and harsh parenting. “It wasn’t his friendly fire dancer, though, but a cruel red soldier that made his hand scream and made him dizzy with pain and he could smell something like the meat Mama cooked, but it was his hand” (Draper 6). After that lesson, Monique patched up his hand, gave him a hug, and told him how much she loved him. One night, Monique went out to go visit Leroy, her “crack” cocaine supplier, and left Gerald all alone at home. Gerald had wanted to play with the little “fire dancer” again which then had the apartment engulfed in flames in a matter of minutes. Scared, Gerald stayed at the back of the couch because they was where he told his mother where he would be. Upon his mothers return, the complex was surrounded by ambulance, police, and other tenants.

Soon after Monique was sentenced to jail for child endangerments and abandonment; and so Gerald was sent to live at his Aunt Queens home. There Gerald felt loved every day. Although Aunt Queen was physically restricted in a wheelchair due to a bone deficiency, she never presented herself to be handicapped. As five years flew by, around the time of his birthday, Aunt Queen dropped a bomb shell on Gerald. She had told him that his mother was out of jail and that she was coming to visit him on his birthday with a surprise. In the last five years Gerald had been trying to forget her, and out of nowhere he is faced in the situation where he must confront her after all this time.

On the day of his birthday, Monique came with her boyfriend Jordan Sparks and his new half sister Angel. When sentenced to jail, Monique was pregnant and no one knew. Jordan was big an ignorant and Angel was small and innocent. A few weeks after his birthday, Aunt Queen died while Gerald and Angel were playing outside and they had entered the house when it was too late. Now Gerald was forced to live with his mother and Jordan for his only guardian was deceased. Monique was excited to have her son living under the same roof once again for she was a truly reformed person.

The transition was something different for Gerald for he had been so use to the loving environment in Aunt Queen’s home. Jordan abused Monique when he didn’t get what he wanted or if it was one of the days where he had too much to drink. Gerald was begun noticing some issues within the household for Angel was very reserved. He had figured out the reason as to why Angel flinched around Jordan, because he was molesting her. Consequently, he reported it to a trusted adult, Mr. Washington, who then brought it to the police. After the trial, Jordan was sentences to prison for several years. Monique was angry at her kids for she didn’t believe the accusations.

Gerald and Angel were in the process of rebuilding their lives with Angel taking off in her dance career and Gerald in basketball when the bad news came. One day as they both entered the house, Jordan was sitting on the couch being served by Monique. Angel was scared for all her horrific memories had rushed back all at once, and Gerald was filled with rage for he was ready to kill Jordan for hurting his sister. Jordan was now on probation and preaching the idea that he was a reformed man. After a few weeks the act had held up for he had neither hit Monique and Gerald nor touch Angel and so people had believed him. Then one day when Angel was home alone, Jordan was drunk and outrage and tried to touch Angel again but then Gerald came in at the scene. Jordan wacked Gerald to the ground to the point where he was bleeding from his mouth. IN addition the house was on fire so Gerald found Angel and got them both out of there. As the police and firefighters made their way to the apartment they found Jordan dead one the stairs for he had inhaled too much smoke and fell down the stairs.

This book embodied the strength of a sibling relationship, blinded love, bravery, courage, communal support. Gerald had only known Angel for a few hours but their care for each other was as if they had known each other forever. He stood in the way of Jordan attacking her and stayed come to ensure that Jordan could get nowhere near her. In addition he always made sure that Angel was happy and taken care off in supporting her dream to become a dancer. They were in it together until the end, and Draper does a great job of illustrating that clearly to the reader in a short amount of text as possible. Monique throughout the entire novel was blinded by her “love” for Jordan that she ignored and justified his abuses. She stated that the reason that Jordan hit her was to remind her that he was the man of the house. Also, when her own children approached her about the sexual abuse by Jordan to Angel she immediately said they were lying.

Gerald was strong for going to an adult with the information that his young sister was being abused. Usually in situations like that people take months and even years to report abusers but Gerald did it almost immediately. He took upon a man almost twice his size to protect the well being of his sister and mother as well. Courage was truly embodied by the young Angel, for she testified in court and identified her father as her attacker. Nothing could have been possible without the help of the community. Gerald always knew that he could call Mr. Washington for he was the one who arranged the county hearing, provided transportation for the children, and a place to stay whenever necessary.

I personally like this book becasue I enjoy reading anything with storng, determined, and loving characters and i feel as if Gerald embodied all those charateristics. IN additon, a book that embodies a domestic struggle of some sort always seems to draw me in becuase I find it easier to connect with an issue from the domestic shpere versus on on say the national level.

I would recommend this book for anyone who wished to read a moving story about how two kids conquered one of the greatest obstacles in life together and how they grew from it.
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Mar 19, 2012 Allison added it

When Gerald is little his mother, who is a drug addict, leaves him alone too often and one day sets their apartment on fire. While his mom is accused of neglecting him, Gerald is sent to live with his Aunt Queen. Aunt Queen who is in a wheelchair loves Gerald with her whole heart and more than anyone has before. When he turns nine his mother and a new man visit him with his new little sister and take him home. Gerald refuses to leave, but when Aunt Queen dies of a heart attack he has no choice....more

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Nov 26, 2011 Leslie Morrison rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: african-american, characterization, community-action, death-and-dying, family, realistic-fiction, school, young-adult, sexual-physical-abuse, drug-abuse

This book addresses topics such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, drug abuse, and child abandonment. Characters are compelling but tend to be rather flat: either bad or good, evil or angelic. The main character, Gerald, possesses an amazing ability to maintain a "normal" exterior life while enduring a home life of abuse. Luckily he has the support of his friend's father, who provides a safe haven for him and his sister, Angel, when possible. The book is plot-driven and the ending is dramatic and...more

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Sep 24, 2011 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classroom-library, realistic-fiction, young-adult

Draper has shone a much-needed light on the issue of child abuse, especially by exposing the fact that adults who are convicted and incarcerated for abusing and neglecting their children are often granted custody of those same kids after being released from prison. This is a shameful practice, and the psychological trauma that this puts children through is portrayed effectively in Forged by Fire.

The first chapter of this book, told through the third-person omniscient perspective of three-year-ol...more

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Aug 29, 2011 Makagbeh rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is very interesting and also sad. It’s about two siblings, who struggle in their life. Gerald was at the age of three, when his mother Monique abandoned him. Gerald almost killed himself with the fire in the room before, the ambulance arrive to take him to the hospital. In the hospital, Gerald was turn over to aunt queen. Monique, Gerald mother was sent to jail for child abandonment for six years. Life with aunt queen was very pleasant and comfortable for Gerald. When Monique was out o...more This book is very interesting and also sad. It’s about two siblings, who struggle in their life. Gerald was at the age of three, when his mother Monique abandoned him. Gerald almost killed himself with the fire in the room before, the ambulance arrive to take him to the hospital. In the hospital, Gerald was turn over to aunt queen. Monique, Gerald mother was sent to jail for child abandonment for six years. Life with aunt queen was very pleasant and comfortable for Gerald. When Monique was out of the jail, she requested for Gerald but Gerald was not very happy about living with his mother because his demand for her was weak. In the moment of time, aunt queen died. Gerald suddenly moves into a new home that were filled with anger and abuse. Jordan Gerald stepfather was wicket and evil. He was always molesting his daughter Angel, which make Gerald miserable because Angel was the only sister Gerald had in life.

Gerald was terrified to even explain the story to anybody, because he was afraid maybe the person might not believe in him. Finally, he fined someone that he truth, which was Mr. Washington his best friend Robbie dad. When they got through talking, Mr. Washington called the police and them they when together alone with Gerald. When the police enter in the room, they saw Jordan molesting angel and they take him to jail for few month. In that moment, Mr. Washington was very helpful to Gerald and his stepsister Angel. When Jordan was released, he never bothers Angel or even to look at her and Angel was getting very happy. One day, when Monique and Gerald wasn’t at home, angel was cooking and Jordan came in and tried to molest her again. Why he was in that position, the apartment got on fire. Gerald was coming from the basketball game, when he saw the smoke coming out of their apartment. He runs to save the life of his sister because he knew she was somewhere in there. Angel was conscious by the time Gerald gets there. Jordan was drunk; he couldn’t see his way through out and he drop at the stair and died. Finally, Gerald and Angel was rescue by the ambulance.
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Feb 27, 2011 Chantel Batchilly rated it 4 of 5 stars

I just finished reading the book " Forged by Fire," by Sharon M. Draper. she is one of my favorite authors. this book was about a teenage boy named Gerald. since he was young his mother didn't do the best job raising him. he ended up in the hospital when he was three because his mother lefted him alone at home by himself and he had made a fire. his mother was sent to jail and he ended up with his grandmother which he called aunt queen. she raised him for 6 years and then his mother decided to co...more

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Jan 31, 2011 Saira Gonzalez rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

For a lot of reasons, this book has changed my attitudes and thinking. Here's the summary: When Gerald's dear aunt dies, he moves in to live with his mother who has been in jail and is now released with his cruel stepfather, Jordan and with his new sweet sister, Angel. Angel and Gerald live in a world full of violence and displeasure. As if that's enough, their stepfather sexually abuses Angel who is much younger than Jordan is and who cannot do anything about it because of Jordan's abusive temp...more

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Jan 14, 2011 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I chose this book because there wasn’t a lot of pages and because the back of the book sounded interesting. The genre is Character vs. self; the setting takes place in Monique’s apartment after Ant. Queen dies of a heart attack. So Gerald has to live with his mom again for the second time. Description of main character Gerald is a loving, caring, miserable, nice, and supportive. Plot summary is Gerald at an early age was left alone while his mom went out for hours at a time. Gerald found a light...more

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Jan 07, 2011 Trevor rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was about a boy named Gerald. He had a hard life at the beginning living with his aunt that took care of him when his mother was in jail. Also when he met his mom again for the first time in 6 years he was very unhappy with her because she was already out for a year and he didnt know that. Later on his aunt died while he was outside playing and didnt realize it. Soon after he moved in with his mom, abusive step father, and little sister that he just found out about. His abusive father...more

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Dec 08, 2010 Josephc rated it 4 of 5 stars

I chose the book because my brother had told me that the series is good. So took his word on what he said and cheaked out the book.

The whole thing had begun with all four of the friends Gerald, T,J, Rob, and Andy at the basketball practice. They were are doing drills on the cort.

The main character of the story well is Gerald and his little sister Angel. I the story Gerald and the sister are being abused by there mom when they are little. When they get older thought the mom meets a man and he com...more I chose the book because my brother had told me that the series is good. So took his word on what he said and cheaked out the book.

The whole thing had begun with all four of the friends Gerald, T,J, Rob, and Andy at the basketball practice. They were are doing drills on the cort.

The main character of the story well is Gerald and his little sister Angel. I the story Gerald and the sister are being abused by there mom when they are little. When they get older thought the mom meets a man and he comes into the family and starts to do things to Angel and hit Gerald for no reason. The mom though doesnt seem to belive the two.

In the story mom get sent to jail for beating on the kids and has to do rehab for being a hype. Then Gerald has to move in with aunt Queen till the day his mom came back. Then when the mother came back she had the new man Jordan and a new baby sister Angel. Then they all move in together, because aunt Queen had passed away from a stroke. Now they all live as a family in this apartment building.
The problem in the story is that Gerald is trying to find a way to keep Jordan away from Angel. He is doing this because Jordan is sexually abusing Angel when nobody is around but the two of them. Gerald is also trying to get his mom to belive him, but she is to afraid of Jordan and to bissy trying to please him with what he wants.

Gerald solves his problem when he find a good relationship between his friend Robs dad. Gerald talks to Rob's dad about what is going on in the house and what Jordan does to Angel. Then one day he finds out that Angel is a home alond because she had the chicken pocks so he runs over to the apartment building where he lives with Rob's dad and the police and they chaught Jordan in the act. Then Jordan is taken to prison.

My oppinion on the book is that it was a good book and that it is good to have an older brother of sister to have you back when is comes down to it, because u never now when anyone could be trying to get you to do what your not suppose to be doing.(less)

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Jul 09, 2010 Jo Sorrell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: msbob-2013

this is the second time I read this book. First time 3 years ago when it was on the Battle of the Books list and it is on there again for 2011. Still just as disturbing the second time reading. I actually hurt for Gerald and Angel and almost cried when Queen died.

Gerald is 3 when the book opens.
Gerald's mama, Monique, is very rough as she hits him with her belt or shoe and hits and hits and hits. p 2
Aunt Queen looks in on him regularly. Gerald goes to live with Queen after he sets the apartment...more

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May 15, 2010 Q_joanneknowles rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Mature 8th grade students

Shelves: mc-literature

Forged By Fire is the second book in Sharon Draper's Hazelwood High trilogy. I liked Forged by Fire much more than the first, Tears of a Tiger. I couldn't put the book down. It's interesting how Draper takes a rather inconspicuous character from Tears of a Tiger and tells his story. While reading about Gerald in Tears of a Tiger, all that's said is that his stepfather beats him. Once you begin reading Forged by Fire, you'll learn there is much more than that. Gerald has an amazing story of his o...more

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Jan 27, 2010 Tanaya rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In the Book Forged By Fire Gerald is the main character. When he was young his mom Monique set there apartment on fire. Monique was sent to jail and Gerald has to go live with his aunt Queen. Gerald lived happily with his aunt Queen up until his 12th birth day when his mom was released from jail. When Monique came to visit she brought a surprise with her. Gerald wasn't an only child any more. Gerald for the first time met his little sister Angel. he also met his new "step father" Jordan. Gerald...more

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Oct 13, 2009 Drexel 6 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Have you ever been abused by your father? Did your hosue ever catch on fire twice? Well all these things happened to Gerald Sparks. When you read this book you will cry, laugh, and be eager to read the next page. As you read Forged by Fire, you will notice it has more drama than there is in movies.
This amazing story is about Gerald and his sister Angel surviving an abusive step father, a careless mother, and a dead aunt that took Gerald in. This heart-filled story takes place in Atlanta where ga...more

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Hazelwood High Trilogy	1	7	Jan 12, 2013 01:54pm

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Forged by Fire (Hazelwood High, #2) (Hazelwood High #2)

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