Forge

Forge is the sequel to Chains, following the lives of Isobel and Curzen, runnaway slaves in America and during the wars for American independance from Great Britain.I thoroughly enjoyed Chains, so much so that the second I finished it, I ordered Forge. The next book is Ashes but I don't think its out yet otherwise I it would definately be next on my reading list.This book is more focused on Curzen and his experience as a soldier.I like the fact that the author substantiates alot of what she rights about at the back of the book.Not as good as Chains in my view but every much as gripping.

Second in Anderson's US War of Independence trilogy.Great book to allow children to understand the issues around gaining independence, including the lack of rights to black slaves and women.

Daughter loved it

I read the first one three years ago and I felt it was unfinished so I read this. I thought the first one was definitely better and this one was OK. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it though, but I would certainly recommend the first book (Chains)

i absolutely love this book its gives a small insight to slavery it helps to open and lift your imagination.

Still waiting for the final one to come out of this series

A brilliant follow up to chains. I would recommend this to all ages and nationalities. American history can teach the world, not only America.

Forge continues the story begun in Chains, and finds teenage slave Curzon fighting for the rebels at Valley Forge after Isabel leaves him. I loved Chains, but I wasn't sure at first that I would enjoy Forge as much because it's told from Curzon's viewpoint, Isabel is absent at the beginning of the book, and I thought the story of battles and a starving winter for soldiers at Valley Forge wouldn't be my kind of book.I was wrong. This book is absolutely fantastic and gripping and like Chains, what makes it so enjoyable to read is the wonderful characterization. Curzon's voice is so distinctive and often very funny, which means that although I got a strong sense of the soldiers' hunger and extreme physical hardship at Valley Forge it never felt repetitive and the story never dragged.Curzon makes friends and enemies during his time in the army, but he is always in danger because he knows he isn't free and could be recaptured at any time. He knows that even his friends might think differently of him if they knew he was really a slave, because most of those fighting for freedom for Americans don't think that slaves deserve the same rights.The story begun in Chains and continued in Forge will be concluded in Ashes, but you don't need to read Chains to follow the events in this book. There is some additional historical information at the end which I enjoyed, but it's not essential to understanding the novel, because Forge stands alone as a brilliant story about a little-known aspect of American history.