Author | Adam Bagdasarian |
---|---|
Genre | Young adult novel |
Publisher | Laurel Leaf Library |
Publication date | April 9, 2002 |
Publication place | United States |
ISBN | 9780440229179 |
Forgotten Fire (2002) is a young adult novel by Adam Bagdasarian. The book is based on a true story and follows the young boy Vahan Kenderian through the Armenian genocide of 1915 to 1923. [1] It became a National Book Award finalist, National Book Award for Young People's Literature honor, and the IRA Children's Literature and Reading Notable Book for a Global Society. [2]
In 1915 Vahan Kenderian is living a life of privilege as the youngest son of a wealthy Armenian family in Turkey. This secure world is shattered when some family members are whisked away while others are murdered before his eyes.
Vahan loses his home and family, and is forced to live a life he would never have dreamed of in order to survive. Somehow Vahan’s incredible strength and spirit help him endure, even knowing that each day could be his last.
Vahan Kenderian- the protagonist of the story. Throughout the novel, Vahan goes through many difficult experiences before reaching the final destination Constantinople and relative safety. He runs away from Turkish soldiers, fakes deafness, and experiences family deaths. Growing up in wealth, Vahan’s life undergoes massive change as the text progresses. After the forced separation or murder of those closest to him, the brutality facing Armenians proceeded to wipe out or estrange any possibility for connection going forwards. Despite this, he continues to find help and community in various figurest throughout the course of Forgotten Fire.
Forgotten Fire received favorable reviews from Kirkus Reviews, [3] Publishers Weekly, [4] and Booklist. [5] The book received the following accolades:
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