Forged by Fire (novel)

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Forged By Fire
ForgedByFireNovel.jpg
First edition
Author Sharon M. Draper
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SeriesHazelwood High Trilogy
Subject Child abuse and Child molestation
GenreRealistic fiction
Publisher Atheneum Books
Publication date
January 1, 1997
Media typePrint
Pages160
Awards1998 Coretta Scott King Author Award
ISBN 0-689-80699-X
Preceded by Tears of a Tiger  
Followed by Darkness Before Dawn  

Forged by Fire is a realistic fiction novel written by Sharon M. Draper in 1997. It's the second book in the Hazelwood High Trilogy. It received the Coretta Scott King Award. [1] [2]

Contents

The story focuses on Gerald Nickelby, an African American boy who struggles with life after the death of his aunt.

Originally, the first chapter of Forged by Fire appeared as a short story in Ebony magazine in January 1991 under the title "One Small Torch."

Plot summary

The story begins with a three-year-old boy named Gerald Nickelby who lives with his single mother Monique. One day, she visits a drug dealer, Mr. Leroy, and leaves Gerald home alone for many, many hours. While he is alone, Gerald goes into her room and picks up a lighter, mistaking it for a toy, and he accidentally sets the house on fire. Afraid, Gerald hides behind the sofa and passes out from smoke inhalation. Gerald later wakes up in a hospital, confused as to what's happening. A few minutes later, Gerald's Aunt, Queen arrives at the hospital and becomes his legal guardian after the incident.

Six years later, Gerald finds out his mother was in jail for leaving him as a three-year-old home alone. She comes to Queen's house on Gerald's ninth birthday, and Gerald finds out that she married a man named Jordan Sparks, and they have a daughter named Angel. After Queen dies, Gerald is forced to move back with his mother, and discovers his stepfather's abusive side.

Jordan starts to molest his daughter Angel. When Gerald finds out, he gets help from Darryl Washington, his friend Robert's father, and gets Jordan sent to prison for his crimes. The story progresses to high school where Gerald is on the basketball team, and Angel is a dancer. Jordan returns from prison and tries to act like he's a changed man, but on the side is drugging up Gerald's mother. Jordan comes home drunk one day and attempts to rape Angel, who was previously cooking food. The stove soon sets the house on fire once more, and after a fight between Gerald and Jordan, the latter dies, and the two children are reunited with their mother and hopeful of a new future together.

Main characters

Minor characters

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References

  1. "Forged by Fire". Simon & Schuster. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  2. McEntyre, Marilyn. "Forged by Fire". LITMED. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  3. Draper, Shannon. "Main Characters - Forged by Fire, Travis" . sites.google.com. Retrieved 21 May 2018.