Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson

Laurie Halse Anderson writes historical fiction well. Forge, the second book in the Seeds of America series, follows Curzon, who escaped with Isabel in Chains.

Blurb from Goodreads.com: "In this compelling sequel to Chains, a National Book Award Finalist and winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson shifts perspective from Isabel to Curzon and brings to the page the tale of what it takes for runaway slaves to forge their own paths in a world of obstacles—and in the midst of the American Revolution."

"The Patriot Army was shaped and strengthened by the desperate circumstances of the Valley Forge winter. This is where Curzon the boy becomes Curzon the young man. In addition to the hardships of soldiering, he lives with the fear of discovery, for he is an escaped slave passing for free. And then there is Isabel, who is also at Valley Forge—against her will. She and Curzon have to sort out the tangled threads of their friendship while figuring out what stands between the two of them and true freedom."

I love how Anderson connects the reader to the trials that Curzon and Isabel faced, and reading this series can help us learn about the history of our country, and the history of slavery. At the beginning of each chapter, Anderson includes a journal entry from real people during the same time period. This helps the reader know that real people experienced the things that fictional Curzon and Isabel did.

I like the friendship between Curzon and Eben, and how Curzon helped him see that freedom should be for everyone, not just white people. I liked the descriptions of what the soldiers went through during the Revolutionary War.

I'll definitely get the third and final book, Ashes, of this series.

Read to a child today even if that child is you.