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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Forge - Laurie Halse Anderson

This is the sequel to the book I thought should have won the Newbery last year, Laurie Halse Anderson's Chains. That book was a stunner, and this book, while not quite as good, we certainly excellent. The focus of this story is Curzon, the young male character from Chains. Curzon has settled in with the Army at Valley Forge, where the conditions are harsh. Anderson provides a realistic view of the situation, and begins each chapter with excerpts from primary source documents that reinforce the realities in the camps. Te tension builds when Curzon's former master shows up in camp and builds until the end. I am not a huge fan of how Anderson abruptly ended both this and the previous novel, but at least this time I was more prepare for it. A great read. Highly recommended. Available at the WOMS library.

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