Shelly's Book Blog

Forge, by Laurie Halse Anderson, is the sequel to Chains, and both are excellent books set in the time of the American Revolutionary War. Forge continues the story of Isabel and Curzon, two slaves who escaped their masters at the end of Chains. The focus this time is on Curzon. He ends up serving in George Washington's army and is part of the force enduring that horrible winter at Valley Forge. Curzon does meet Isabel later in the book when he is recaptured by his old master and finds her working for him. Anderson does a terrific job, again, of using history as a basis for an exciting story about likeable characters. I don't think reading Chains first is absolutely necessary, but I would recommend it