Sharon M Draper

Forged by Fire Sharon M Draper

Brief Description: Teenage Gerald, who has spent years protecting his fragile half-sister from their abusive father, faces the prospect of one final confrontation before the problem can be solved. Marc Notes: Companion volume to: Tears of a tiger.; Teenage Gerald, who has spent years protecting his fragile half-sister from their abusive father, faces the prospect of one final confrontation before the problem can be solved. When Gerald was a child he was fascinated by fire. But fire is dangerous and powerful, and tragedy strikes. His substance-addicted mother is taken from him. Then he loses the loving generosity of a favorite aunt. A brutal stepfather with a flaming temper and an evil secret makes his life miserable. The one bright light in Gerald's life is his little half sister, Angel, whom he struggles to protect from her father, Jordan Sparks, who abuses her, and from their mother, whose irresponsible behavior forces Gerald to work hard to keep the family together. As a teenager, Gerald finds success as a member of the Hazelwood Tigers basketball team, while Angel develops her talents as a dancer. Trouble still haunts them, however, and Gerald learns, painfully, that young friends can die and old enemies must be faced. In the end he must stand up to his stepfather alone in a blazing confrontation. Sharon M. Draper has interwoven characters and events from her previous novel, Tears of a Tiger, in this unflinchingly realistic portrayal of poverty and child abuse. It is an inspiring story of a young man who rises above the tragic circumstances of his life by drawing on the love and strength of family and friends.; Coretta Scott King Award, author, 1998. Review Quotes: "Draper creates believable and important heroes for teenage boys--those who are forged from adversity, only to burn more brightly and courageous."Review Quotes: "With non-stop excitement, this is well-written, easy to read, and possibly an inspiration for anyone trapped in family situations involving child abuse or domestic violence."Publisher Marketing: Will Gerald find the courage to stand up to his stepfather? When his loving aunt dies, Gerald suddenly is thrust into a new home filled with anger and abuse. A brutal stepfather with a flaming temper and an evil secret makes Gerald miserable, and the only light in his grim life is Angel, his young stepsister. Gerald and Angel grow close as he strives to protect her from Jordan, his abusive stepfather, and from their substance-addicted mother. But Gerald learns, painfully, that his post can't be extinguished, and that he must be strong enough to face Jordan in a final confrontation, once and for all.... Publisher Marketing: When Gerald was a child he was fascinated by fire. But fire is dangerous and powerful, and tragedy strikes. His substance-addicted mother is taken from him. Then he loses the loving generosity of a favorite aunt. A brutal stepfather with a flaming temper and an evil secret makes his life miserable. The one bright light in Gerald's life is his little half sister, Angel, whom he struggles to protect from her father, Jordan Sparks, who abuses her, and from their mother, whose irresponsible behavior forces Gerald to work hard to keep the family together. As a teenager, Gerald finds success as a member of the Hazelwood Tigers basketball team, while Angel develops her talents as a dancer. Trouble still haunts them, however, and Gerald learns, painfully, that young friends can die and old enemies must be faced. In the end he must stand up to his stepfather alone in a blazing confrontation. Sharon M. Draper has interwoven characters and events from her previous novel, "Tears of a Tiger, " in this unflinchingly realistic portrayal of poverty and child abuse. It is an inspiring story of a young man who rises above the tragic circumstances of his life by drawing on the love and strength of family and friends. Review Citations:

Kirkus Review - Children 12/01/1996 pg. 1735 (EAN 9780689806995, Hardcover)

Booklist 02/15/1997 pg. 1016 (EAN 9780689806995, Hardcover)

School Library Journal 03/01/1997 pg. 184 (EAN 9780689806995, Hardcover)

Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/1997 pg. 312 (EAN 9780689806995, Hardcover)

ALA Best Books Young Adults 01/01/1998 pg. 1214 (EAN 9780689806995, Hardcover)

ALA Recmd for Reluctant YA's 01/01/1998 pg. 1225 (EAN 9780689806995, Hardcover)

Wilson Middle/Junior Hi Catalo 01/01/2000 pg. 458 (EAN 9780689806995, Hardcover)

Wilson Middle/Junior Hi Catalo 01/01/2005 pg. 604 (EAN 9780689806995, Hardcover)

Wilson Middle/Junior Hi Catalo 01/01/2009 pg. 825 (EAN 9780689806995, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:  Draper, Sharon M Sharon Draper is a two-time Coretta Scott King Award-winning author, most recently for "Copper Sun", and previously for "Forged by Fire". She's also the recipient of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Author Award for New Talent for "Tears of a Tiger" and the Coretta Scott King Author Honor for "The Battle of Jericho "and "November Blues". Her other books include "Romiette and Julio", "Darkness Before Dawn", and "Double Dutch". She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she taught high school English for twenty-five years. She's a popular conference speaker, addressing educational and literary groups both nationally and internationally. For more information visit her online at www.sharondraper.com.