I know many of you have been wondering about the contents of FORGE. Sadly, you'll have to wait 101 days until the 10/19 publication date to really sink your teeth into it.
But Richie Partington of Richie's Pick's has posted the first review of it, for those who want an early taste.
"07 July 2010 FORGE by Laurie Halse Anderson, Atheneum, October 2010, 304p., ISBN: 978-1-4169-6144-5
"How many years can some people exist
before they're allowed to be free?"
-- Bob Dylan
"'Stop there! the boy yelled.
"The redcoat glanced behind him, caught his foot on a half-buried root, and fell hard. His musket flew from his hand, but he quickly crawled to it. "'You are my prisoner, sir,' the boy declared in a shaky voice. 'Lay down your musket.
'"The redcoat had no intention of becoming a prisoner. He pulled out a gunpowder cartridge, ripped it open with his teeth, and poured powder into his firing pan. His hands were shaking so violently that most of the powder fell to the ground."
The question that had come to me shortly after my beginning to read FORGE, and which continued to bug me was: How exactly does Laurie Halse Anderson write historical fiction so that it can be so easily read; so well enjoyed; and in such a manner that readers can connect so readily with characters who lived so long ago?
"Stop!' The boy brought his musket up to fire. 'I swear I'll shoot.' He wiped his right hand on his breeches, then cocked the firelock and slipped his finger in the trigger guard.
"The redcoat fumbled in his shot bag for a lead musketball.
"The boy squeezed the trigger. His flint hit the empty firing pan with a dull click. The musket didn't fire. He'd forgotten to prime his pan.
"The redcoat pulled out his ramrod.
"The boy grabbed the cork out of his powder horn.
"My palms were sweating, my eyes going back and forth trying to figger who would win the race to load and shoot."
by
That rocks, Wendy! It definitely shows that you've been doing something right.