Forged by Fire — Content Guide for Parents
Found in this book
- ViolenceCentral
- Scary contentSupporting
- Sexual contentCentral
Not found
- Religion
- Race & culture
- Climate
- Gender roles
- Gender & orientation
Couldn't confirm
- Profanity
- Profanity: The sources describe the story but do not show or list the book's swear words; one excerpt only says a child 'cuss[ed]' at his mother.
Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
Get the full theme breakdown in the app
Summaries and source quotes for every theme.
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Religion
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is Forged by Fire appropriate for a 7-year-old?
Gerald is hurt by his mother and beaten by his stepfather, Angel is abused, and the book ends in a fight in a burning apartment where the stepfather dies. The book has frightening scenes, including a house fire that traps a small child, a child alone in the dark, an attempted assault, and a blazing apartment fire.
Does Forged by Fire have violence?
Found (Central): Gerald is hurt by his mother and beaten by his stepfather, Angel is abused, and the book ends in a fight in a burning apartment where the stepfather dies.
Does Forged by Fire have scary content?
Found (Supporting): The book has frightening scenes, including a house fire that traps a small child, a child alone in the dark, an attempted assault, and a blazing apartment fire.
Does Forged by Fire have religion?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does Forged by Fire have race & culture?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does Forged by Fire have profanity?
Couldn't confirm: The sources describe the story but do not show or list the book's swear words; one excerpt only says a child 'cuss[ed]' at his mother.
Does Forged by Fire have climate?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does Forged by Fire have sexual content?
Found (Central): The stepfather sexually abuses his young daughter Angel, is jailed, and later attempts to rape her; this drives the plot.
Does Forged by Fire have gender roles?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does Forged by Fire have gender & orientation?
Not found in the sources we checked.
