Chains

Laurie Halse Anderson

Aug 2011 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this eBook

From acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson comes this compelling first novel in the historical middle grade The Seeds of America trilogy that shows the lengths we can go to cast off our chains, both physical and spiritual.

As the Revolutionary War begins, thirteen-year-old Isabel wages her own fight...for freedom. Promised freedom upon the death of their owner, she and her sister, Ruth, in a cruel twist of fate become the property of a malicious New York City couple, the Locktons, who have no sympathy for the American Revolution and even less for Ruth and Isabel.

When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the Patriots, he encourages her to spy on her owners, who know details of British plans for invasion. She is reluctant at first, but when the unthinkable happens to Ruth, Isabel realizes her loyalty is available to the bidder who can provide her with freedom.

Ratings and reviews

Laurie Halse Anderson tells the amazing story of a slave girl during the American Revolution. Isabel is actually supposed to be free, since that's what her deceased owner willed, but a greedy nephew takes it upon himself to keep Isabel and her younger sister, Ruth, enslaved for his own profit. With no parents, and no one to care about their fate, the girls are shipped off to New York to live with new owners. Aside from Isabel's plight, this book also follows the progress of the war from the standpoint of both loyalists and rebels. Readers have glimpses of the wealthy, the working class, the soldiers, and the slaves -- all while their eyes are riveted to the story of one lonely girl. Anderson develops a realistic setting and offers up details that serve to enrich this tale and keep readers interested. From a trip to the stocks to a hanging, we see the gruesome, and from heroic acts to cowardice, we see people at their most extreme. Anderson allows enough filtering and distance for comfortable reading, but expect no holds barred from this accurate author. The times were not pretty, despite the burgeoning of a new America. The writer neither exaggerates nor shields. She simply tells her tale, and it is most definitely one worth reading

It is an amazing story of an African american girl who has a young 3 year old sister who has no mother. And once her bitter sweet owner dies of old age her and her sister Ruth were sold to a snooty pair of rude, and repelling loyalist. For a lot of money instead of their close family friend who didn't have enough. After Ruth is beaten several times she couldn't take it eventually her and a friend soon to be cross "The River Jordan" with only the help of "GOD". In search of her sister who was supposedly sold a long time ago only to find that her friend is ill. After a compelling 320 paged story the adventure continues in the next book called Forge. Now this book is excellent!

This book is absolutely fascinating and it's ADDICTING! I have a paperback copy of this book so I didn't download it but this book is absolutely amazing! There are many things to emotionally torment the reader, whether it makes you angry, sad, annoyed at Madam's stupidity and rudeness and want to throw the book/your device at the wall, this book is a well-worth buy!

About the author

Laurie Halse Anderson is a New York Times bestselling author known for tackling tough subjects with humor and sensitivity. She’s twice been a National Book Award finalist, for Chains and Speak; Chains also received the 2009 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. Laurie was chosen for the 2009 Margaret A. Edwards Award and received the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2023, presented to her by the Crown Princess of Sweden. She lives in Pennsylvania, and you can follow her adventures on X (previously known as Twitter) @HalseAnderson or visit her at MadWomanintheForest.com.