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Chains

(Seeds of America #1)

Laurie Halse Anderson (Goodreads Author)

4.10 · Rating details · 48,372 ratings · 5,462 reviews

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 ...more

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Hardcover, 316 pages

Published October 21st 2008 by Atheneum

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Teen Historical Fiction

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Sep 27, 2010 karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: and-so-this-is-grad-school, why-yes-i-ya, from-publisher-or-author

oh, i like l.h.a. much better when she is writing historical fiction than when she is writing her girls-with-problems books. not that this girl doesn't have problems - she is a slave which trumps anorexia as far as problems go**, but overall isabel is a more winsome character than les autres, one that you actually would like to see successful at the end of it all.

however, since this is the FIRST book of some larger undertaking (which they do NOT tell you on the cover, thanks) no one knows when " oh, i like l.h.a. much better when she is writing historical fiction than when she is writing her girls-with-problems books. not that this girl doesn't have problems - she is a slave which trumps anorexia as far as problems go**, but overall isabel is a more winsome character than les autres, one that you actually would like to see successful at the end of it all.

however, since this is the FIRST book of some larger undertaking (which they do NOT tell you on the cover, thanks) no one knows when "the end of it all" is.

this book would be appropriate for younger readers, i think - it seems less focused on the atrocities of slavery and more reduced to the experiences of one plucky girl having a little adventure with espionage and some incidental revolution going on all around her. the situation seems a little whitewashed, if you will excuse the word-choice, but it does seem pretty tidy and not as emotionally overwrought as the teen fiction i have been reading so far for this class.

(yeah, genius just looked at the back of the book to find it says "ages 10 and up", so let's pretend i just had an original idea and move along.)

it is very much like one day in the life of ivan denisovich in this way - you know there are terrible things happening to other people in this situation, but overall, considering the circumstances, ivan had a pretty good day - little extra food, little light labor - not as bad as it could have been. still shitty - you are still imprisoned and cold, you are still a slave to an awful woman, but at least there were some who showed kindnesses.

i got nothing else, except to note that the main character started out her enslavement in rhode island and then moved on to new york, just like someone else we all know and love. or know, at least...

**anorexia is totally a problem, i am just talking scale here. it is then way people in third-world situations view anorexia as a "luxury disease" because at least you have food to deny yourself. in this case, slaves are denied personhood, which must have a more profound psychological toll. it is an outside force saying "you are nothing", rather than an internal struggle. am i making it worse?? i might be. i mean no disrespect.

...more

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Sep 12, 2008 Betsy rated it it was amazing

My discovery of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Chains came at the best possible time. I had recently read and reviewed Steve Sheinkin’s, King George, What Was His Problem?, a book that looks at the stories behind the American Revolution that they don’t teach you in school. I enjoyed the title thoroughly, but one point had me baffled. Why on earth did American slaves fight or aid the Revolution when Britain was anti-slavery? It just didn’t make any sense. It reminded me of that black character on the k ...more

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Jan 06, 2019 Julie rated it really liked it

That the question was not whether, by a declaration of independence, we should make ourselves what we are not; but whether we should declare a fact which already exists. . .
--Thomas Jefferson

The author of Chains, Laurie Halse Anderson, is “descended from many soldiers who fought in the American Revolution.”

So am I. I am, literally, a Daughter of the American Revolution.

Yet. . . I know so little about it.

I have the basic facts and dates down, but it's the Civil War that has always been “my war.” ...more

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Aug 24, 2008 Janni added it

Halfway through: Wow, this is a painful book (in all the best ways). I'm wondering whether the story is going to manage to pull off some hope by the end, and if so, how it's going to do so without cheating. So far, a powerful book, and one that's hard to put down.

After finishing: A disconcerting look at New York City during the Revolutionary War from the point of view of Isabel, a black girl living there, hearing talk of freedom, and being reminded over and over again by both sides that the talk ...more

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Apr 29, 2014 Lindsey Rey rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction, 2016

[3.5 Stars]

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Dec 12, 2008 Brooke Shirts rated it liked it

It's taken me forever to getting around to writing a review of this book -- I read it about six weeks ago. I suppose this is because it's getting near-universal acclaim, while I found it rather ho-hum. Perhaps reading all the positive reviews of this book got my expectations up too high.

My main complaint is that the protagonist, Isabel, doesn't come off as a believable 18th-century character to me. It's the same problem I had with Catherine Called Birdy -- a girl in that time and place may h It's taken me forever to getting around to writing a review of this book -- I read it about six weeks ago. I suppose this is because it's getting near-universal acclaim, while I found it rather ho-hum. Perhaps reading all the positive reviews of this book got my expectations up too high.

My main complaint is that the protagonist, Isabel, doesn't come off as a believable 18th-century character to me. It's the same problem I had with Catherine Called Birdy -- a girl in that time and place may have had those thoughts, but would she have said them? To people who have power over her? It also seems odd that Isabel can read so well -- she secretly pours through Robinson Crusoe and later stumbles through "Common Sense," which would, I think, require a lot of practice in the act of reading. How likely is it that a slave girl raised in rural Rhode Island in the 1770s would have been given such an opportunit? But Anderson gives us little information regarding Isabel's life before the Locktons, so I can only guess that her previous owner spent an unusual amount of time educating her, which seems unlikely, especially since we are told that her former owner spent her last years in dottering senility.

This is just one example of how strange a character Isabel seemed to me -- more like a 21st century girl in costume than a believable person from her time and place.

To me, being able to correctly portray not just the events and details of a historical period, but its attitudes and ways of thinking is the most important aspect of historical fiction (and probably the most difficult to portray). It's often the gold standard by which I judge historical fiction. Want examples of this, well done? Check out Katherine Paterson's Lyddie (in which the protagonist is forced to do backbreaking work under horrible conditions, and when her superiors treat her poorly, her reaction is to work all the harder to prove herself to them) or Joan M. Blos' A Gathering of Days (in which the protagonist concludes that it was unwise to give a homemade quilt to a starving runaway slave).

There, I said it. Now let me just get ready to duck the rotten tomatoes . . . ...more

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Nov 24, 2017 Stephanie Anze rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction

"If an entire nation could seek its freedom, why not a girl? And if a girl was to seek her freedom, how could she do such a foolheaded thing?"

Isabel and her little sister Ruth are promised their freedom upon the death of their owner, Mrs. Finch. Its even drawn up on paper by a lawyer but when the heir of Mrs. Finch decides to sell the girls instead without so much as trying to consider their claim, their lives take a dramatic turn. Sold to the Locktons, a crown-loyal couple, the girls are moved "If an entire nation could seek its freedom, why not a girl? And if a girl was to seek her freedom, how could she do such a foolheaded thing?"

Isabel and her little sister Ruth are promised their freedom upon the death of their owner, Mrs. Finch. Its even drawn up on paper by a lawyer but when the heir of Mrs. Finch decides to sell the girls instead without so much as trying to consider their claim, their lives take a dramatic turn. Sold to the Locktons, a crown-loyal couple, the girls are moved to New York. As Ruth has some issues, its Isabel that does most of the heavy work. When she meets Curzon, the slave boy of a patriot household, he encourages her to spy on her masters. At first, Isabel is reluctant but when Madam Lockton does the inconceivable to Ruth, she decides to act. Isabel wants the freedom she was promised and she will not stop until she gets it.

Its been a while since I read a Laurie Halse Anderson book. I read 'Speak' a few years back so her writting style was somewhat familiar to me. In 'Chains', Anderson tells the story of thirteen-year-old Isabel. Having been born into slavery, she and her sister fortunately had an owner that decided to free them upon her death. The nephew, though, had other ideas. Instead of freedom, they were sold to a heartless couple with strong loyalists ties. The American Revolution has just begun. Curzon suspects that Lockton has vital information that can help the patriots defeat the loyalists. Isabel just wants to take care of Ruth but then something happens that makes Isabel change her mind. Heartbreaking and horrifying, this resounding narrative was eye-opening. Isabel has no allegiance, she is willing to aid whomever will grant freedom. As the fighting progresses so does Isabel's determination. Aimed at a younger audience, the descriptions of daily life for Isabel were not overly graphic but still hard to swallow. While slavery and the fight for freedom are the main theme of the novel, its Isabel's resileance that stands out. Will be seeking the next in the series for sure.

The historical background also plays a strong role in the narrative. Most books I have read about slavery are set in the South. New York is the primary setting and before the revolution it was a stronghold for the British, and while its not as known (or remarked about) it too was a colony with slaves. By 1776, one out of five people was in bondage. It raises the question of how could a nation be fighting a war for freedom and liberty when they held slaves at home. Its a fine line between irony and hypocrisy. The loyalists sided with the crown while the patriots with freedom. Slaves were pawns. Promised freedom by the British, thousands of slaves fled to the loyalist side but most did menial jobs. The motivation of the British in offering freedom for the slaves were twofold: strengthen their army and weaken the American economy but it was not done from a moral place. The "good vs bad" story here is quite complex as neither faction is blameless. This was an angle of the American Revolution I had not really thought about and I am glad Anderson shone a spotlight on it. ...more

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Jan 09, 2009 Tamora Pierce rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-yr, historical

Laurie Halse Anderson always writes well. My heart was in my mouth all the way. Sal is wonderful and feisty, trying to find a way out of a situation that appears to have no way out. My only objection is that there's a sequel and I don't have it! ...more

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Oct 17, 2017 Scarlett Readz and Runz....Through Novel Time & Distance rated it it was amazing

Shelves: american-history-middle-school

What a TREASURE!
What a JEWEL of a novel!

Amazingly engrossing and movingly written. I can’t say enough good things about this book. If you are a parent, an educator, a middle grade student or enjoy historical fiction reads, this is one you don’t want to miss out on. It’s the first of a trilogy, and the intended audience is age 10 and up. I have not read the next two novels in the series yet.

1776, the year of our Independence, Isabel and her young sister Ruth are sold as slaves to a couple from ...more

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Jun 21, 2018 Elizabeth marked it as not-interested · review of another edition

This book has sat on my shelf for literally a decade. I've never had the urge to pick it up but always had this nagging feeling that I should read it someday. Now I'm reading it and I'm just... not engaged. Am I a terrible person?

Personally I just don't think I'm a fan of Laurie Halse Anderson's writing. I couldn't get through Speak either and Wintergirls was a two-star read for me.

Oh well. I'm glad it's finally off my to-read shelf. ...more

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Nov 19, 2008 Jeanette (Again) rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Jeanette (Again) by: Kristine B

Shelves: all-fiction, historical-fiction, america, five-star-fiction, young-adult-books

Just a thoroughly enjoyable read. Young adults are the target audience, but the only way you can tell is that there is perhaps a narrower focus than you might find in an adult book. Thirteen-year-old Isabel tells her story from her limited situation, but brings in important events taking place in the larger arena at the start of our Revolutionary War.

This is a very well-told, well-researched story that just flows so nicely. There's a lot of skillful descriptive writing that made me put down the ...more

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Dec 20, 2008 Jamie rated it liked it

Shelves: 12-14, historical

Caveat: I don't like historical fiction, generally. Have I said that before? Anyway this book is a perfect example of why. I felt like the story was structured around the research, rather than rising organically from something. I felt like there were cool historical facts she wanted to impart, and she structured the story around the facts. The chapter headings, which are primary source quotes from history, only exaggerated this fact. And even with short chapters, which I usually love, it took me ...more

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Jan 06, 2009 Kaye rated it really liked it

Shelves: youngadult

When their former owner dies, two girls should be free. The heir, however, decides to sell them to a cruel Loyalist couple in New York. There, Isobel (the older and responsible sister) struggles to protect her younger epileptic sister. This book does a good job of explaining the confusion surrounding slavery during the American Revolution, and ties historical events to a character that we grow to care about.

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Dec 10, 2012 Barbara rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, african-american, on-my-shelves, audiobooks, 2016-reads, american

Once I got into this story it was very compelling. The story is set in New York City during the American Revolution and told by a 13-year-old enslaved African American girl, Isabel. Her owners are Tories, and Isabel's own allegiances are tied to whoever will give her freedom. There were a lot of action and events that kept me captivated. The audiobook narration was top notch. Chains is the first in the Seeds of America trilogy. Written for younger readers, it brings this period in history to lif ...more

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Dec 15, 2017 Linda Hart rated it it was amazing

It is 1776 and the Colonies are fighting for freedom from England. In New York a 13 year old girl, Isabel, is looking forward to her own freedom from slavery. She has witnessed her loved elderly owner sign a release from slavery for herself and her younger sister Ruth upon the lady's death. Buy when her owner dies, a distant nephew and the lady's only heir states the promised release from slavery does not exist, and claims the girls as his property.

Isabel and her sister are sold at auction whe It is 1776 and the Colonies are fighting for freedom from England. In New York a 13 year old girl, Isabel, is looking forward to her own freedom from slavery. She has witnessed her loved elderly owner sign a release from slavery for herself and her younger sister Ruth upon the lady's death. Buy when her owner dies, a distant nephew and the lady's only heir states the promised release from slavery does not exist, and claims the girls as his property.

Isabel and her sister are sold at auction when she meets Curzon, an older boy with ties to the Patriots. He tries to convince her to spy upon her new Loyalist owners. But she is unsympathetic and declares she will aid either Patriot or Loyalist as long as they can help her to break through her own chains. The girls endure harsh work conditions and hateful treatments that are getting worse and worse. "Madam," her mistress is an especially nasty piece of work. Isabel becomes spy for the Patriots after they promised her freedom. She becomes disenchanted with them when it becomes clear they only want freedom for white people. When she learns the Royalists offer freedom to slaves who escape and join the army she switches sides to help them. However, once again she becomes disenchanted when she learns that if a slave does escape from a Loyalist household, that’s a whole different matter.

Her friend Curzon is captured and cruelly treated in a Royalist Prison and she is reluctantly drawn back into the Patriot cause against the Crown, carrying messages from prison to captured officers and back.

The historical context isn't simplified, the Patriot cause isn't glorified, and the characters on both sides are flawed, complex, and rich. A masterful use of period turns of phrase and vocabulary along with a touch of dialect give Isabel a narrative voice that conveys a convincing picture of her times.
Each chapter begins with a quote from a primary source of that time period, which could spark discussion around blending multiple texts, author's craft moves, and integrating non-fiction sources.

Extremely well-written with wonderful metaphors and similes, impeccably researched, exciting, and heart-clenching, this is a fabulous read and a definite contender for the Newbery Award. ...more

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Nov 12, 2008 Donalyn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-historical-fiction

During the Revolutionary War, while Patriots fought for freedom from British tyranny, the enslavement of African captives continued on both sides. Laurie Halse Anderson provides another perspective on the war, told through the experiences of Isabel, a black slave in a Tory household, who is used as a pawn to spy for the rebels, who promise to help her gain her freedom.

I thought this book provided a new lens for looking at the Revolutionary War (and slavery) and I look forward to passing this boo ...more

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Jul 21, 2015 Sarah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: let-s-hear-it-for-the-girl, let-s-talk-about-race, let-s-talk-about-war, as-it-began, historical-fiction, empire-state-of-mind

1776 finds the thirteen colonies in the throes of revolution, but in this rural part of Rhode Island, the war has had little effect. Old Mary Finch just died, and in her will she freed her two slaves. Teenaged Isabel looks forward to being emancipated, but wonders what will become of her and her little sister, Ruth, who is both “simple” and epileptic.

But Miss Finch’s cruel nephew has no intention of abiding by his aunt’s wishes and sells the girls to a wealthy couple from New York. The Locktons ...more

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Aug 25, 2014 Rob rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult-lit

4.5 stars.

Maybe it's the childhood trauma caused by being forced to read Johnny Tremain and My Brother Sam Is Dead but my overzealous parents, but I've never been interested – at all, not even a little – in books set during the American Revolution. I don't have anything against the actual time period, but novels? Not so much. But leave it to Laurie Halse Anderson, author of two of my favorite Young Adult novels, to change all that.

I'm on record as stating that Anderson's Speak and Wintergirls ar 4.5 stars.

Maybe it's the childhood trauma caused by being forced to read Johnny Tremain and My Brother Sam Is Dead but my overzealous parents, but I've never been interested – at all, not even a little – in books set during the American Revolution. I don't have anything against the actual time period, but novels? Not so much. But leave it to Laurie Halse Anderson, author of two of my favorite Young Adult novels, to change all that.

I'm on record as stating that Anderson's Speak and Wintergirls are examples of just how good YA can be, but I wasn't sure if she could sell the historical fiction angle. I needn't have worried. Set in New York in 1776, Chains is narrated by Isabel, a 13-year-old girl who tells the story of her enslavement and subsequent turn as an American spy. She and her sister Ruth are sold to a pair of cruel and merciless British loyalists after their previous master dies and the will granting their freedom is lost. It starts slow (thus the missing half-star in my rating), but soon Isabel has met Curzon, another slave who is actively serving in the rebel army. Horribly abused by the her new owners, the Locktons (especially cruel is Madam Lockton), Isabel actively begins sharing secrets from the Lockton loyalists to the Patriot soldiers.

Commendably, Anderson doesn't attempt to whitewash Isabel's treatment at the hands of the Locktons. It's a difficult read at times – there's a scene where she's publicly tortured that's particularly harrowing – but it strikes me as vital that we remember that many of the founding fathers were at best sympathizers to the slave trade and at worst were slave owners themselves (hi, Thomas Jefferson!). And that's where Anderson's book is so savvy: she doesn't play sides, except to tell Isabel's story – which means, I suppose, that her only side is the truth. For slaves, there were no good guys, so the Patriots aren't painted with the stereotypical angelic hue, and the Brits and their loyalists are every bit as cruel as their colonial counterparts. It's a book of shading and nuance, of gray areas and sophistication, and for that reason it's easy to see just how dire Isabel's situation is. Who do you trust when both sides are equally devoted to your dehumanization?

Chains works for other reasons, too. The book is peppered with throwaway references to various aspects of 1776 – Nathan Hale, the reading of the Declaration of Indpendence, the attack on Fort Washington – so there's a palpable verisimilitude: Isabel's stakes seem real because she's situated so clearly in a real place at a real time. And Isabel herself is a vividly-drawn character with a strong voice that transcends YA's typical Spunky Heroine™. Chains joins M.T. Anderson's Octavian Nothing books as one of the most important YA titles to tackle this extremely dark chapter in American history. ...more

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Nov 02, 2008 Angela rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction, new-york, war

Laurie Halse Anderson is such a diversely talented writer. She not only can craft beautiful narratives filled with great characters, but she can deftly weave in historical facts as well. So often in historical fiction the author tries to shoehorn in historical facts in what feels like a desperate attempt to prove that they have done exhaustive research and don't want any of it to go to waste. Anderson's novel is brimming with historical facts, but rarely do they feel out of place.

Anderson's stor ...more

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Nov 15, 2010 Thomas rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction

Chains was a wonderful book by Laurie Halse Anderson - sad and filled with sorrow, but hopeful at the same time. It's historical fiction, which usually consists of deterring facts, but Anderson writes extremely well and keeps the characters compelling.

The story centers around Isabel, who was promised freedom alongside her sister but by a cruel twist of fate ended up being sold again. She works for an inhumane Tory family, of whom the headmistress is especially evil. Isabel is inspirited though, ...more

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Mar 22, 2012 Kathy rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2012

If you like historical fiction then Chains is likely right up your alley. I thought this was a young adult novel but it was aimed at a younger audience. It would be an appropriate middle grade read for grades 5-8, but was so well written it could easily appeal to teens and adults as well.

Chains is set at the start of the Revolutionary War. I'm no history expert but this felt like it was an accurate account of what life was like at that time period. My daughter has to read several historical fict ...more

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Jul 13, 2019 PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps added it · review of another edition

I’m a huge Laurie Halse Anderson fan and CHAINS is the first book of hers I didn’t enjoy. Giving a star rating is difficult because the book is well researched and a quality novel. I didn’t enjoy reading CHAINS and I would not have enjoyed it when I was a MG reader at age seven or eight or when I was a MG tween, which shouldn’t diminish the fact that CHAINS is an excellent, important book. I likely won’t read the other two in the series.

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Aug 30, 2020 Beth Anne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020

Fantastic historical fiction set leading up to and during the revolutionary war. The main character is a young enslaved girl in a Loyalist household. I loved how historical details were seamlessly woven into this exciting story. I would have been head over heels for this book as a kid and I can’t wait to get my hands on book 2. The author did a good job of keeping historical accuracy with the difficult details of how people treated slaves and captured troops. Sensitive readers could skip chapter ...more

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Dec 29, 2016 Rachel rated it it was amazing

I really loved this. It is so well written and really shows how unjust slavery was. The characters were very interesting, too. This is a really great story (it is also set in the same time period as Hamilton). I love all of the characters and seeing what they do next. I'm glad that I read this for book group again just because I got to read it in a new way. I definitely recommend it, especially if you like historical fiction. ...more

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Aug 15, 2017 Ninoshkka rated it did not like it

Shelves: put-down-for-now

PSA: BLACK PAIN IS NOT TO BE USED FOR YOUR CAPITAL WHITE GAIN, AND IF YOU'RE GONNA TRY IT AT LEAST DO THAT SHIT RIGHT!!

I really hope you all read this review because I have been seeing many people give this book an either four or five stars.

My main issue with this book as a black woman, is how uneasy I felt knowing that this book was written with a white gaze. No, I am not trying to say that people of other races shouldn't write points of views from people of color characters. What I am saying i PSA: BLACK PAIN IS NOT TO BE USED FOR YOUR CAPITAL WHITE GAIN, AND IF YOU'RE GONNA TRY IT AT LEAST DO THAT SHIT RIGHT!!

I really hope you all read this review because I have been seeing many people give this book an either four or five stars.

My main issue with this book as a black woman, is how uneasy I felt knowing that this book was written with a white gaze. No, I am not trying to say that people of other races shouldn't write points of views from people of color characters. What I am saying is that when they do, there will always be a certain stigma put around said black characters, or even a stereotype that clouds over a character's being. I will give Laurie Halse Anderson the benefit of the doubt and say that maybe she wasn't aware of it while it was there. yet these stereotypes left me extremely uneasy and I even begun to feel a certain hatred for the author while I was reading. Isabel, the main character was in my opinion too independent. One of the reasons why in historical fiction when the topic is slavery it flops is because the historical accuracy just rubs people of colors, especially black people the wrong way.

Isabel in all honesty, was way too independent. It always bother me when authors try to subtly pass over the reality of slavery. Isabel was born and raised as a slave, even if she was a rebel she would've known how to speak to her master, because of the fear of being lynched, beatings or watching a friend die as punishment of talking back. I read a review that even tried comparing reading this book to the same experience as reading The Little House on the Prairie or Little Women????? LIKE NO. IT'S NOT THE SAME. Another review even tried giving the topic of anorexia in this book a whole paragraph to explain it in this novel! I in all honesty found all these things extremely offensive, and washing over the real issues that this book (although poorly) tried to represent.
Lets talk about the master in this book. NOW that was the smack in the face for me. Mrs.Lockton the slave master, was in my eyes not portrayed as a villain, and this was really when the white washing began. In a way the author wanted the readers to almost sympathize the woman no matter how poorly she treated Isabel, I honestly didn't give a fuck that Anderson tried portraying America as this great colonization, and shade the British. What I did have an issue with, was her white washing the entire novel as if people of color should've done better when they were being fucking chained and beaten and raped. This book is my opinion was terrible, and white guilt is so fucking real, that authors can't even research they shit before they try to write from a black person's perspective no matter how young.
ALL I AM SAYING, IS IF YOU ARE A BLACK PERSON AND YOU'RE WOKE AF, THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR YOU! ...more

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Oct 27, 2017 Valliya Rennell rated it did not like it

Shelves: d-historical, x-reviewed-books, did-not-finish, a-1-5-stars

1.5 stars

DNF at 33%

Look. I really wanted to like this. I've heard such great things about it! Aaaand I didn't really like it. I don't know, but sometimes, you try so so hard to like a book, but its just not your type and you have to break up. And the thing is, I'm going to be meeting the author in a month or two, so that's gonna be awkward! The story follows the two sisters Isabel and Ruth as they are taken to work as maidens for the treacherous, Loyalist family known as the Locktons. They were ...more

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Feb 14, 2010 Morgan F rated it really liked it

Shelves: its-a-girl, series, read-2010, 2000s, goodreads-author, young-adult, historical-fiction, slavery, nfa-library, medium-sized

Laurie Halse Anderson is the bees knees. I love her. Every single novel of hers that I've read is powerful and well-well written. Her historical fiction books are no different.

This book is about 13 yr old Isabel, who is a slave during the time of the American Revolution. Following her mistress's death, she and her 5 year old sister, Ruth, are wrongfully sold to the Locktons. The Locktons are an influential Tory family living in New York city, which is divided amongst the Patriots and those stil ...more

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Oct 20, 2008 Ken rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya, finished-in-2008

A real writer's writer, Laurie Halse Anderson struts her stuff in the historical fiction aisle as she serves up the story of two young black sisters promised their freedom upon their Rhode Island mistress' deat; instead the young girls get sold to an unscrupulous Tory couple living in that 1776 hotbed of British sympathizers, New York City. Characterization and writing style carry the day in this novel, and it more than compensates for a plot which, like its principal, young Isabel, is bound by ...more

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Sep 25, 2008 Staci rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: anyone!!

This book was so many things; riveting, thought-provoking, horrifying, hopeful, joyous. I want to thank Laurie Halse Anderson for writing about a time period that I "thought" I knew about. Her book clearly shows me that I have much to learn. The story is based around Isabel, a young slave girl, who is sold to a very cruel Tory family. Everything takes place in New York. You will find yourself crying one minute and then totally outraged the next. If you enjoy historical fiction then I believe you ...more

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Jun 27, 2017 Leslie Bryan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: all-time-favorites, young-reader, historical-fiction

Laurie Halse Anderson really delivered in Chains. I love me some historical fiction and this one was one of my favorites. I appreciate the way Anderson approached slavery in colonial-turned-independent America for several reasons. 1) The story is based mostly in New York City, not the south. It's easy to forget that slavery was pervasive once and no region without guilt. 2) The treatment of Isabel (the main character) was accurate, yet age appropriate for the reader. 3) The setting is at the beg ...more

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Play Book Tag: (Poll Ballot Tally) Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson - 4 stars	1	7	Sep 15, 2020 10:01AM
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Year 9 Favourite ...: Chains By: Laurie Halse Anderson	2	2	Oct 27, 2019 02:43AM

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Young Adult

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Historical

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Childrens > Middle Grade

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Cultural > African American

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American Revolution > American Revolutionary War

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War

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About Laurie Halse Anderson

Laurie Halse Anderson

15,375 followers

UPDATE! SHOUT, my memoir in verse, is out, has received 9 starred reviews, and was longlisted for the National Book Award!

For bio stuff: Laurie Halse Anderson is a New York Times bestselling author whose writing spans young readers, teens, and adults. Combined, her books have sold more than 8 million copies. Her new book, SHOUT, a memoir-in-verse about surviving sexual assault at the age of thirte ...more

Other books in the series

Seeds of America (3 books)

Books by Laurie Halse Anderson

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Interview with Laurie Halse Anderson

She answers your questions about tackling tough issues in her books: anorexia in Wintergirls, assault in Speak, and now a parent with PTSD in the...

Trivia About Chains (Seeds of ...

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Quotes from Chains

“A scar is a sign of strength. . .the sign of a survivor.” — 124 likes

“She cannot chain my soul. Yes, she could hurt me. She'd already done so...I would bleed, or not. Scar, or not. Live, or not. But she could not hurt my soul, not unless I gave it to her.” — 71 likes

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