Book Review #5: CHAINS

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Chains: Seeds of America.. New York: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2008. ISBN: 9781416905851

PLOT SUMMARY

The historical fiction novel, Chains, was about a young thirteen year old girl named Isabel who was a slave growing up at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. As the story unfolds, she and her sister, Ruth, who was five, were promised their freedom after the death of their mistress, however, they were sold to another couple in New York City, the Locktons, instead, to be their slaves. The couple treated Isabel and Ruth horribly, and eventually, Isabel decided to spy on her owners, with the encouragement of another slave, Curzon, since the Locktons' knew information about the potential plans for British invasion. The novel followed all of Isabel's misfortunes and triumphs as she went seeking out freedom for her and her sister, but the story continues in the novel, Forge.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Throughout the reading of this historical fiction novel, the reader didn't question the believability of the characters, particularly, Isabel, because of all the research provided in the appendix, along with other historical information in the book. Isabel was a smart, determined, and brave thirteen year old girl. Readers could relate to her, because she had problems to overcome, and she was willing to fight for her and her sister.

History was presented accurately and in a way that children could understand the events throughout the story. Many slaves during the Revolutionary War who were supposed to be set free, but were kept as slaves, were prone to run away. This is exactly what Isabel did, and she ended up facing many trials and losses because of it. Readers could imagine the British army marching down the street and see the rage Isabel had when she found out Mrs. Lockton had “supposedly” sold Ruth. Readers could also visualize the daily life in New York City in 1776 and 1777 and what it was like for Isabel as a slave during that time. The story maintained the authenticity to the time period and made the reader feel like they were a part of the story.

Major themes that ran throughout the novel had to do with freedom, power, and the strength of the human spirit. Isabel faced many trials with one of them involving the loss of her sister through the course of her master's “supposed” selling of her and the loss of her own freedom that she thought she had attained after her first mistress died. Power was definitely represented in the novel, and it was used for good and evil. The Lockton's used it for evil, along with many others, but then, there was Lady Seymour who used her power and influence for good within the Lockton household and tried to support Isabel. The strength of the human spirit was demonstrated by Isabel, because no matter what happened, she never gave up on life and the pursuit of freedom and seeing her sister, again. Readers of all ages could relate to these themes, since people have the same struggles today.

The historical novel kept the reader's attention, and the sentences flowed together in a smooth and fast pace, since the sentences were kept short and in a conversational tone. Most readers could imagine the characters walking down the street in New York City and see the soldiers in their uniforms. They could also imagine the speech patterns of the characters and tell the difference between the characters from New York and elsewhere.  Everything worked together in the novel to keep the reader's attention for the continued

story, Forge.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Janet Fisher (Books for Keeps No. 176, June 2009)
There are some outstanding historical novels for young people about slavery including Paula Fox’s Slave Dancer and Barbara Smucker’s Underground to Canada. Chains is of equal merit. Isabel and her sister Ruth, who is only five, are sold to a Loyalist couple, the Locktons, after the death of their mistress, and taken to the New York of 1776. Each chapter is prefaced with quotes from the documents of the time, giving the reader a snapshot of the historical background which is that of the American War of Independence or Revolution depending which side you were on. The Locktons are Loyalists but try to play each side for monetary gain. Mrs Lockton is a particularly vicious woman. At first Ruth is her pet but when she finds out that Ruth has epileptic fits, she tells Isabel she has sold her on to a plantation owner on Nevis. Isabel has been approached to spy for the Patriots by Curzon. At first she refuses but events persuade her to take this dangerous path. She flees to General Regan who has promised her safe passage but finds he cannot deliver this. She is beaten, tried, branded on the cheek and returned to her mistress. The war rumbles on – the British take New York thinking themselves victorious, New York burns and the Patriots begin to win some battles. Isabel wonders which side will give her freedom and help her to find her sister and the story ends on a cliffhanger with promise of a sequel. While the reader becomes absorbed in the story of Isabel and Ruth, the vivid and authentic historical background is imperceptibly conveyed. Isabel has hope and memories of her parents carry her through, although even those ‘rememberys’ are so painful. The prose catches the rhythm and pattern of her speech exactly, so that the reader can almost hear her talking. Isabel realizes that her soul cannot be taken from her and that gives her strength to make her bid for freedom amid the turmoil of war. This is one of those stories you hope will not end too soon! A sequel is promised. Category: 10-14 Middle/Secondary. Rating: 5 (Unmissable). ...., Bloomsbury, 320pp, D10.99 hbk. Ages 10 to 14.

Jenny Blanch (Carousel 41, March 2009)
Written with the horrific background of buying and selling human flesh, this novel reveals that one person can change their life if they are prepared to fight for it. Isabel and her sister are orphans and when their owner dies Isabel, the older and stronger of the two, fears for their future as the new owner sells them to a supposedly Loyalist, wealthy but spiteful, New York couple. They take them home just as the Americans are fighting for independence and the English are struggling to maintain control. A vicious and cruel act by the lady of the house triggers awful repercussions and Isabel has to draw on her inner strength to fight for their freedom. There is an undertone of menace, alongside the anger and danger, but lightened by a tenuous relationship with Curzon, a fellow slave boy in a red hat, which develops through adversity. Although reckless at times, Isabel is a feisty heroine and the story moves swiftly with the energy of indignation ... and hope.

Alicia Collura (Inis -The Children’s Books Ireland Magazine, Fall 2009 No. 28))
Chains is a classic American story about the fight for freedom -- a slave girl battles for her rightful freedom as American rebels struggle for their nation’s independence from England. Laurie Halse Anderson fittingly begins each chapter with an historical quote

relating the narrative in the chapter to a greater theme or story at that point in history. While Halse Anderson could have taken the somewhat obvious allegorical route of equating the experiences of Isabel, the slave girl, to those of the American rebels, she instead allows Isabel to evolve as any young girl would; Isabel’s political views change according to her own experiences and her greatest concerns lie, not in the politics of a nation which refuses to accept her as fully human, but in her own well-being and that of her loved ones. Halse Anderson succeeds in creating believable, three-dimensional characters and a genuinely intriguing tale, but at times the vocabulary and voice of Isabel as the narrator seem somewhat contrived. When Isabel, generally well spoken and intelligent, uses words like ‘conversating’ and, only every so often, ‘et’ rather than ‘ate,’ the reader is left to wonder at what level Isabel is actually an uneducated slave and to what extent does Halse Anderson simply feel that this is the way a slave should talk. The action in the plot moves along nicely, but the ending, or lack thereof, is disappointing to say the least. Halse Anderson, unimaginatively and in what can only be assumed to be a marketing ploy, ends the story, not at the end, but in the middle and informs the reader that the story will ‘be continued in the Forthcoming Volume Forge.’ Overall, a captivating read, but be prepared to invest in the second volume to, potentially, reach the story’s end. 2009, Bloomsbury, D10.99. Ages 12 and up.

*Notable Books for a Global Society, 2009 ; Children's Literature Special Interest Group IRA

*Charlotte Award, 2010 ; Nominee; Young Adult; New York
*Golden Sower Award, 2010-2011; Nominee; Young Adult; Nebraska
*Grand Canyon Reader Award, 2011; Nominee; Tween; Arizona

CONNECTIONS

*Explore characteristics of people before the creation of the United States

*Discuss slavery and its role in America's history

*Identify and research important people and events during the Revolutionary War

*Compare and contrast the lives of slaves and free people in the American colonies

*Other books by Laurie Halse Anderson:

Anderson, Laurie Halse Forge: Seeds of America. ISBN 9781416961444

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Fever 1793. ISBN 9780689848919