4.0
Chains
ByPublisher Description
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 belongs to whoever can provide her with freedom.
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 belongs to whoever can provide her with freedom.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesChains Reviews
4.0
“This is one of those books I respect more than I actually enjoyed.
The writing is genuinely beautiful—there’s a lot of strong imagery and emotion, and it tells an important perspective on slavery during the American Revolution that you don’t see often.
But I just didn’t connect with it.
It’s very heavy, and it stays heavy. There isn’t much relief or sense of hope while reading, which made it feel more draining than impactful for me. I also never fully connected with Isabel, even though she’s clearly well-written.
I can absolutely see why this book matters—and why others might love it—but it ended up feeling more like something I had to get through than something I was invested in.
Well-written and meaningful, just not for me.”
About Laurie Halse Anderson
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 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 @HalseAnderson or visit her at MadWomanintheForest.com.
Other books by Laurie Halse Anderson
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