Isabel and her younger sister, Ruth, were promised that they would be freed at their mistress' death. Instead, her nephew nephew sells them to a wealthy Loyalist and his sadistic wife. At the Locktons' home in New York, the girls are made to work nonstop while the British and Americans fight over the city. When a young slave on the American side asks Isabel to become a spy, she agrees on his assurance that they'll help free her. But the Americans are ultimately no more interested her freedom than the British.
My Review
"Chains" is the wonderful story of a slave girl named Isabel. Her character captures the spirit of freedom. The book takes place in New York, during the Revolutionary War. This was surprising to me. Countless books tell about slaves during the Civil War, but you never here about slaves during the Revolutionary War. A question is asked throughout the entire book: "If we are fighting for freedom, shouldn't freedom be for all people?" The story goes into detail of the punishments given to slaves. For example, Isabelle is branded with the letter "I" on her cheek. It stands for insolence, but Isabelle later adopts it to symbolize her own name. Laurie Halses Anderson's words capture the spirit of the time period and causes you to hope that Isabelle will break the "chains" that hold her.
Stars: 5 out of 5
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