Chains (2008) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Summary edit see section history

Characters/People edit see section history

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• Isabel Finch: The main character who is an African slave. The book is told through her point of view. She has a little sister and both of her parents are dead.
• Ruth Finch/Lockton: Isabel's younger sister, about five years old. She is a child with special needs and is referred to as "simple." She suffers from a condition that causes her to have random seizures, which Isabel calls "spasms" or "fits." Isabel feels very motherly toward Ruth, and thinks it her duty to care for her since their mother's passing. Ruth is very very cute!
• Miss Mary Finch: She owned Isabel, her mother, and her sister, Ruth. She died after Isabel's mother from smallpox. She had promised the family freedom after her death, but there was no record and the lawyer who had drawn up the papers was gone. She was the aunt of Mr. Robert. I was soo mad and felt very bad for Isabel though the book had only started.
• Curzon: Isabel's friend who is also a slave. He believes in the rebel cause because he thinks that when they champion freedom and liberty for all, and when they say that all men are created equal, they are including slaves and African Americans. He's a good friend to Isabel.
• Madame Anne Lockton: Isabel's new mistress (The master's wife). She thinks of Isabel and her sister as less than human and treats them in a spiteful and mean-spirited manner. She is so mean.
• Mister Elihu Lockton: A Tory who supports the king. He's rather rude.
• Mr. Robert: Nephew of Miss Mary who had owned Isabel and Ruth. When Miss Mary died, he sold the girls at a tavern right after the funeral for Miss Mary.
• Becky: She worked for the Locktons when Isabel and Ruth were purchased.
• Lady Seymour: Elihu Lockton's wealthy aunt. She is sympathetic of Isabel's situation and shows moderate kindness towards her and her sister. She disagrees with the buying and selling of children and dislikes her nephew's wife.
• Sarah: She is the bosslady of the soldierwives who move into the Lockton house. She is pregnant and eventually leaves the household when she has her baby.
• Hannah: She takes over as the boss-lady after Sarah leaves.
• Colonel Regan: He is one of the leaders of the Patriots. Curzon wants Isabel to spy on the Locktons in exchange for the colonel's help to gain her freedom.
• Jenny: Jenny and her husband own the tavern where Isabel and Ruth are sold to the Locktons.
• Isabel: A slave girl trying to find freedom, away from her owners and New York.
• Inkstain: A Loyalist that worked with Lockton
• Dinah "Momma": She died of smallpox. Died one year ago.
• Madame Anne Lockton: An evil owner, who treats Isabel with no respect at all ever
• Cuffe "Poppa": He was a slave who was sold and sent away from his family. Ruth and Isabel's Dad. Was beaten harshly when he tried to stop them from separating his family.

Quotes edit see section history

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• “She cannot chain my soul.”

  Isabel

Setting & Locations edit see section history

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• New York: Isabel, her sister, and the Locktons traveled in a ship called the Hartshorn to get here from Newport, Rhode Island.
• Fort Washington
• The Locktons House: A house which belongs to two people named Elihu and Anne Lockton.
• Boston: The site of a battle between the British and Patriots.
• England: Home of the King and Queen.
• The Graveyard: At the beginning, Isabel and Ruth come here with Miss. Finch's nephew to bury Miss. Finch.
• Newport, Rhode Island: Isabel and Ruth had been a slave to Miss Mary Finch there.
• The River Jordan: Isabel is told by a wise old man that she will need to cross the River Jordan (a symbolic crossing).
• Broadway
• Philadelphia
• Greenwich
• America
• The Tea Water Pump: The Locktons like to drink tea and a servant is sent to this special pump for water to make the best tasting tea.
• Tew, Rhode Island: Where Isabel and Ruth lived with Miss Mary Finch

Organizations edit see section history

• The Patriots or Rebels: They fought for freedom against British troops and Loyalists.
• The Loyalists: They remained loyal to King George of England.

First Sentence edit see section history

Glossary edit see section history

• brainpan: Isabel often refers to her mind as her brainpan.
• remembry: Isabella refers to her memories as her remembry.

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• The River Jordan: Isabel is told to cross the River Jordan. It is a symbolic crossing from slavery to freedom.
• Seeds: Isabel carries her seeds from mama. She plants the seeds without knowing how they will turn out. The seeds are symbolic of hope, both for the individual trying to reinvent her life and for the country still in its infancy.

Series & Lists edit see section history

Followed by Forge.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Laurie Halse Anderson (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction (2009)
• National Book Award (Finalist, 2008)
• Truman Readers Award (Finalist, 2010-2011)
• Georgia Children's Book Award (Finalist, 2011-12: Chapter Book)
• Carnegie Medal (Finalist, 2010)

Notes for Parents edit see section history

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Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Children's Books › History & Historical Fiction › United States › Fiction › Colonial
• Books › Children's Books › People & Places › Multicultural Stories › African-American
• Books › Children's Books › History & Historical Fiction › Fiction › Military & Wars
• Books › Teens › Authors, A-Z › ( A ) › Anderson, Laurie Halse
• Books › Children's Books › Ages 9-12

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