Marshmallow reviews Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Marshmallow read Laurie Halse Anderson’s 2008 book Chains at school a few years ago. Today she revisits it for the book bunnies blog.

Marshmallow’s Quick Take: If you like books about history and life in the past, then this might be the book for you.

Marshmallow’s Summary (with Spoilers): Isabel Finch is a thirteen-year-old slave in America during the Revolutionary War. Since their parents died, Isabel has been the sole guardian and protector of her little sister Ruth, who has epilepsy and is deemed as “simple”.

Upon the death of their “owner” Mary Finch, Mary’s nephew Robert Finch claims Isabel and Ruth to be his property. Isabel knows for a fact that Mary’s will included setting the two sisters free. However, as a slave, she has no autonomy, and her voice is completely ignored.

Robert Finch sells the sisters to Mr. and Mrs. Lockton, who are absolutely horrid people. Mrs. Lockton in particular turns out to be physically and mentally abusive; she beats and berates Isabel. Mrs. Lockton is probably the worst character in the book. However, almost everyone treats Isabel as less than human.

The Locktons are Loyalists (people who are loyal to Britain) and discuss their beliefs and plans (with fellow Loyalists) openly in front of Isabel because they view her as something similar to furniture. Curzon, the slave of a Patriot, offers her a deal; the Patriots will help her get her freedom if she spies on the Locktons and reports to them. Initially, Isabel wants to stay out of the political unrest, but later decides to assist the Patriots.

Even though Isabel tries her best and is stronger than possibly imaginable, Ruth is sold away by Mrs. Lockton after she has a seizure (which makes Mrs. Lockton think she is possessed by the devil). And even though Isabel tries to help the Patriots, she learns that no one is truly on her side and struggles to find her sister again.

Marshmallow’s Review: This beautiful, heartbreaking story is the beginning of the author’s Seeds of America (or Chains) trilogy. In Chains, Laurie Halse Anderson, through the eyes and the words of Isabel, shows the horrific, repulsive nature and effects of slavery, and the story represents the struggles that a slave during the Revolution may have faced.

I think Chains is a very important book to read because everyone must be able to comprehend how and why slavery was such a terrible thing. This book shows the truth of this part of American history and does so without glossing over anything. In particular, we see the American Revolution in a new light, one where slaves are fighting to survive and get their freedom in a whole war of their own. This book should probably be required reading for students learning about the Revolutionary War, American history, or slavery.

The harshness of the world Isabel is living in and the sheer weight of all that she has to endure makes her one of the strongest characters I’ve ever read about. The love and care she has for her sister makes the plot particularly heart wrenching and the book an emotional roller coaster.

This book is appropriate for ages 7 and up. There are moments of violence depicting the physical abuse that is inflicted upon Isabel and gruesome descriptions (like worms in food), but all of it is needed to properly represent the time period and the nature of slavery. I think a mature elementary school student would benefit from this book, giving them a deeper understanding of what this time period was like for slaves.

As I said above, this book is part of a trilogy, and even though the ending is somewhat satisfying, I definitely want to read the next two books in the series now.

Marshmallow’s Rating: 100%.