Chains: Seeds of America

Anderson, Laurie Halse. 2008. Chains: Seeds of America. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN-13: 978-1416905868

Plot Summary:

Chains: Seeds of America. tells the story of Isabel, a slave in America in 1776, and her little sister, Ruth. Despite their owner's freeing them in her will, their owner's only living relative sells them. Their new owner and his wife take Isabel and Ruth to New York City as the American Revolution begins. Liberty by the Patriots sounds like a great idea to Isabel, but her Loyalist owners cling to the British, who also promise freedom. The American Revolution begins and sides must be chosen, but does Isabel really have a choice?

Critical Analysis:

Chains handles the American Revolution differently than any book I've ever read about it. I am not a history person, but Anderson easily sucked me into the early beginning of the American Revolution through the story of Isabel and her sister. Isabel is a strong force to be reckoned with throughout Chains. When she realizes the freedom she was promised will not happen, her focus becomes keeping her five year old sister, who suffers from "fits" (seizures) with her. For awhile, Isabel is able to keep Ruth safe, but one horrible night, Isabel's worst nightmare comes true and her new owner's wife, who believes Ruth is demon possessed, drugs Isabel, and sells Ruth. At that moment, Isabel commits to freeing herself from her Loyalist owners and finding freedom. Most books I've read about the American Revolution do not discuss the effect of the war on slaves or even how slaves played into it. Anderson skillfully weaves Isabel and slavery seamlessly into the Revolution so that it is no longer just about the British and the Colonists. It is about freedom, but what will it take to be free and who gets to be free?

This question is partially answered by the actions Isabel takes as she tries to gain her freedom. Isabel is befriended by a Patriot slave when she first arrives in New York, and she agrees to pass along any useful information against her Loyalist owners. She is promised her freedom, and when her owners devise a plot to kill Washington that she overhears, Isabel immediately turns them into the Patriots. However, she does not gain her freedom, so she turns to the British, but again, Isabel finds disappointment. It seems that freedom does not apply to her situation. The British will not free her because she is the property of Loyalists. The Patriots use her for information but also will not interfere with her owners.
Chains shows the reader that freedom, even then, was highly subjective and practically non-existent.

Anderson obviously researched the time period extensively. The details of New York City are perfect and historically accurate as is the depictions of the Patriots, Loyalists, and the British. The abuse Isabel and Ruth suffer at the cruel hands of their owners is not downplayed and again is historically accurate. While the abuse does not make for a pleasant read, it is necessary in the novel for accuracy.

Ultimately, Chains is more than history in action. Chains looks at what it was like to be a young slave in a time period where no one, really, cared about how the Revolution would affect them and freedom, for them, was an illusion. The reader knows Isabel cannot succeed in her bid for freedom; but still, you hope she finds it, and in the end, the reader and Isabel are rewarded. Isabel is a character that should be celebrated and young readers should look at her experience not as a microcosm of the American Revolution but as universal to any experience they may have where failure seems a given.

Review Excerpts:

"Set in New York City at the beginning of the American Revolution, Chains addresses the price of freedom both for a nation and for individuals. Isabel tells the story of her life as a slave. She was sold with her five-year-old sister to a cruel Loyalist family even though the girls were to be free upon the death of their former owner. She has hopes of finding a way to freedom and becomes a spy for the rebels, but soon realizes that it is difficult to trust anyone. She chooses to find someone to help her no matter which side he or she is on. With short chapters, each beginning with a historical quote, this fast-paced novel reveals the heartache and struggles of a country and slave fighting for freedom. The characters are well developed, and the situations are realistic." Denise Moore, O'Gorman Junior High School, School Library Journal

"The specifics of Isabel’s daily drudgery may slow some readers, but the catalogue of chores communicates the brutal rhythms of unrelenting toil, helping readers to imagine vividly the realities of Isabel’s life. The story’s perspective creates effective contrasts. Overwhelmed with domestic concerns, Isabel and indeed all the women in the household learn about the war from their marginalized position: they listen at doors to rooms where they are excluded, and they collect gossip from the streets. Anderson explores elemental themes of power (“She can do anything. I can do nothing,” Isabel realizes about her sadistic owner), freedom, and the sources of human strength in this searing, fascinating story." Gillian Engberg, Booklist

Awards:

2008 National Book Award finalist
2009 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction
2009 American Library Association Notable Children's Books

Connections:

The end of the book provides an extensive explanation of parts of the Revolution that readers may be unfamiliar with and readers would highly benefit from exploring and discussing what Anderson explains perhaps before reading the book.

Chains now has a companion novel called Forge. For readers who enjoy Chains, they should explore Forge.

Chains will cause questions for readers and teachers should allow ample time for discussing the novel whether it be through set discussion questions from the teacher or a student led discussion. I am a proponent of student led discussions and would go that route in my classroom.