83 pages • 2 hours read
Laurie Halse AndersonChains
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2008A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson is a historical fiction novel set in 1770s America, before the Revolutionary War, and follows 13-year-old Isabel, an enslaved Black girl. After the death of her owner, Isabel and her sister Ruth are sold to the Lockton family in New York City. Isabel becomes a spy for the American revolutionaries in exchange for a promise of freedom, facing numerous challenges as she navigates her perilous path to liberty. The novel explores themes of identity, family, and courage amid the backdrop of the American Revolution.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Laurie Halse Anderson's Chains is widely praised for its rich historical detail and compelling storytelling, vividly portraying the struggles of a young enslaved girl during the American Revolution. Critics laud the well-developed characters and emotional depth. Some reviewers, however, felt the pacing lagged in parts. Overall, it is a powerful and educational read.
Who Should Read Chains?
Readers who enjoy Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson are typically middle school to early high school students intrigued by historical fiction, especially centered on the American Revolution. They would likely enjoy books like Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson and My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier.
RecommendedReading Age
10-14yearsLexile Level
780LBook Details
Historical Fiction
American Revolution
Race / Racism
Society: Community
Relationships: Family
Values/Ideas: Power & Greed