Overview: Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson, tells the story of 13-year old Isabel. As the Revolutionary War begins, Isabel is fighting a battle for her own freedom and that of her sister Ruth. After being sold to the cruel Lockton family, and then being approached to spy for the Patriots, Isabel must decide what freedom really is, and what kind of freedom is worth fighting for.

Included:

·       A 20-question multiple choice test that covers the whole book. The test (or quiz) covers both plot synopsis and inferencing. There are two versions (same questions, answers scrambled), and a key for both versions is included.

·       -A mid-point quiz to check for understanding when you are about halfway through the novel. Key included

·       A vocabulary list-plus-quiz. The vocabulary list containing 36 vocabulary words from the novel, each complete with definition, sentence from the book that uses the word, and one additional sentence using the word in common modern use. The quiz is a 20-question quiz on the same words, complete with key.

·       an enrichment resource called "George Washington as General", with fascinating anecdotes and historical background on George Washington as a military general, especially focusing on his time defending New York, which is the setting for this novel.

Age Range and Length: Interest level is from grades 5 through 8. The book is 328 pages, so fifth graders might find it a bit long or difficult. The book needs at least six or seven reading sessions to take in, probably taking 6-7 hours for the average 7th grader to finish. The test included takes 30 minutes or less; the other activities take 20 minutes or less.

Maturity Issues: There are several depictions of cruelty and violence, mostly perpetrated by cruel slaveowners. This includes one scene where an enslaved teenager is branded on the forehead as punishment. The book confronts the cruel irony of colonists fighting a war for independence while continuing to tolerate slavery. Despite this, the Patriots are mostly portrayed sympathetically, and George Washington is portrayed in a positive way. There are no scenes of an intimate or sexual nature.

Additional Considerations: There are two other books in this series, which is called the Seeds of America Trilogy. Chains is the first book, Forge is the second book, and Ashes is the third book. The second and third books also have Isabel as a main character. They continue with her story after she attains freedom, and they tell of her efforts to find and free her younger sister.

Though the novel is fictional, elements of the story relate to the actual early stages of the war, such as the failed plan for George Washington's assassination.

Chains has won numerous awards, including the Notable Children's Book Award by the Association of Library Service to Children in 2009.