"Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson - Historical Fiction Book Club - Past Titles

About the Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Laurie Halse Anderson is an American author known for her contributions to young adult literature. Born on October 23, 1961, in Potsdam, New York, Anderson has gained widespread acclaim for her novels that tackle important and often challenging topics faced by teenagers.

Early Life:

Laurie Beth Halse was born on October 23, 1961, in Potsdam, New York.
She grew up in a family that valued education and literature, fostering her love for reading and writing from an early age.

Education:

Laurie Halse Anderson attended Onondaga Community College, where she studied art.
She later transferred to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where she earned a bachelor's degree in languages and linguistics.

Early Writing Career:

Anderson's early career involved writing for newspapers and magazines, including The Philadelphia Inquirer.
She began her writing career by penning articles, essays, and picture books for children.

Debut Novel:

Laurie Halse Anderson's debut novel, "Ndito Runs," was published in 1996. It is a picture book for children.

Breakthrough with "Speak":

Anderson gained widespread recognition and critical acclaim with her novel "Speak," published in 1999. The novel, written in the first person, addresses the traumatic experience of a teenage girl named Melinda Sordino.

Notable Works:

"Speak" (1999): The novel explores themes of trauma, silence, and finding one's voice. It has become a seminal work in young adult literature.
"Wintergirls" (2009): This novel deals with themes of eating disorders and mental health.
"Chains" (2008) and "Forge" (2010): These historical novels are part of the "Seeds of America" trilogy, exploring the American Revolutionary War from the perspective of a young slave.
"The Impossible Knife of Memory" (2014): Addressing the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this novel follows the story of a teenager dealing with her father's experiences in the Iraq War.
"Shout" (2019): A memoir in verse, "Shout" delves into Anderson's own experiences and explores the issues raised in her previous works.

Awards and Recognition:

Laurie Halse Anderson has received numerous awards for her contributions to young adult literature, including the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens.

Advocacy:

Anderson is a vocal advocate for the importance of literature for young readers and is actively involved in discussions about censorship, sexual assault awareness, and mental health.

Legacy:

Laurie Halse Anderson's novels are widely used in schools and have sparked important conversations about sensitive topics, making her a significant figure in the realm of young adult literature.

Synopsis

As the Revolutionary War begins, thirteen-year-old Isabel wages her own fight...for freedom. Promised freedom upon the death of their owner, she and her sister, Ruth, in a cruel twist of fate become the property of a malicious New York City couple, the Locktons, who have no sympathy for the American Revolution and even less for Ruth and Isabel. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the Patriots, he encourages her to spy on her owners, who know details of British plans for invasion. She is reluctant at first, but when the unthinkable happens to Ruth, Isabel realizes her loyalty is available to the bidder who can provide her with freedom.

Historical Timeline

The American Revolution had a complex impact on slavery. While it prompted discussions about freedom and equality, the institution of slavery persisted in many states. The post-Revolutionary era witnessed both the abolition of slavery in some Northern states and the entrenchment of slavery in the Southern states. The issue of slavery continued to be a central point of contention leading up to the Civil War.

The issue of slavery during the American Revolution is complex, and the timeline involves various events and developments. Here is a general timeline highlighting key aspects of slavery during the American Revolution:

1765-1775: Tensions Rise

1765-1774: Tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain escalate, leading to protests and boycotts against British policies.
1772: The Somerset v. Stewart case in England challenges the legality of holding a slave in England. Although the ruling doesn't directly impact slavery in the American colonies, it raises questions about the institution.

1775-1783: American Revolutionary War

April 19, 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord mark the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.
1775-1783: Throughout the war, both Patriots (supporters of American independence) and Loyalists (supporters of British rule) seek the support of enslaved individuals.
1775: Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia, issues Dunmore's Proclamation, promising freedom to enslaved individuals who join the British cause.
1776: Thomas Jefferson drafts the Declaration of Independence, which asserts the colonists' desire for independence from British rule but does not address the issue of slavery.
1777: Vermont becomes the first territory to abolish adult slavery in its constitution.
1780: Pennsylvania becomes the first state to gradually abolish slavery through the Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery.

1783: Treaty of Paris

September 3, 1783: The Treaty of Paris is signed, officially ending the American Revolutionary War. The treaty recognizes the independence of the United States from British rule.

1787: Constitutional Convention

May-September 1787: The Constitutional Convention convenes in Philadelphia to draft the United States Constitution.
Three-Fifths Compromise: A compromise is reached regarding the counting of enslaved individuals for the purpose of representation in Congress. Each enslaved person is counted as three-fifths of a person.

1788: U.S. Constitution Ratified

June 21, 1788: The United States Constitution is ratified, becoming the supreme law of the land. It addresses the institution of slavery indirectly but includes provisions that protect the slave trade for 20 years.

1793: Fugitive Slave Act

February 12, 1793: The Fugitive Slave Act is enacted, allowing slaveholders to recover escaped enslaved individuals even in free states.

1765-1775: Tensions Rise

1765-1774: Tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain escalate, leading to protests and boycotts against British policies.
1772: The Somerset v. Stewart case in England challenges the legality of holding a slave in England. Although the ruling doesn't directly impact slavery in the American colonies, it raises questions about the institution.

1775-1783: American Revolutionary War

April 19, 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord mark the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.
1775-1783: Throughout the war, both Patriots (supporters of American independence) and Loyalists (supporters of British rule) seek the support of enslaved individuals.
1775: Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia, issues Dunmore's Proclamation, promising freedom to enslaved individuals who join the British cause.
1776: Thomas Jefferson drafts the Declaration of Independence, which asserts the colonists' desire for independence from British rule but does not address the issue of slavery.
1777: Vermont becomes the first territory to abolish adult slavery in its constitution.
1780: Pennsylvania becomes the first state to gradually abolish slavery through the Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery.

1783: Treaty of Paris

September 3, 1783: The Treaty of Paris is signed, officially ending the American Revolutionary War. The treaty recognizes the independence of the United States from British rule.

1787: Constitutional Convention

May-September 1787: The Constitutional Convention convenes in Philadelphia to draft the United States Constitution.
Three-Fifths Compromise: A compromise is reached regarding the counting of enslaved individuals for the purpose of representation in Congress. Each enslaved person is counted as three-fifths of a person.

1788: U.S. Constitution Ratified

June 21, 1788: The United States Constitution is ratified, becoming the supreme law of the land. It addresses the institution of slavery indirectly but includes provisions that protect the slave trade for 20 years.

1793: Fugitive Slave Act

February 12, 1793: The Fugitive Slave Act is enacted, allowing slaveholders to recover escaped enslaved individuals even in free states.

MLN Versions

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large print book
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Audiobook Versions

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Ebook Versions

Libby

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I by Matthew Anderson
Call Number: YA Fic Anderson
Various diaries, letters, and other manuscripts chronicle the experiences of Octavian, a young African American, from birth to age sixteen, as he is brought up as part of a science experiment in the years leading up to and during the Revolutionary War.
Hamilton and Peggy! by L. M. Elliott
Call Number: YA FIC Elliott
Peggy Schuyler has always felt like she's existed in the shadows of her beloved sisters: the fiery, intelligent Angelica and beautiful, sweet Eliza. But it's in the throes of a chaotic war that Peggy finds herself a central figure amid Loyalists and Patriots, spies and traitors, friends and family. When a flirtatious aide-de-camp, Alexander Hamilton, writes to Peggy asking for her help in wooing the earnest Eliza, Peggy finds herself unable to deny such an impassioned plea. A fast friendship forms between the two, but Alexander is caught in the same war as her father, and the danger to all their lives is real. Everything is a battlefield--from the frontlines to their carefully coded letters--but will Peggy's bravery's and intelligence be enough to keep them all safe.
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Call Number: YA Fiction Wein
October 11th, 1943--A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun. When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution. As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage, failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy? A universally acclaimed Michael L. Printz Award Honor book, Code Name Verity is a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other.
Willow by Tonya Cherie Hegamin
Call Number: YA HEG
In 1848 Willow, a fifteen-year-old educated slave girl faces an inconceivable choice -- between bondage and freedom, family and love -- as free born, seventeen-year-old Cato, a black man, takes it upon himself to sneak as many fugitive slaves to freedom as he can on the Mason-Dixon Line.