Chains

This book is a real heartbreaking story of two young girls aged  10 and 5 sold into slavery in America after both theri parents die.

The story takes place at the time of the American Independence around 1776 .  The younger sister Ruth suffers from epilepsy, and we see the sisters split up, by the owner of the house who sells Ruth on to someone else.  Isobel or Sal as she is called in the household,throughout the story struggles to cope with her sister gone, but she is determined to do her best and not get thrown out of the household even though Mrs Lochtan is determined that she will break her.

Isabel uses all her strength survive the split and portrays  the picture of a child just wanting to do her best.  I myself can never imagine what it is to live like that as a slave and be abused by a tyranical Master and Mistress.  Many of the characters show Isabel as much love as they dare but she ends up doing the worst jobs like fetching water from many streets away, even though she is only a child and there are adults more capable in the servants quarters to do this job.  She does it with out complaint.

The descriptions in the book are brilliant of the troups and the family houses and the way that people deal with every day occurences.  I can understand the title of the book being 'Chains' because there are the invisible chains that hold Isabel  and make her carry on, because she believes that a better time is around the corner, when the war is over.

Laurie Halse Anderson has written a book with an exceptional insight  into what life was like for all the young slaves and all those who served in those terrible times.