Chains (by Laurie Halse Anderson)
common sense media says
Powerful depiction of slavery in 1776 New York.
parents & educators say
- 100% say it's educational
- 33% say there are positive role models
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is a realistic depiction of life as a young slave in a war-torn city, and it pulls no punches about the price of freedom in revolutionary times. The main character must survive tremendous cruelties, including being badly beaten. Parents concerned about the book's violence should know that it's not gratuitous but used to accurately show the main character's plight and daily life. Although Isabel is a victim of torments that pass understanding, she remains unbowed.
Educational value:
Readers will learn about the horrible nature of slavery and get a really good understanding of Revolutionary times. Each chapter begins with a historical quote, and the book's appendix is an excellent historical resource.
Positive role models:
Isabel is a strong, relatable character, and readers see how she wrestles with decisions that may seem unethical (like spying) but that will have a good end.
Violence:
Since this book depicts the evils of slavery, the violence is necessary to the story's portrayal of the subject. A young girl is beaten into unconsciousness, her teeth are broken, she's branded on the cheek, and she's slashed in the face with a riding crop. Men are hung and stabbed; people are killed in battle, fire, and lightning. A boy is decapitated by a cannon ball. Wounded soldiers get maggots in their wounds and are jailed, starved, and frozen to death. Dead bodies are stacked like cordwood and dumped in pits. A husband punches his wife in the face.
Sex:
Not applicable.
Language:
Not applicable.
Consumerism:
Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Adults drink wine and beer and smoke pipes.
More on Chains
Review It
Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:
- 100% say it's educational
- 33% say there are positive role models
- 33% say there are positive messages
Most useful reviews by all members
NoNonsenseMom
parent
parent
Must be a relly good reader to get through this book
My avid 6th grade reader could not "get into" this book. It's a hard read mostly because the language that the author used is Revolution War period based. I read the book through myself and really enjoyed it. The violence mentioned is real, but not raw.
The message it portrays is one of reality for a slave girl at the onslaught of the war. Good message of inward and outward strength in the face of real adversity.
Flag as inappropriate
was this review useful?
|
|
Poison Ivey
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
great book! I finished it in a day!
wow, I've never read a 300 page book in like aday before! Nor have I ever read so long striaght just like that! Chains is a great book, full of action, and hardly anything bad. the CSM review makes it sound a lot more brutal than it really is. I mean the violence is easy to miss, even a cover-to-cover reader like me can skip through it easily, its so subtle. Anyways, its a great book I highly recomend it! And believe me, it's not the kind of book you can put down once you pick it up.
Flag as inappropriate
was this review useful?
|
|
Treythetired
parent of 4 , 8 , 11 , and 12 , 18 , 18 year old
parent of 4 , 8 , 11 , and 12 , 18 , 18 year old
Amazing!
Well, I can't even find words to describe this story. Although it does include beatings, whippings, and punching women in the face, all just in the Lockton Residence itself, it is a great, heart-touching book. It introduces readers into the horrors of slavery, just like Uncle Tom's Cabin. It also has a fantasatic story line. You share the hardships of Isabel being branded, beaten with a riding crop, smacked and beaten, locked in a potato bin and Mrs. Lockton, excuse my language, being a Try it out yourself, I know you'll love it!
Flag as inappropriate
was this review useful?
|
|
shop till i drop
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
vilont but educational
This is a good read but vilont. The vilonce includes beating, death, whipping, starvashion, and talk of lose. But as well as being to vilont for young readers it does have some educational value about slavery.
Flag as inappropriate
was this review useful?
|
|
Pencils
kid, 11 years old
kid, 11 years old
Great book but to intense for smaller kids
Great book- my teacher reccomended it, she also said it was intense- i was littarly crying by the end of it.....
Flag as inappropriate
was this review useful?
|
|
23SEAGLASS
kid, 12 years old
kid, 12 years old
Love it!
I LOVED this book! I got it last Christmas when I was 10, read it, and loved it! I'm still searching for the sequel, Forge.
Flag as inappropriate
was this review useful?
|
|
daisy2110
kid, 12 years old
kid, 12 years old
it sucked balls
It was absolutely HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!! I had to read it for school and I hated it
Flag as inappropriate
was this review useful?
|
|
An independent voice for families
Advice on the big issues
Already read it? What do you think?
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
