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[[image:http://theunquietlibrary.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/chains.jpg?w=500&h=500 width="189" height="184"]]"Chains" By; Laurie Halse Anderson, Wiki:

 * Plot:**

A young slave girl named Isabel and her younger sister Ruth have just had their master die. As they're burying Miss Mary Finch, they know that after the seremony they will be free. As you know nothing works that easy and her greedy relative thinks that the girls are lieing about the will. Since the lawyer that drew it up is away, he decides to take them and sell them for his own profit. He sells them to their new owners, the Locktons. A rich couple that won't treat them as nice as Miss Mary Finch did. The Locktons take them to New York were they wait on both of them and their company hand and foot. After being in their new home for only a short period of time Master Lockton gets arrested for trying to help the King. Once he was out of jail he then planned to kill Washington. Isabel being the eager thirteen year old she just wants to get home and will do anything for it to come true. She told the Rebel Army and the news spread, some were arrested but some escaped like Master Lockton. while he was gone he had joined the Loyalist Army and came back after they invaded the city. Her friend Curzon had joined the Rebel army and then was captured and put in prison right in New York. After Isabel finally went through enough torture from Madam, she ran away with Curzon. They reached New Jersey. Free. All everyone wanted was freedom! 10/10


 * Character List:**
 * Isabel (Sal):** A thirteen year old, African American slave. Who is a responsible older sister. She is practically a spy on her owners for any information that will be helpful to arresting Lockton and setting her home. She works hard and doesn't get along good with Madam ever since she sold her sister. She then found out where her sister really was and that she wasn't really sold, but given away. Her and Curzon escaped together.


 * Ruth:** Isabel's younger sister, who is also an African American slave for the Loocktons. She is a quiet, well behaived, and epileptic. Madam Lockton thinks that she is possessed, because she a had a seizer infront of her. When Isabel is asleep one morning she is taken to Charleston, away from her older sister and protector.


 * Anne Lockton (Madam): ** Master Lockton's wife who treats practically everyone with an attitude. She argues with her husband all the time and yells at the servant and the slaves. She helps her husband sneek tons of money into New York. And after her husband is arrested then leaves she is very moody, and she still is even when he comes home. She is very harsh to Isabel and Ruth.


 * Elihu Lockton (Master):** Madam's husband who is a rich Loyalist and gets caught by Bellingham from Isabel's spying. Then he has to sneek away before arrested for trying to kill Washington. Isabel also spied and told Colonel Regan what he and the Mayor had plotted. He has to escape but comes back with the Redcoats.


 * Miss Mary Finch: ** Isabel, Ruth, and their Momma use to be owned by this old women. Miss Mary Finch dies, but in her will she sets the girls free. She treated the girls very well even after their own mother passed away.


 * Becky: ** A white servant that only works for the Locktons. She gets along good with Ruth and Isabel and treats them like humans. She knows how to handle the Locktons and helps the girls with them. After the Redcoats invade the city though she leaves the house and Isabel all alone.


 * Curzon: ** One of the slave boys of Bellingham. He offered to help Isabel go home if she spies on Lockton for him. He is nice to Isabel, but others have said he is not good. He joins the army and is then captured as a prisoner, Isabel visits alot bringing food with her. He plays dead, is able to escape the prison, and is later on his way in a boat running away with Isabel!


 * Bellingham: ** He owns Curzon and he is the one that arrested Lockton. He got the information from Isabel through Curzon that the Locktons were hiding money in a trunk. When he searched it with his soldiers, they didnt find anything but were still able to arrest the man for suspicion.


 * Colonel Regan: ** Is part of the rebel army. He has used Isabel's help catching the Loyalists plotting to kill General George Washington. He likes Isabel and feels bad for her at times, because of her owners.


 * Grandfather: ** Everyone just calls him Grandfather, because he is the nice, old, caring man that works at the water pump. He had told Isabel to try and find her river Jordan.


 * Sarah:** A soldier's wife that moved into the Lockton household and runs the kitchen after Becky leaves. She is pregnant and has her baby, which is named George after the King. Her and Isabel get along.

Good job relating the characters 25/25
 * Chapter Summaries & Predictions:**
 * Chapter One:** Isabel's dead mother was buried in the same cemetery Miss Mary Finch is going to be buried in. And before the sunrises Isabel tried to talk to her Momma as a ghost, since they only come out in the morning. Her Momma doesn't come.


 * Chapter Two:** They bury Miss Mary Finch, and the girls are to be set free because it said in her will. Miss Mary Finch's last living relative who is there for the seremony doesn't believe the girls and they cannot prove anything because the lawyer has moved. So he has decided to sell the girls for his own profit.


 * Chapter Three:** The girls are able to collect their things at home before they are taken to a tavern. Where they meet Jenny, who Isabel had met when she was only a baby and she had known her mother. The girls are then sold to the Locktons.


 * Prediction:** I think that their new owners will be a little tough, but not horrilbe on them.


 * Chapter Four:** Isabel and Ruth sailed for two days and two nights going from Newport to New York. Isabel was sick most of the voyage.


 * Chapter Five:** They reached New York and when soldiers started searching their lugagge Madam Lockton freaked out about her chest. She fought with them til finally they gave up and decided to check everything else. While the Locktons and Ruth were going to the house, Madam ordered Isabel to get water with Curzon.


 * Chapter Six:** Isabel got water with Curzon who she met and learned that if she helped him by spying on Master Lockton, he could help her get home.


 * Chapter Seven:** She carried the water home from the pump and meet the white servent, Becky. Who showed her around and told her what to do later and while she was gone at the baker.


 * Chapter Eight:** The two girls start getting up early in there new schedule as all day slaves. Madam starts liking Ruth and she becomes her new personal maid.


 * Chapter Nine:** Isabel met Lady Seymour and all of Master's companions that she had to serve for. She had to stand as still as ca be in the corner and just serve them when they needed something. She acted like she wasn't listening but she heard every word they heard.


 * Chapter Ten:** Before Locktons companions left they each took some money from the big chest that Madam didnt let them search when they arrived in New York. Isabel leaves in the middle of the night that night and goes and tells Curzon everything she heard.


 * Chapter Eleven:** The next morning Bellingham arrives with his soldiers and starts taking all of the Lockton's windows for bullets. And then they searched Madam's chest, but all the money is gone. They still arrest Master for suspicion of helping the King. After they take him away Madam freaks out and faints.


 * Prediction:** I don't think Master will even be in jail for long, even though I want him to be.


 * Chapter Twelve:** Isabel is sent to go see Lady Seymour about the problem. She has Isabel tell her the whole story and then gives her a snack. Lady Seymour gives her a note to take to the lawyer's office to set Master free.


 * Chapter Thirteen:** Madam Lockton and Master Lockton had a huge fight, after he returned home from jail. After Master was home he required Isabel to serve him and him company whenever he had any. She was able to listen to everything they plotted or just simply talked about.


 * Chapter Fourteen:** One day while Isabel was was serving Master and his company like usual they had a new guest, the mayor who was also a Loyalist. As Isabel pretended not to listen, while she actually was, they were plotting to kill General George Washington. They had paper proof of the plan hidden where Isabel knew.


 * Prediction:** I think that Isabel will tell the plan to help her and Ruth get away. I think someone will listen and believe her, i dont know who but i think she will be able to escape right away!


 * Chapter Fifteen:** Ruth has her first seizer in the Lockton household. Madam thinks that she is possesed with the demon and wants to sell her but Master Lockton insists on keeping her. Ruth lives through her seizer and is fine.


 * Chapter Sixteen:** When night came and Ruth fell asleep Isabel went upstairs and got the paper proof of Master's plan to kill Washington. She took it to the Battery where all rebels stayed. She was able to get in to talk to Colonel Regan who she told everything, showed him the proof and he believed. He advised her to take the note back and put it exactly where she found it, so Master wouldn't know. And just incase she had to ever come back inside the Battery, he gave her the code word to get in. It was 'ad astra.


 * Chapter Seventeen:** The next morning one of Master's usual company came rushing in the house telling Master that their plan had been uncovered. In a big rush Master burned all paper evidence and since his company had already called for a getaway car it was on its way. When it got there Master was put in a crate that said cheese and was strolled away in a wagon. In the same day soldiers came to arrest Master but he was already gone, they stormed through the house anyway looking for him, but found him no where.


 * Chapter Eighteen:** Thomas Hickey who almost killed General George Washington was hung for all of New York to see. Even Ruth and Isabel were there to see the big occassion, but they did close their eyes.


 * Chapter Nineteen:** As they were in Church the Redcoats attacked the city. With load cannon bangs and musketts going off everywhere had caused Ruth a little seizer. She was able to get through it and was good. Since Madam was a Loyalist she was not upset they were there and she mad Isabel tidy up the house incase they were to expect any high ranked company.


 * Chapter Twenty:** Congress had Declared Independence and this action caused men to destroy the huge King statue in celebration. After Isabel got home from seeing this sight she was suprised to find out that Madam was in a very good mood and mad cake and milk for everyone. Ruth was in Madams room having fun with her and Madam's guest. After Isabel ate her cake and drank her milk, she fell asleep from exhaustion.


 * Prediction:** I think that Madam is playing a trick. She is pretending to be nice because she has a plan, I don't know what her plan is but something very bad.


 * Chapter Twenty-one:** Isabel had slept in the next morning, after getting a good nights sleep. She awoke the next morning without be able to find Ruth, which is when Becky had to break the horrible knews to her that Madam had sold her. In her confused and angry state she started yelling at Madam and then to strike back Madam hit her over the head with a picture frame. The Madam went running upstairs and Isabel running through the front door through the busy streets, finally making it to the Battery. Remembering the password she was able to get in and to see Colonel Regan. He disagreed with what had happened to her, but before they had too much time to talk, Madam Lockton showed up. Colonel Regan couldn't do anything about the situation because of the laws, that slaves had to obey and were property of their owners.


 * Chapter Twenty-two:** The next morning Isabel was dragged by a wagon through the streets and taken to the jail under City Hall. Where she stayed for three days until her trial. During the trial Madam and the witnesses had lied about what had happened in their fight but the judge believed Madam. So for Isabels punishment she was to be branded with the letter "I" for Insolence, on her cheek.


 * Chapter Twenty-three:** After another two days in the City Hall jail, she was taken outside in the courtyard for evryone to see. And was branded on the cheek with the letter "I."


 * Chapter Twenty-four:** Since Isabel wasn't well after her branding she was taken in by Lady Seymour. Who cared for her for six days before she woke up. While she was asleep though Lady Seymour heard her talk about her parents with great love and knew how she felt about them. Once she was cleaned up they both walked back to the dreaded Lockton household.


 * Chapter Twenty-five:** Isabel was sad from may things now a days. She did her chores, ate and slept a little. and Curzon tried to talk to her everyday but she never responded, until one day when she was forced to tell him to leave.


 * Chapter Twenty-six:** Isabel had gone to get water from the pump, when she walked in on a big discussion between a couple men and Grandfather. And at the pump she saw Curzon, who was now a soldier for the rebels. After all the things they talked about in their discussion, Grandfather made sure to make a point about finding your river Jordan. Also from all the talk Isabel hears them say that the Redcoats will free everyone, so her opnion of them changes.


 * Chapter Twenty-seven:** The city is covered with soldiers recovering and living in dirty tents. The war is still occuring.


 * Chapter Twenty-eight:** Now the Redcoats have attaked the whole city, rushing everyone out. Madam believes that Master is coming home soon and needs Isabel to pick up things for his arrival. On her way to get the grocerys, she hides out for just a little bit in a old abanded shop until the fleeing crowd leaves.


 * Chapter Twenty-nine:** After she leaves the abanded shop, she goes and talks to the Redcoat general, but he denies her offer to work. While she is talking to the Colonel, Master Lockton arrives off the Redcoat boat. He tells Isabel to tell Madam that he will be home after a couple celebration drinks, so before she headed home she went to the store to pick up all the items on the list.


 * Chapter Thirty:** Since all the soldiers are in town, Lady Seymour was given a bunch of Hessian soldiers to care for in her home. And she lacked help so the Locktons lended Isabel to her because she had asked for the extra help. The men Isabel had to care for were big, dirty, and ate/drank a ton. After a couple days even more men moved in too, so the job got a little harder.


 * Chapter Thirty-one:** Isabel woke coughing and looked outside to see smoke and flames everywhere. The whole town was set o fire, including Lady Seymours house. She helped Lady Seymour get out, even with her special items, and the fact that her one side went completely limp. They stumbled out of the burning house alive and made they're way to safety, which was sadly the Lockton Household**.**
 * Chapter Thirty-two:** Lady Seymour was nursing back to health at the Lockton home. She wasn't the only one that lost homes or any other buildings, over five hundred were ruined, and many homeless. So they also took in a couple soldier families. The soldiers brought their wives and one of them named Sarah, became the knew replacement for Becky, running the kitchen, since she had fled.


 * Chapter Thirty-three:** Food had been low, but they had cut more meat and new shipments had come in but the prices soared. This didn't matter to Master though he bought the regular amount just for a bigger price. While many other people grew hungry. One day as Isabel was on her way to the tea pump she had noticed noice and went over to check it out. The Redcoats had captured Rebel prisoners and one of them was Curzon.


 * Chapter Thirty-four:** About three thousand soldiers were captured along with General George Washington, his capturing called for a big celebration dinner at the Lockton house. Isabel of course helped set up and serve. Then men talked about war, the prisoners, and how the cold may kill most of the captured, which was good for them. This wasn't good for Isabel though because she was now worried about Curzon.


 * Prediction:** I have a feeling that Isabel really does care about Curzon, thats why she hid the food so she can give it to him sometime.


 * Chapter Thirty-five:** A couple days after the big dinner Isabel was finally able to go to the Rebel prison. She took the bucket of scraps with her to give to Curzon. Whhen she got there all the men grabbed the bucket and she was nice enough to let them pass it around, for everyone to have a little bit. They hadn't eaten in three days, they had to sleep on the floor, and the prison was crowded to the brim.


 * Chapter Thirty-six:** Lady Seymour had gotten an awful fever, bad enough that the doctor had to come to see her. Since Madam still despised her and wanted her to leave and die she insisted on her going on a long journey. The doctor knew how bad she was and told her she couldn't. So while she was bed ridden, Isabel had to take care of and go out to fetch things for her. The one time while she was picking up books the man that owned the book store let her take one home, as long as she promised to not show anyone or tell anyone where she got it.


 * Chapter Thirty-seven:** Isabel finally has a day off, after she went through a very stressful conversation with Madam about her visiting the prison. She told her never to do it again and that it gave looked bad on their part. Since Isabel heard her mother in her head saying "keep Christmas" she decided to listen and enjoyed the rest of the day, worry free of Curzon.


 * Chapter Thirty-eight:** Isabel spent Christmas Eve cutting decorations for Madam. The next day was Christmas which she had off. Lady Seymour was nice enough to get her a new pair of shoes that were the right size, and not crammed. And of course Madam got her nothing at all. As Isabel started remembering Mamma and their Christmases with her she begain to cry. To get her mind of it and cheer her up she made pudding but decided to take the pudding to eat with another family and spend Christmas with them.


 * Chapter Thirty-nine:** While Isabel was at the Market with Sarah, she ran into Captain Morse. He wanted her to do a favor so she told him she would talk to him in the morning. When Isabel got back to the house Madam broke the knews to her that she is not permitted to go to the tea pump in the morning. She begged Sarah to let her go, and she let her but she said to make sure Madam doesn't find out. As she left for the "tea pump" she went to find Captain Morse. He gave her a loaf of bread with a note baked in that was to be delivered to Dibdin, where all the other prisoners will see it too. The note says that Washington had won a Battle a Trenton, once the prisoners heard this, after Isabel delivered successfully, their cheers were eard from miles away.


 * Chapter Fourty:** As Isabel goes to the jail just like any other day the prison gaurd mentions that he would pay Madam if she cleaned the cells. In return he would look out for Curzon. Sarah finally had her baby and named him George, after the King. Lady Seymour also told Isabel that she had wanted to buy her and Ruth the first time she met them, if only she would have, Ruth would still be with her.


 * Chapter Fourty-one:** Queen Charlette's birthday is coming up and Isabel is told to have the seamstress make a dress for Madam for the special occassion. Madam being the selfish women she is asks when the doctor believes Lady Seymour will die because she wants her big room back, he doesn't know.


 * Chapter Fourty-two:** Lady Seymour has gotten worse so she sadly can't talk anymore and just has to nod. And Isabel sent another message for Captain Morse. She had to deliver a penny to Captain Farrar, and he guves her a folded up piece of paper. When she is home again Madam yells "How Dare You" as she whipped Isabel across her face.


 * Chapter Fourty-three:** Isabel had been whipped by Madam because she saw her speaking to their enemies, the Rebels. Madam was furios and was saying she would be sold, just like she had told Ruth for so long. Isabel did find out though that Ruth wasn't sold by Madam because she couldn't find a buyer, so she just sent her to Charleston. While Madam was at the ball, Isabel was home locked up in the potato bin, she was able to break free though. Once she was out she planned her escape! She had to write a fake paper though, claiming her free.


 * Prediction:** I think that Isabel will go get Ruth! And I dont know if Madam will care enough to go after her, so she won't do anything about her escape.


 * Chaper Fourty-four:** She left the house after packing her clothes,book and a coin she had got from her goodbye with Lady Seymour. Then she headed down to the jail to get Curzon to escape with her. They had to have Curzon pretend dead to drag him out of the prison, because otherwise they would have never let him go.

Your chapter breakdown was great but the predictions were lacking 30/50 In my novel Chains there are many Revolution refrences and actions displayed in it. Like the fact that Master Lockton and Madam are Loyalists. Master does plan ways to kill George Washington, which he has to escape after it leaks out. And when he comes back after escaping he is a Redcoat soldier himself. Curzon is also a soldier, for the Patriots though. He was captured and taken to prison by the Redcoats along with the three thousand other men. Since most of New York are Patriots the army was staioned there before the Loyalists attacked and took over. Almost all of the citizens fleed the city, but not the Locktons, they actually enjoyed the Loyalist being in charge. In both the begining of the book and end of the book Isabel was a spy. At first on Master to see what him and his men were plotting next. And later she was for Colonel Morse, she delivered items for him. Once she had to deliver a loaf of bread with a note baked inside to a man in prison. The note had mentioned how Washington had won a battle at Trenton, and had captuired around a thousand Redcoats.Throughout the whole novel the revolution theme was present. It was about her own life but not just that, right outside her door was proof of the war occuring. From soldiers of both sides living right down the road to helping spy on her Loyalist Master about his plot to kill Washington. Isabel lived with the Revolution happening around her. Good job 25/25
 * Chapter Fourty-five:** On there escape they were able to get their own row boat. Isabel and Curzon made it safely out of New York, on the boat, and when Isabel happened to wake the next morning after rowing they were in New Jersey.Once they reached New Jersey that morning they got off!
 * Revolution Theme Connections:**