Chains, By Laurie Halse Anderson

Historical Fiction Essay "A story can always break into pieces while it sits inside a book on a shelf and, decades after we have read it even twenty times, it can open us up, by cut or caress, to a new truth." – Andre Dubus, from Movable Meditations. The story Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson takes place in New York during the year 1777 where the main character, Isabel, an African-American slave is fighting for her and her younger sisters freedom during the American Revolutionary War. The theme developed throughout Chains is perseverance and courage. In Chains the protagonist is Isabel, a thirteen year old girl, who was enslaved in Rhode Island. Throughout Chains, Isabel changes from a gloomy and scared young girl to an independent and confident young woman. A lesson taught throughout the story is perseverance, which is the ability to keep fighting for your goals and beliefs, but it also

Finch, then grows to become a confident girl that starts standing up for herself. The first notable change Isabel faces is her acceptance that her life is far from ideal. This causes her to become braver and more determined to take risks, which is how she becomes a spy for the Rebels. After finding out she had been used and manipulated, Isabel becomes cautious and self-dependent. In the middle of the story Madam Lockton sends Ruth away, and Isabel is angry at herself, and feels hopeless. Eventually, Isabel realizes everything she faced only made her stronger and more appreciative of Ruth. Later on, Isabel decides to take control of the mission and steals a boat after releasing Curzon from jail. This represents character change and how Isabel gained courage to run away from her owners and find freedom. Towards the end of the story Isabel learns the meaning of trust, friendship, and how to open up to people. Isabel finishes her quest for freedom and changes from an innocent, impressionable slave to a free, proud, and independent