Isabel and her younger sister, Ruth, are slaves who were promised freedom upon the death of their owner. Instead of being freed as promised, they are sold to a cruel couple. Isabel struggles to protect Ruth and to find a way to gain their freedom.

Set during the Revolutionary War, Isabel's story helps readers understand the plight of slaves, while also showing that not all Loyalists were bad guys and not all Patriots were good guys. After all, the Patriots were fighting for freedom, but had no qualms about owning slaves. ( )

Fantastic story about a young slave girl who is sold to a loyalist family at the outset of the Revoultionary War in New York City. Isabel is a loveable character who has truly experienced hardships in her life but who desperately wants to hold onto the beautiful things she has: her family and her soul. Anderson is amazing at imagery. I loved “Speak” and “Chains” is amazing too. The actual quotes from contemporaries at the beginning of each chapter would instantly transport me to the uncertain streets of New York. Madam Lockton’s abuse and pure meanness was horrifying; I couldn’t understand how Isabel could take so much abuse without kicking back. I suppose that is what the story is partly about: how much a person can take before fighting back - whether you are a slave or a country. One of the most awful scenes was when Isabel was in court and nothing could be done for her situation – I just kept thinking how like it was to the court scene in “Oliver Twist.” I especially could visualize Isabel whenever her fury threatened to overtake her, she described her feelings as if bees were buzzing in her body, pulsing around the surface and trying to break free. What a truthful and apt description! ( )

One thing I love about Laurie’s books is her ability to bring her characters and settings to life. You don’t just read their story, you live it. When I read her books I often feel like the boy in the movie “The Neverending Story”. He is seeing the story unfold as he reads it. The story is alive.
Isabel is a slave during the Revolutionary War. She is only thirteen so I know my middles school students will be able to relate that way. Through Isabel we see the hardships, pain and evil inflicted on slaves. She set her story in the north which is the opposite of where we usually associate slavery. It was well researched and though out. It is not for those who want a quick. Light read. This book takes the reader into depths of slavery. I think all American History teachers should have a copy in their classrooms. ( )

Reviewed by Julie M. Prince for TeensReadToo.com

Laurie Halse Anderson tells the amazing story of a slave girl during the American Revolution.

Isabel is actually supposed to be free, since that's what her deceased owner willed, but a greedy nephew takes it upon himself to keep Isabel and her younger sister, Ruth, enslaved for his own profit. With no parents, and no one to care about their fate, the girls are shipped off to New York to live with new owners.

Aside from Isabel's plight, this book also follows the progress of the war from the standpoint of both loyalists and rebels. Readers have glimpses of the wealthy, the working class, the soldiers, and the slaves -- all while their eyes are riveted to the story of one lonely girl.

Anderson develops a realistic setting and offers up details that serve to enrich this tale and keep readers interested. From a trip to the stocks to a hanging, we see the gruesome, and from heroic acts to cowardice, we see people at their most extreme.

Anderson allows enough filtering and distance for comfortable reading, but expect no holds barred from this accurate author. The times were not pretty, despite the burgeoning of a new America. The writer neither exaggerates nor shields. She simply tells her tale, and it is most definitely one worth reading. ( )

This is one of the best books I've read in the last year. There is a lot of historical fiction for kids and young adults out there that show an overly simplistic, black-and-white view of history -- this is *not* one of those books. The author does an amazing job of developing incredibly real characters, who are living real lives amidst the nitty-gritty of real history. I can't wait for the sequel to come! ( )