Blog Post #2: Chains

Chains

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Genre: Historical Young Adult

Pages: 111/300 pages

Summary: The day after Isabel goes and informs Curzon the news Mr. Bellingham bursts into the Lockton family's house and claims they have a hidden stash of money (alot of money) in Madam Locktons lingerie chest. (Recap: They got away with the lingerie at the port and it contained the huge amount of money the guards were searching for to prove that the locktons were against America and for England.) They arrest Mr. Lockton and take him away. Madame Lockton is very stressed out and faints. The money was not found because there was a false bottom in the chest and the money was hidden under it. Later on Isabel goes to Curzon and accuses him of not keeping his promise. He said that if she found information about the Locktons that may be needed to turn against them came up and she told them he would find a way to set her and her sister free. After Mr. Lockton comes back he has a meeting with a few other Loyalist and they plan to kill George Washington. They all sign a petition that says that they all agree to take the blame if people figure out before he is killed. That night Isabel takes the paper and brings it to a Patriot Colonel who will use the paper against them. Isabel puts the paper back so no is suspicious. Later on Mr. Lockton finds out the people know about the plan to attack George and he flee's leaving his wife to take care of the house. When Madame Lockton finds out Ruth has epilepsy and calls her a Devil Child and threatens to sell her. Finally she drugs Isabel to sleep and sells Ruth. Isabel devastated yells at Anne (Madame Lockton) and runs away. When she is caught she is trialed in court and her punishment is an I burned into her cheek. 

What do you think about what you have read?

 I think that the book absolutely horrifying... But otherwise it is a great book. I have learnt quite a bit about the lives of slaves on the inside and I will learn about the American Revolution.

Has your recent reading fulfilled your expectations?

What I have read has somewhat fulfilled my expectations although I am very disappointed in what happend to Isabel and her sister. Now i hate Madame  Lockton twice as ever.

What do you expect for your continued reading?

I have a feeling that Isabel and Ruth will find a big secret about the Locktons and it will blow every thing they had planned with the British. That or either something terrible will happen to Ruth and Isabel will be even more desperate to run away or try to destroy the Locktons. 

How satisfied are you with what you have read?

I am pretty satisfied by what i have read because it is quite interesting and the story is unrolling pretty well. Although it's not a very nice story.

Passage Section:

"A loyalist sir, who would beat me bloody if he knew I was here." Here I was not happy... Because that would be child abuse. You could be sent to jail nowadays for that. But back then no one cared. "[...] you have been sentenced to hang by your neck until dead [...]" This is said when they are about to hang one of Mr. Locktons comrades for attempting but failing to kill George. I was a little sad for him but i felt like he deserved this. In my head i though good for you. "Answer me you miserable cow. Did you sell my sister?" (Anderson134) :( When I read this I was heartbroken for Isabel and wanted to slap Anne (Madam Lockton) right across the face several times, scold her, ground her and send her straight to her room without dinner...