By, Laurie Halse Anderson
A Book Trailer
©2014 Gregory Smith
What happened that
changed
As the Revolutionary War begins, thirteen-yearold Isabel wages her own fight for freedom.
Promised freedom upon the death of their
owner, she and her five year old little sister,
Ruth, suddenly become the property of a cruel
New York City couple, the Locktons, who have
no sympathy for the American Revolution and
even less for Ruth and Isabel.
©2014 Gregory Smith
Isabel was a slave and a big sister. Her mother died of small
pox and then her nice owner, Mary Finch, also died. Although
they were supposed to have been freed, she and her sister,
Ruth, were sold to the malevolent Locktons, and they were
whisked away to New York to serve them.
Isabel meets a slave boy from another household, Curzon,
and they instantly become friends. Curzon offers Isabel the
job of spying on her masters, the Locktons, but she declines,
afraid of getting into trouble. After serving dinner to her
master, the mayor and his friends, Isabel overhears the men
plotting to kill General Washington. Isabel feels that she
©2014 it
Gregory
must spread the news and tells Curzon. before
is tooSmith
late.
Ruth is five years old and is Isabel’s only little sister. She might
get into trouble sometimes , but other than that she doesn’t fool
around. She is one hard worker , but she does have a “special”
condition .
Then one day something happens to her that changes everything
… the unthinkable!
©2014 Gregory Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Lockton
The Revolutionary War is beginning, and they are
teaming up with the British. These two are the most
nasty people you could ever imagine. Mrs. Lockton is
cruel and selfish, and the reason for much of the
sister’s misery and suffering.
©2014 Gregory Smith
Lady Seymour is Mr.
Lockton’s mother. When
you first read about her ,
she’ll seem similar to Mrs.
Lockton. However, you’ll
see she really does have a
heart and cares about
Isabel. Isabel could use her
help!
©2014 Gregory Smith
©2014 Gregory Smith
National Book Award nominee
Winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for
Historical Fiction
“Readers will care deeply about
Isabel…” Kirkus Reviews - starred
review
“Knocks on the conscience of a
nation.” Christian Science Monitor
Meet the author, watch videos, and get
extras at
KIDS. SimonandSchuster.com
©2014 Gregory Smith
Vocabulary –
Look Up These Words!
Emanations
Pestilent
Beseech
Huzzah
Intemperate
Stead
Din
Indisposed
Melancholy
Ague
Noxious
Purging
Summoning
Elixir
Replenish
©2014 Gregory Smith
Laurie Halse Anderson is award -winning
author of Chains. Her middle name
rhymes with “waltz.” She was born on Oct.
23 1961. After working many low paying
jobs, including a pig farm and a clothing
store, she decided to go back to college.
She graduated, but still couldn’t find a
good job. She then began taking her
writing seriously. In 1996, after many
rejections, she had her first book
published.
She has written many other books,
including Forge, the sequel to Chains.
©2014 Gregory Smith