ChainsIsabel and her sister, Ruth, are slaves. Sold from one owner to the next, they arrive in New York as the Americans are fighting for their independence, and the English are struggling to maintain control. Soon Isabel is struggling too. Struggling to keep herself and her sister safe in a world in which they have no control. With a rare and compelling voice, this haunting novel tells not only the story of a remarkable girl and her incredible strength, but also of a time and place in which slavery was the order of the day and lives were valued like weights of meat or bundles of vegetables. |
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African Americans American arms army asked beat Becky Bellingham blanket bowl brainpan breath Bridewell Prison British bucket burned burned-over district called cannons Captain carried cell chamber pot chest clean close clothes Colonel Regan corner crowd Curzon door Elihu eyes face feet fell fetch fingers fire floor folks Fort Washington front girl Goldbuttons grabbed hands Hannah head hearth horses hung hurried indentured servants inside Isabel Island Jenny kitchen Lady Seymour laughed linen chest lobsterbacks looked Loyalist ma'am Madam Lockton Master Lockton Momma mouth night nodded opened Patriots Phillis Wheatley picked prison pulled rebels red hat Rhode Island river river Jordan Ruth Sarah ships shoes shook shouted side sister skirt slaves smile soldiers stairs stepped stood stopped street tavern tell thought told took tray turned Twas voice walked wall Washington window wiped words York York Island