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Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
As the Revolutionary War gets underway, thirteen-year-old Isabel and her sister Ruth become the slaves of a New York City couple, despite being promised freedom upon the death of their old owner. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the Patriots, however, he persuades her to spy on her new owners, who have ties to the British and may know when and how the British are planning to invade.
Review from School Library Journal:
Set in New York City at the beginning of the American Revolution, Chains addresses the price of freedom both for a nation and for individuals. Isabel tells the story of her life as a slave. She was sold with her five-year-old sister to a cruel Loyalist family even though the girls were to be free upon the death of their former owner. She has hopes of finding a way to freedom and becomes a spy for the rebels, but soon realizes that it is difficult to trust anyone. She chooses to find someone to help her no matter which side he or she is on. With short chapters, each beginning with a historical quote, this fast-paced novel reveals the heartache and struggles of a country and slave fighting for freedom. The characters are well developed, and the situations are realistic. An author's note gives insight into issues surrounding the Revolutionary War and the fight for the nation's freedom even though 20 percent of its people were in chains. Well researched and affecting in its presentation, the story offers readers a fresh look at the conflict and struggle of a developing nation.
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