Many young adult books teach valuable lessons to its readers. Laurie Halse Anderson's Chains teaches what one might call the capacity of human beings to suffer. The narrative novel presents middle students an understanding of "the harsh realities of northern slavery " (Bilski). This ... . In this, she could have quit. Yet, she did not. Each incident brings forth the will to survive and overcome, and a new plan to free herself emerges "in her brainpan " (Anderson 214). It is not nonconformity that Anderson stresses as much as the ability to persevere in trying to establish one's voice. Using I...

• Word Count: 505
• Approx Pages: 2
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

When I first began reading the book "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson I was not very interested, it was slow going and I had a difficult time getting into the story. However I suddenly got a spark of inspiration. This book began to pull me in and I ... ...

• Word Count: 850
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School