Story Element	Description / Events
Exposition	Isabel and her sister Ruth are enslaved in New York. Their master dies, and though the will promises them freedom, they are instead sold to the cruel Locktons, Loyalists during the American Revolution.
Inciting Incident	Isabel realizes that the Locktons plan to betray the Patriots and that her life with them will be harsh and dangerous. She begins to understand the stakes of the war and her precarious position.
Rising Action	Isabel faces abuse and harsh treatment from the Locktons. She learns secrets about their Loyalist activities and decides to secretly aid the Patriot cause while protecting her sister. She begins planning for her own escape and freedom.
Climax	Isabel’s courage and intelligence peak as she undertakes dangerous actions against the Locktons’ plans. She takes significant risks to gather information and assert her agency, confronting her oppressors directly.
Falling Action	Isabel navigates the aftermath of her daring actions, dealing with the consequences while continuing to care for her sister. She understands the cost of freedom and the realities of slavery and war.
Resolution	Isabel gains a stronger sense of self and agency. While her full freedom is not yet secured, she has begun to claim independence, showing resilience, courage, and hope for the future.

Chains is a historical fiction novel set during the American Revolutionary War. The story follows Isabel, a young African American girl, who has been enslaved and recently freed on paper but remains under the control of cruel Loyalist owners in New York City. After her master dies, Isabel and her sister, Ruth, are promised freedom in their master’s will, but the document is manipulated, and they are instead sold to the Lockton family, Loyalists who are loyal to the British crown.

Isabel’s new life with the Locktons is harsh. She is treated as property, denied basic human rights, and subjected to psychological and physical abuse. Despite this, Isabel remains intelligent, courageous, and determined. She navigates her dangerous world with careful observation, learning about secrets, politics, and power in a city divided by war.

One of the central conflicts arises when Isabel realizes that the Locktons are plotting against the Patriots, the revolutionaries fighting for American independence. Though she is a slave, Isabel has a strong sense of justice and wants freedom not just for herself but also to act morally within the chaotic political landscape. She becomes involved in secretive activities, spying on the Loyalists and secretly aiding the Patriot cause, all while protecting her sister Ruth as best she can.

Throughout the novel, Isabel struggles with loyalty, morality, and survival. She witnesses the cruelties of slavery firsthand and sees the complicated dynamics of people on both sides of the war. Her inner strength grows as she makes daring decisions, including escaping and trying to secure her own freedom. The novel culminates in Isabel’s courageous journey toward self-liberation, demonstrating resilience and determination in the face of oppression.

By the end of Chains, Isabel has learned the harsh realities of slavery and war but also discovers her own agency. She begins to understand what it means to fight for freedom, not just physically but mentally and emotionally, setting the stage for her continued struggle and eventual hope for liberation.