Chained by Lynn Kelly

None of it would have ever happened if Hasten's little sister, Chanda, hadn't been bitten by a fever mosquito. She would have never fallen ill nor run a dangerously high fever. There would have been no need for Chanda to have a hospital treatment that cost four-thousand rupees - much more than Hasten's family could ever provide - and no need for a rich neighbor name Raju Sharma to pay for it. In fact, if Chanda had not been bitten by a fever mosquito, there would have been no need for Hasten's mother to work to pay back their debt to Raju Sharma. But Hasten's mother decided to become a servant for Raju Sharma in a faraway village. Hasten begins to miss his mother, and decides to pay her a visit. But the privilege of a treasured visit turned into the revelation of a horrible reality: Hasten's mother was being starved, overworked, and forced to live in a small, cold shed in Raju's backyard. So, Hasten decided that the sooner his mother was able to come home, the better. The only way that Hasten could possibly think to accomplish this goal would be to contribute to helping his family pay back their debt. "'I'll find a way to get you back home, Amma,'" Hasten vowed. So, despite his mother's protests, Hasten decided that he needed to get a job.

When Hasten is offered a job as an elephant keeper for a nearby circus, he accepts the job right away. He thinks that it will be a fun and easy way to help pay off his family's debt and a perfect opportunity to explore his passion for animals. After speaking with the circus leader, named Timir, Hasten is sure that this is the right job for him. After all, Timir makes the job sound luxurious, relaxing and enjoyable. "'Think of it - living in the jungle. No more desert sand blowing in your eyes,'" he says. Hasten eagerly departs from his village in Northern India, leaving everything and everybody he has ever known. But Hasten isn't prepared for what lies ahead: he must capture an innocent baby elephant, care for the animal day and night, and sleep in a cold shed. Hasten enjoys watching the nearby elephants, especially a particular baby elephant that "always looks like she is smiling." He names he Nandita, ,earnig "joyful," I'm Indian. When he captures Nandita on accident, and begins to see the pain that Nandita is feeling, it breaks Hasten's heart. Just as Hasten begins to form a powerful friendship with Nandita, he discovers a shocking secret: Nandita is chained every day whenever she's not performing, and is brutally beaten if she fails to learn a new trick. Hasten knows that he will need to save Nandita, even if it puts his own life in danger, but he just can't help but wonder: how will they both survive long enough to escape?

Follow Hasten as he prepares to deal with the most difficult situation of his life. As Hasten's friendship with Nandita begins to grow stronger, he finds himself becoming more and more doubtful of survival, and, much less, of their escape. Will anybody be able to help Hasten to survive? How can Hasten deal with the emotional pain that he is feeling due to the revelation of Nandita's treatment? And, most importantly, will he be able to set Nandita free and still survive? Will he give in to the overwhelming circumstances and the thought of the possible consequences he could face if he was caught letting Nandita go? In this intriguing and inspiring novel, the horrors of circus animal abuse are revealed - and they will leave an indelible footprint in the heart of readers.

Forty-five-year-old author Lynne Kelly resides in Houston,Texas, where she is employed writing books for kids and teens, while also working as a part-time sign language interpreter. She lives with her husband and her daughter, Samantha, and loves animals, especially elephants. Lynne Kelly has two pet Bulldogs, named Spike and Holly. Chained is her debut novel, but she is currently working on a second novel for middle school readers, titled Nessie McGee’s Guide to Creatures That Aren’t Real. Chained is a critically acclaimed novel, and a South Asia Book Award Honor, as well as a Crystal Kite Award winner.

This extraordinary action-packed novel of an inseparable pair will keep readers of all ages on the edge of their seats. As the horrors of circus animal abuse emerge in Lynne Kelly's debut novel, Chained, the emphasis on the importance of love, care and devotion will stick with readers long after the last page is turned. If you are a middle school or young adult reader, Chained is a book that you shouldn't wait to read!