Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Aug.13, 2007, under Abuse, Adult Read, Coretta Scott King, Grief, Historical Fiction
Who would like this book? Teens or adults who want a work of historical fiction that depicts the slave trade and plantation life in the South from the point of view of an African teenaged girl who becomes enslaved and a Southern white girl who is indentured.
Why? Copper Sun opens with an idyllic portrayal of Amari, a young Ashanti teenager who delights in the rhythm of life in her tribe and anticipates love with Besa, her betrothed. When her tribe welcomes the white visitors with warm hospitality, she is shocked when they respond with brutality. The book follows her story as she is enslaved, shipped to the colonies, and sold to a plantation owner in the Carolinas. At this point, the point of view of Polly is introduced. Polly, close in age to Amari, is a white girl whose family hs landed on hard times and who has been indentured to the same plantation owner for 14 years. The stark, unflinching presentation of the brutality and injustice of their lives is shattering, but their perseverance and growing friendship keeps hope alive and kept me spellbound. The other characters are well-drawn, giving insight into how and why people react differently to terrible situations. This book would be an excellent way to study this period of history and is well-deserving of its place as the winner of the 2007 Coretta Scott King Award.
The details: 306 p. 2006
