First simon pulse edition january 2008 the library of congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows. In her remote part of africa, visitors are always a cause for celebration, but these strangers are not here to celebrate. It brings about enough to explain the wickedness and cruelty of slavery. This is a great book for eight graders to study at the end of the year as they are learning about slavery and the civil war. Draper copper sun is unlike anything ive ever written. When my english teacher first handed this books out i was thinking to myself not another boring book. Engaged to the handsomest man in her tribe, adored by her family, and fortunate enough to live in a beautiful village, it never occurred to her that it could all be taken away in an instant. I think this is why sharon drapers book is called copper sun, like a setting copper sun as they run away. Her little brother died died when they were forced to march with all of the other people in her. Polly is a 15yearold indentured servant and is amaris best friend. I listened to this book because my daughter had it over the summer as a reading assignment. Stolen from her village, sold to the highest bidder, fifteenyearold amari has only one thing left of her own hope. The reader will develop strong feelings for amari and those who suffer along with her surprisingly including the white mistress.
This 50page guide for copper sun by sharon draper includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 42 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. The authors theme in this book is to show what a teenage girl, whose black, has to go through when she becomes a slave. Your fears come to fruition, however, as the visitors massacre the villagers, including your parents and little brother, and tear you away from your betrothed. January 2006 paleskinned visitors enter your african village. It was an honest take on slavery and incredibly moving. Draper about the book amaris life was once perfect. This 50page guide for copper sun by sharon draper includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 42 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of. But, this novel also demonstrates that there are people in this world eager to do the right thing. The characters ping from event to event with emotions always at the forefront. Her novel out of my mind has won multiple awards and was. I went to ghana several years ago and was overwhelmed by the. The essays in had i known cover four decades in ehrenreichs varied career, and reveal that one. Derby, treated like an animal hates life in the beginning of book, becomes friends with polly and tidbit, escapes farm, makes it to fort mose and is granted freedom. Beverly almond noted that the novel expresses unimaginable hardship and starvation and disease.
In copper sun, draper shows her readers glimpses of the horrors of slavery, but. Find books like copper sun from the worlds largest community of readers. Copper sun is a 2006 young adult novel by coretta scott king award winning author sharon draper. In chapter 15 after everyone agreed that they wouid help him craven told everyone his plans and then they headed. When pale strangers enter, 15 year old, amaris village, her entire tribe welcomes them. This study guide consists of approximately 39 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of copper sun. If you enjoyed this video and or this channel, please like and subscribe to our youtube channel and the jib blog. Copper sun welcome to the official site of sharon draper. I was in awe of the story and how real it felt, i could visualize it all as if i was there. Copper sun addresses issues of the african slave trade, slavery in america, and freedom. It isnt sugar coated, and readers get a true picture of how devastating it was for human beings to be stolen from. Free copper sun worksheets and literature unit for.
Draper copper sun is the epic story of a young girl torn from her. Another theme is that you may like a person when you have been around them for a. Amari endures so many hardships during the three month voyage to america, to become slave. In copper sun, amari, a 15yearold girl, wishes for just one thing, freedom. Taking its title from a countee cullen poem, copper sun describes 15yearold amaris capture and life as a slave in. When the novel opens, amari is a happy teenager, engaged to the most handsome man in. Major characters mynaamari is a fifteen year old slave from africa, who gets taken away from her family and her betrothed, besa. Han further develops her cast, pushing them to new maturity and leaving few stones unturned.
Amari is in love with besa and he tells amari that white men are coming members of the ashanti tribe. Isaac asimov, the most prolific writer of this age, author of over 500 books, has a delightful essay on gold in his book, the sun shines bright. Copper sun by sharon drapper, is an exciting, intense, and very descriptive book. Books for young readers to celebrate black history month. My book copper sun was written by a woman who was the granddaughter of a slave, award winning, and determined to not make statistics become her reality, sharon m. This is a great book for eight graders to study at the end. Books of the times barbara ehrenreich contains multitudes.
It also shows that, even in the toughest times, you can find some good things. She goes through many things to get to america, like getting raped and getting branded. Copper sun by sharon draper follows how amari endures life on a rice plantation, and all the pain she goes undergoes. Draper is a new york times bestselling author and recipient of the margaret a. As it did, the cloud spun and flattened into a disk, with our sun. In her remote part of africa, visitors are always a cause for celebration, but these strangers are. Copper sun exposition everything was alright until they came. Death march to cape coast this chapter begins with a rundown of the deaths of the people amari knows who were left on the side of the road for the hyenas 21.
Ebook copper sun as pdf download portable document format. Her novel out of my mind has won multiple awards and was a new york times bestseller for over three years. Hates life in the beginning of book, becomes friends with polly and tidbit, escapes farm, makes it to fort mose and is granted freedom. The main idea was to show what a teenage girl will have to go through as a slave. She lives in cincinnati, ohio, where she taught high school english for. Write a paper that compares the subject of slavery from the slaves points of view to. She has received the coretta scott king award for both copper sun and forged by fire, and was most recently awarded the charlotte huck award for stella by starlight. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Free copper sun study unit worksheets for teachers to print. This book gives you a really good idea about slavery.
Although they make you anxious, you help welcome them with a feast. I dedicate this book to him, and to my grandmother estelle, who, even though she was not allowed. I would rather read this then reading a boring old textbook. Your fears come to fruition, however, as the visitors massacre the villagers, including your parents and little brother, and tear you away from your. Edwards award honoring her significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens. Amari is kidnapped from her village and is forced to become a slave.
Amari is a strong 15yearold girl who is taken from her home and is forced into slavery. She was taken from her village in africa, after all her friends and family were killed by slave hunters. Find copper sun lesson plans and teaching resources. The book copper sun is powerful and overall a great work by sharon draper. Initially, amari needs valor to survive her dreadful and sickening trip through the middle passage to the americas.
An up and coming book blogger, she loves getting books from diverse points of view into the public eye. From amaris african village being invaded, her being enslaved, traveling overseas on a slave ship, and going on a dangerous journey for freedom, she. Copper sun was written by coretta scott king in 2006. Families may find the violence, habitual rape, and cruelty described here a challenge to read about, but the story does succeed in connecting modern teens to a period in time that many view from the jaded distance of a textbook. The copper sun and the piercing paleness of the sky, which were so. Another theme is that you may like a person when you have been around them for a period of time. The characters that author sharon draper introduces are complex but still real and relatable. I went to ghana several years ago and was overwhelmed by the beauty of the land and people, as well as the history of the place that hovered just out of reach.
A short essay on amari in copper sun by sharon draper. This riveting novel was written by draper, a granddaughter of a slave. There are two themes in the book copper sun by sharon draper. Taking its title from a countee cullen poem, copper sun describes 15yearold amaris capture and life as a slave in 1738. This outstanding novel is about the harsh realities of slavery. Another critic claimed that the book showed themes of pain, hope, and determination and human exploitation and suffering. Copper sun summary and study guide supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Mynaamari is a fifteen year old slave from africa, who gets taken away from her family and her betrothed, besa. Dhonielle clayton is a ya author, a 2018 goodreads choice.
I was actually wrong, copper sun is a great book for students to read. Draper tells you what happens in order with the book and this also shows you how the african americans were treated. Two fifteenyearold girlsone a slave and the other an indentured servantescape their. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. A short essay on amari in copper sun by sharon draper hubpages.
Amari the main character once had a perfect life engaged to the man of her dreams. Amari is desperate for freedom and wishes nothing more than to run away. He gives us scientific confirmation of why god would make the new jerusalem a city of gold. One of them is the fact that there are tough trials that a person will run to during their lifetime.
In copper sun, draper shows her readers glimpses of the horrors of slavery, but keeps her descriptions general, making this book accessible to the fainthearted reader. Lastly amari shows bravery when she escapes with tidbit and polly from the derbys plantation on that treacherous journey south. It kept my interest from beginning to end and opened up alot of dialogue with me and my daughter about slavery. However, when besa notices strange men approaching the tribe, things go from celebration. Told from the modulating viewpoints of 15yearold slave amari, and 17yearold indentured servant polly, copper sun is a story of resilience in the face of human depravity, and a hope for freedom against all odds. This historical young adult novel would be a great classroom assignment. Sharon draper is the author of several coretta scott king awardwinning books. Other coffles of slaves join them, and they eventually make it. Copper sun is a book that i never would have thought about reading. The afterword of the book explains some of the interesting historical details that enrich the novel. Copper sun is a book that actually tells us what happened in back then. When there are hard times, people should look at the positives in life. Copper sun is a 2006 young adult novel by coretta scott king awardwinning author sharon draper. Draper even includes a list of the resources she used in writing this book.