Copper Sun

Copper Sun
By Sharon Draper
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2006. 302 pgs. Young Adult

Amari's life changes forever when her African village is invaded by white men who kill the children and the older people and capture the fittest, healthiest youths, forcing them into a life in slavery. Amari's parents and younger brother are killed, and she suffers humiliation and degradation as she is forced from her home, branded, and sent across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States. After being raped and abused on the ship, she is then sold at an auction and purchased by a cruel man who gives her to his son Clay for his birthday present. On the plantation, she meets Polly, an indentured servant, and they form an unlikely friendship, and as their lives spiral out of control, Amari and Polly find themselves fighting for a common goal: freedom.

This gripping story is one that does not shy away from the horrors of slavery, but at the same time, Draper handles the material with dignity, showing Amari's strength. The dialogue is true to the time and place, and the book is rich with historical details. This book shows the complexity of slavery and race relations, with varying degrees of the acceptation or rejection of slavery by the characters. Polly's change in attitude as her friendship with Amari grows helps debunk misconceptions held by many whites, and Amari's continued hope and her struggle for freedom demonstrate the strength of the human spirit even in the bleakest of situations. An excellent choice for fans of historical fiction or those looking for a great multicultural novel.

AE