Copper sun is a historical fiction novel about fifteenyearold amari, a young woman from ziavi, ghana. People like amari, polly, and tidbit live at fort mose. Copper sun is a wonderful book and i would definitely read this again or tell. Nathan is a kind young man who helps the children along their journey. Amari is captured from her idyllic home in africa, and sold into slavery in the new world. I think that it is a very educational book and it is a very exciting book that you dont want to put down. Amari could see only the feet of the second man, but he moved. She has received the coretta scott king award for both copper sun and forged by fire. The cape coast castle changed control from country to country. Copper sun by sharon drapper, is an exciting, intense, and very descriptive book. Copper sun themes the nature of evil the word evil is not tossed around a lot in this book, but when it is, it is paralleled with any actions that demonstrate a complete disregard for humanity.
Then they are taken away to cape coast castle and are loaded onto the slave ships to america. When pale strangers enter, 15 year old, amaris village, her entire tribe welcomes them. Copper sun is a wonderful book and i would definitely read this again or tell my friends to read this book by sharon m. After a very long while she was face to face with her owner clay. Up to one thousand slaves should be kept in the dungeons. The europeans, dutch, and british all had control over cape coast castle at some point. Amari is a strong 15yearold slave, and the main character who endures the horrors of slavery.
Copper sun is the epic story of a young girl torn from her african village, sold into slavery, and stripped of everything she has ever. I think that being there is essential for making the story ring true and honest and. Sharon draper is the author of several coretta scott king awardwinning books. Copper sun addresses issues of the african slave trade, slavery in america, and freedom. In each room, there was usually 200 slaves and no space to even lie down.
The book copper sun is told by a slave named amari and an indentured servant named polly. Ralph angel kofi siriboe reveals darlas secret bianca lawson to his family, and upon hearing the news, charley dawnlyen gardner ends her. My opinion on the bookfaith i liked the book copper sun. Amari is a strong 15yearold girl who is taken from her home and is forced into slavery. The book has eleven parts in which amari and polly take turns telling what is going on in the book. The sunset that evening was unlike any amari had ever seen. Another critic claimed that the book showed themes of pain, hope. Also i loved that in a lot of novels slavery starts here in america on a plantation somewhere.
Comprehension by chapter, vocabulary challenges, creative reading response activities and projects, tests, and much more. 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. While accounts of the attack on the tribe and the middle passage are ephemeral, the. But that was what happened when her village was invaded by slave traders. In her remote part of africa, visitors are always a cause for celebration, but these strangers are. They are then sold and amari goes to charlestown, south carolina. She was taken from her village in africa, after all her friends and family were killed by slave hunters.
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. There is the ugly one, whose only solace comes when she is locked inside her own. How does the mood change at the end of the second chapter. Copper sun is a 2006 young adult novel by coretta scott king awardwinning author sharon. She is the strong african slave that shows the horrors of slavery. Amari is in love with besa and he tells amari that white men are coming members of the ashanti tribe. The book ended by revealing that amari was pregnant, and that she was going to be having a baby. The beginning of the book is set in ziavi which is the african villiage that amari and besa have grown up in.
One day, unannounced, a group of palefaced strangers arrive, led there by a neighbouring tribe, the ashanti. 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. Books similar to copper sun meet your next favorite book. There are few books i recommend without hesitation, and this is one them.
Two fifteenyearold girlsone a slave and the other an indentured servantescape their. Copper sun is a 2006 young adult novel by coretta scott king award winning author sharon draper. Her out of my mind has won multiple awards and has been a new york times bestseller for well over two years. The leader of fort mose is captain francisco menendez. Because this novel deals with the issue of slavery, one of the natural themes is the idea of ownership. Copper sun study guide the following questions could be used for small group discussions, whole class discussions, or short answer written questions. Copper sun is a book that actually tells us what happened in back then. The reason why i think that copper sun would be a lot better then if it was a true story is because, if copper sun was a true story it would not be as fun to read.
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. Fifteenyearold amari witnesses the murder of her family and the destruction of her remote african village. That all sounds like a pretty bad life for him but there were some good things that happened. Designed by sonia chaghatzbanian the text of this book was set in life. She endures countless humiliations as she is beaten, branded, and forced to board a slave ship. Another critic claimed that the book showed themes of pain, hope, and determination and human exploitation and suffering. In this compelling sequel to chains, a national book award finalist and. Copper sun i believe is a great example of how combining these two elements of true fact and imagination can create a story that truly draws the reader within the pages and immerses them into the world that they they foresee in the text. Deeby later kills noah and the baby but makes the new mother live as her punishment. Amari loves her community the ewe people, her family, and her soontobe husband, besa. Draper presents evil in the violent capture of the innocent africans, the animalistic treatment of them on the ship of death, and. Amari meets afi and she tells amari how to stay in line and out of trouble, she also comforts her like a mother.
The pura belpre honor winner for the revolution of evelyn serrano and one of americas most influential hispanicsmaria on sesame streetdelivers a beautifully wrought comingofage memoir. Somehow, through it all, amaris hopes and dreams survive because. This story is very immersive and brings the true emotion and horror of the time to light it is rarely shown in. Explain why kwadzo died maybe from his untreated sorrow. Jun 19, 2012 stolen from her village, sold to the highest bidder, fifteenyearold amari has only one thing left of her own hope. When the novel opens, amari is a happy teenager, engaged to the most handsome man in her african village, and beloved by her parents. Inform students that todays class will focus on developing questions to ask sharon draper, the author of copper sun. The latest chapters of the copper sun have been very eventful. Free copper sun worksheets and literature unit for teachers. They kill all the elderly and young so they will have the strong middle aged human beings. Beverly almond noted that the novel expresses unimaginable hardship and starvation and disease. The reader will develop strong feelings for amari and those who suffer along with her surprisingly including the white mistress. An unflinching look at the brutality of the american slave trade, drapers novel tells the story of amari, a young african girl who is enslaved. His mother was the cook so he didnt have to worry about being hungry.
First simon pulse edition january 2008 the library of congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows. Also available in an atheneum books for young readers hardcover edition. The spirit of the copper sun seemed to bleed for them as it glowed bright red against the deepening blue of the great water. Fort mose is a small village where not many people live. Draper about the book amaris life was once perfect. Her novel out of my mind has won multiple awards and was a new york times bestseller for over three years. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. A vocabulary list featuring copper sun by sharon m. The nature of evil the word evil is not tossed around a lot in this book, but when it is, it is paralleled with any actions that demonstrate a complete disregard for humanity.
If you enjoyed this video and or this channel, please like and subscribe to our youtube channel and the jib blog. She lives in cincinnati, ohio, where she taught high school english for. Jan 01, 2006 poignant and harrowing, this narrative of early america alternates between the voices of enslaved amari and indentured servant polly, building a believable interracial friendship centered on the common goal of freedom. That happened a long time ago, and i dont want to think about it in my life today. 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. What happened at the end of the book in copper sun answers. Sindy felins national book award finalist is in paperback for the first time.
Draper tells you what happens in order with the book and this also shows you how the african americans were treated. As others have mentioned, it isnt a pleasant read at times, but it is absolutely honest in its rendition of a slice of american history. Free copper sun study unit worksheets for teachers to print. The atrocities continue as she struggles through endless days of backbreaking work and daily degradation on a plantation. As for the slaves who helped rby try to hide her baby they are sent to be sold. Karina has plenty to worry about on the last day of seventh grade. Copper sun view book details welcome to the official site of. Is it ok for kids to read books outside their reading levels. I liked how detailed the author went into some parts. Ask students if there are any questions they would like to ask the author of copper sun. Find books like copper sun from the worlds largest community of readers. For years, gary paulsens night john has been one of the titles i try to lead all high school students to. A student recently said, i dont care about slavery. I would recommended reading this book, just because it is about slavery doesnt mean it is boring, it is quite interesting.
I think that copper sun is a lot better of a book then if it was a true story. Stolen from her village, sold to the highest bidder, fifteenyearold amari has only one thing left of her own hope. It isnt sugar coated, and readers get a true picture of how devastating it was for human beings to be stolen from their native country, watch their families and communities murdered, and then be shipped to america to be sold as slaves. The characters that author sharon draper introduces are complex but still real and relatable. Amaris character in copper sun is an important figure for young readers to. She shows her journey through slavery and how she learned to survive. Stolen from her village, sold to the highest bidder, fifteenyearold amari has only one thing left of her own. My opinion on the book faith i liked the book copper sun. Engaged to the handsomest man in her tribe, adored by her family, and living in a beautiful village, she could not have imagined everything could be taken away from her in an instant. Powered by create your own unique website with customizable templates. She lives in cincinnati, ohio, where she taught high school english for twentyfive years and was named national teacher of the year. Poignant and harrowing, this narrative of early america alternates between the voices of enslaved amari and indentured servant polly, building a believable interracial friendship centered on the common goal of freedom. 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. Fort mose is a place of freedom where amari, polly, and tidbit end.
Sharon draper adriana mondragon climax resolution well off they went into the woods,with just a little bit of food and a gun. Since this is a big departure from my usual contemporary novels of teenagers. In copper sun, draper shows her readers glimpses of the horrors of slavery, but. The sun was such a red that it seemed to amari to bleed for them because she felt that she has bled to the point of no more. It also shows that, even in the toughest times, you can find some good things. It brings about enough to explain the wickedness and cruelty of slavery. 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. Looking at the first three sentences on the top of page 34, why do you think draper chose to.