This book is the 2007 Corretta Scott King Award Winner
Exposition: This historical fiction book begins in a small village in Africa. We are introduced to Amari, a beautiful African American girl. She is sweet in spirit and looks forward to the day she will wed her betrothed friend, Besa. The day comes when a group of strangers enter the village, and although they are greeted with much hospitality by the villagers, they bring out guns, shooting most of the villagers except the younger and stronger amongst them. Amari and Besa face many horrendous obstacles before they are locked on a ship to be transported to the States.
Conflict: Amari is befriended by an older woman who tells her she is now a slave, her life will never be as it was. Amari is sold to Mr. Derby, to be a birthday present for his son, Clay. Amari is put in the care of Polly, an indentured servant. Both are to live together in a small shack.
Rising Action: During the nights, Master Clay calls for Amari, and during the day she and Polly are assigned to work in the kitchen with another slave and her young son, Teenie and Tidbit. Life goes on and Polly and Amari begrudgingly enter into a friendship. Mr. Derby's second wife has become pregnant and melancholy. As part of the marriage agreement she is accompianed by her slave servant, Noah.
Climax: When Polly and Amari get a chance to serve dinner in the main house rather than work in the kitchen disaster strikes yet again. Amari trips, spilling wine, and is relentlessly beaten by Mr. Derby. Master Clay decides to go gator hunting using Tidbit as bait. And Mistress Isabelle, Mr. Derby's wife, has her baby, a black baby.
Falling Action: Amari, Polly and Teenie help hide the baby in the slave quarters and Mr. Derby is told the baby died. Mr. Derby discovers the baby, realizes it is Noah's child, and shoots both Noah and the baby. As punishment to the slaves and Polly for hiding the baby he will sell Amari, Polly, and Tidbit, and that's when the three decide to run away. For weeks they travel south, starving half to death, encountering many obstacles along the way, including encountering a broken Besa that is dead inside.
Rising Action: During the nights, Master Clay calls for Amari, and during the day she and Polly are assigned to work in the kitchen with another slave and her young son, Teenie and Tidbit. Life goes on and Polly and Amari begrudgingly enter into a friendship. Mr. Derby's second wife has become pregnant and melancholy. As part of the marriage agreement she is accompianed by her slave servant, Noah.
Climax: When Polly and Amari get a chance to serve dinner in the main house rather than work in the kitchen disaster strikes yet again. Amari trips, spilling wine, and is relentlessly beaten by Mr. Derby. Master Clay decides to go gator hunting using Tidbit as bait. And Mistress Isabelle, Mr. Derby's wife, has her baby, a black baby.
Falling Action: Amari, Polly and Teenie help hide the baby in the slave quarters and Mr. Derby is told the baby died. Mr. Derby discovers the baby, realizes it is Noah's child, and shoots both Noah and the baby. As punishment to the slaves and Polly for hiding the baby he will sell Amari, Polly, and Tidbit, and that's when the three decide to run away. For weeks they travel south, starving half to death, encountering many obstacles along the way, including encountering a broken Besa that is dead inside.
Resolution: The three finally reach Fort Mose, a Spanish settlement, where all people are free. Since Polly can read and write she is asked to help open a school. Lastly, we find Amari is pregnant with Master Clay's child. Although this is a bitter realization to her she ends up embracing the situation. She is, after all, a survivor.
This is a beatiful book told with such passion. I couldn't put it down. The dialogue between the slaves is authentic without being condescending. For instance, "That's why Massa keepa bringin' in new Africans." Amari speaks with the distinct flavor that this is her second language, not her native tongue. "What to do?" There was a lot of suspense in this novel that holds the reader's attention. The use of understatement was shown after the baby was born. Amari simply states, "Black baby, white mama, big trouble."
This is a beatiful book told with such passion. I couldn't put it down. The dialogue between the slaves is authentic without being condescending. For instance, "That's why Massa keepa bringin' in new Africans." Amari speaks with the distinct flavor that this is her second language, not her native tongue. "What to do?" There was a lot of suspense in this novel that holds the reader's attention. The use of understatement was shown after the baby was born. Amari simply states, "Black baby, white mama, big trouble."
Draper, S.M. (2006). Copper sun. New York: Atheneum Books.
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