Copper Sun

Andrea GoldenPublished in 2006 by Sharon M. Draper

By Sharon M. Draper

Intro: In A world of deception..

15-year-old Amari’s heartfelt story begins in her native country of Africa in a village by the name of Ziavi. Her village is visited by a mysterious bunch of “white-skinned” people who invade their land and capture them for, to them, unknown purposes. When Amari’s family is brutally murdered, she realizes that she is in much more danger than she thought. Amari is forcibly set on a journey of hell, where only God knows the outcome.

Antagonist & Protagonist

Amari

15-year-old girl from Africa who is taken captive from her home by white American men.

Mr. Derby

Rich, slave owning white man of South Carolina who purchases Amari at a slave auction.

Amari’s Struggle…

Amari is a victim of slavery in the 1700s. When Amari is forced to become a slave in America life becomes extremely difficult for her. She is sold to one of the richest men in California, Mr. Derby. There, Amari makes new friends, including a 15-year-old indentured white girl who has her own story to tell. While in America, Amari learns many positive and negative things. Living in a life of hell, Amari has two options: Stay with her owner and be repeatedly beaten, raped, and overworked; or escape to freedom. If her bold choice, what will she get out of freedom? The shocking, spine-tingling ending of the novel will surely cause many heads to spin when Amari’s fate is exposed.

Minor Characters

Teenie & Tidbit

• Teenie, a slave of Mr. Derby, provides a backbone for all slaves living on the plantation. Her words of wisdom, uplifting spirits, and clever mind is what causes a shift in the story for better or for worse. Her son Tidbit is a rather curious 4-year-old whose laughter always seems to make any bad situation worth smiling about.

Afi

• Afi is a slave who helps Amari on her way to the Americas. Afi provides Amari with information, courage, strength, and wisdom that will help Amari in the long run. Afi is close to Amari’s heart because she provides mother-like support.

Minor Characters Continued

Besa

• Besa was to be Amari’s husband before they were captured. After their captivity, they were departed from each other. Amari continuously thinks about her long lost love throughout the journey.

Mrs. Derby

• Mrs. Derby was unhappily married to Mr. Derby at age 18. Although she lives with wicked men in a hell house, she still manages to be fairly nice to the slaves on the plantation.

What Do Critics Think???Journalist Terreece Clarke, of The Ohio State University, says..

• Clarke describes Copper Sun as “a beautiful, gritty, horrific story.”

• She classifies Copper Sun as a Five-Star Novel.

• http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/copper-sun

Journalist Gerry Larson, of Durham School of the Arts, says..

• Larson describes Copper Sun as “action-packed, multifaceted, character-rich.”

• Lawson also nominates Copper Sun as “Book of the Week.”

• http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6298133.html

My Take on Copper Sun

Copper Sun is very inspirational, and interesting novel. It was very easy reading and was extremely hard to put down. Draper taught me much more about slavery than what I already knew. I chose to read Copper Sun because I have an interest in many novels by Sharon Draper. I strongly recommend this great novel to anyone who has not already read it.