Copper Sun

By: Sharon M. Draper

Narrated by: Myra Lucretia Taylor

Fifteen-year-old Amari witnesses the murder of her family and the destruction of her remote African village. She endures countless humiliations as she is beaten, branded, and forced to board a slave ship. The atrocities continue as she struggles through endless days of backbreaking work and daily degradation on a plantation.

Somehow, through it all, Amari's hopes and dreams survive, because there are moments of kindness from an indentured white girl, Polly, and the gentle wife of the plantation owner. Amari and Polly find that by working together, freedom could be possible.

In this well-researched novel, award-winning author and educator Sharon M. Draper successfully embarks upon historical fiction to explore plantation life.

©2006 Sharon M. Draper (P)2006 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Draper builds the explosive tension to the last chapter, and the sheer power of the story, balanced between the overwhelmingly brutal facts of slavery and Amari's ferocious survivor's spirit, will leave [listeners] breathless, even as they consider the story's larger questions about the infinite costs of slavery and how to reconcile history." (Booklist)

Good book.

This was my son's summer reading project. I hate slave books. Although I purchased the book for him, I also let him listen to it because I felt for him. Although we both found the action disturbing, my son came to me on several occasions to discuss this book. He also read along on some parts! It was interesting and the narrator did a great job. The only reason I didn't give it five is because it started off too slow. In the beginning I was ready to turn it off. So bear with her.

What a good story!

What did you love best about Copper Sun?

I am so glad I took the time to listen to this book; if I had to read it I don't think I would have gotten through the story; but to have someone read the story to me was Wonderful! I would recommend it to others!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Copper Sun?

I when Armi was able to reach the free land!

Have you listened to any of Myra Lucretia Taylor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first time listening to Myra and I would listen to her again

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When her parents was killed and how the Whites came to the village and ate their food then took their lives; so very sad.

A tale of triumph and the horror of slavery

A beautiful young girl living with her people in west Africa is kidnapped, put into chains, abused severely, and put aboard a slave ship bound for America.

This is the story of her capture, abuse, and eventual escape to blessed freedom, not by going North, but by going South to the protection of the Spanish whose king abolished slavery.

👏book👏review

I thoroughly enjoyed Copper Sun. The strongest was good, and the words were read clearly.

Excellent

This book is so good. I have listened to this book a couple of times. This is so worth the credit. The author is excellent. The book keeps you intrigued from the beginning to the end. The end of the book was excellent.

The books ability to draw you in and make you feel the emotional roller coaster the characters are going through.

I loved drapers use of hard topics. Some may say that the topics of rape, beating, and emotional abuse are to vivid and should be left in the past but I believe the makes you fill shoes you would have never filled before.

Heartbreaking..and should be required reading

The narrator in this one was fantastic! Her accents and voice inflections made the story come alive the way few narrators can. The story was painful to read because of it's relevance to our history and the horrible realization that these events happened. This one should be on every high school reading list.

Fairly interesting story

I would give this one 3 1/2 stars. I like the first two thirds of the book the best.

A must listen!

The narrator was amazing and really brought out the personality of thr characters. the story was also amazing. I didn't want it to end. I couldn't stop listening. highly suggested listen.

A Young Adult Novel Worth Consideration For Adults

This is a young adult novel about a 15-year-old African girl who was kidnapped from her village and transported to the Carolinas in a slave ship. There she was sold at auction to become the "birthday present" of a plantation owner's son. While slavery is not a new subject to me, a number of the horrors described in this novel were. Also, I was totally unaware of the sanctuary city, Fort Mose, which was located in the Spanish colony of Florida, just north of St. Augustine. A state park now preserves this site and educates present visitors about this part of our history.

I found the book compelling as I learned more about the shameful history of slavery in our country--something that should have been more thoroughly taught during my years of formal education. I recommend this novel without reservation to students from the age of 12 onward, although adult discussion to lend context and meaning would be beneficial. As an adult, I noticed a lack of plot and character complexity which is why I did not award 5 stars. I am an adult reader, and it is from that perspective I made my evaluation.

However, I am pleased that I ran across this novel and that I took the time to listen to the audiobook. If I were teaching upper grade or middle school students, I would definitely want to use it as an adjunct to traditional materials on American History. It's not a long novel and the language and concepts are easily accessible to students; it would add depth and meaning to discussions of slavery and the impact it has on our culture, past, present, and future.