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"* "Rinaldi makes it clear to readers that Wheatley's good fortune is a double-edged sword that destroys her. A tragic tale, beautifully written and researched." Kirkus Reviews"
Book Description
A moving historical novel based on the story of Phillis Wheatley - the first African American female poet.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
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This is the first novel I've read by Ann Rinaldi, on the back cover it says "For Young Adults", to me it doesn't matter what age you are if you love history and biographies you'll love this. :-)
We meet Philllis when she's kidnapped from her home and sold into slavery, we follow her sea voyage to America where she is sold to a Boston family. A caring family, who look after her welfare and give her an education, but she wants more! She starts to write poetry and although she is told a little of what she should be writing they family are all for it and help to promote and get her published. Above all, the one thing she wants more then anything is to get her freedom, to no longer be a slave.
The author has researched the life of Phillis well, and written the novel with great care.
Whether you're an adult or teenager you'll find that the story grips you right from the start, it's a compulsive read and one I've really enjoyed.
Not only is the story interesting, it's enjoyable, and I struggled to put the book down once I started.:-)
Its one novel I will definitely read again. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves history, whatever their age. :-)
We meet Philllis when she's kidnapped from her home and sold into slavery, we follow her sea voyage to America where she is sold to a Boston family. A caring family, who look after her welfare and give her an education, but she wants more! She starts to write poetry and although she is told a little of what she should be writing they family are all for it and help to promote and get her published. Above all, the one thing she wants more then anything is to get her freedom, to no longer be a slave.
The author has researched the life of Phillis well, and written the novel with great care.
Whether you're an adult or teenager you'll find that the story grips you right from the start, it's a compulsive read and one I've really enjoyed.
Not only is the story interesting, it's enjoyable, and I struggled to put the book down once I started.:-)
Its one novel I will definitely read again. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves history, whatever their age. :-)
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
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I found this book compelling; a real "page turner" and read it in 3 days (which meant staying up late to do so!).
The overall story is a poignant one and the author has the sense and professionalism to devote the last chapter to letting the reader know which parts were founded in fact and which parts an elaboration on her part.
I would have liked to give the book 5 stars, but I felt it fell short on a couple of important points:
There is an interweaving of conjecture and fact that runs through the novel. This occasionally irritates and the ending of the book, whilst brought about at the right time, does not sit well with the story thus far.
Written in the first person, the author allows the protagonist, Phyllis, thought processes that are clearly 21st century in nature rather than those of a child from Senegal in the 18th century. It's as though the author transplanted a child of this world into the world of Phyllis some 200 odd years ago.
This is not a book to read to learn of the terrible world of the slave trade, although some moments are shocking and insightful.
Overall, a very good story and a good read about a real woman who really existed. It left me wanting more.
The overall story is a poignant one and the author has the sense and professionalism to devote the last chapter to letting the reader know which parts were founded in fact and which parts an elaboration on her part.
I would have liked to give the book 5 stars, but I felt it fell short on a couple of important points:
There is an interweaving of conjecture and fact that runs through the novel. This occasionally irritates and the ending of the book, whilst brought about at the right time, does not sit well with the story thus far.
Written in the first person, the author allows the protagonist, Phyllis, thought processes that are clearly 21st century in nature rather than those of a child from Senegal in the 18th century. It's as though the author transplanted a child of this world into the world of Phyllis some 200 odd years ago.
This is not a book to read to learn of the terrible world of the slave trade, although some moments are shocking and insightful.
Overall, a very good story and a good read about a real woman who really existed. It left me wanting more.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A wonderfully told tale of the first African American female poet. It charts her life from when she was young girl in Africa, to how she got caught by slave traders, her voyage to America, then being sold into slavery. It's a tale full of courage and determination that kept me turning the pages until the very end. The strength and determination of this young girl, her journey into womanhood, and her eventual success as a published poet is an inspiring story. This is a period of history that needs to be written about and Rinaldi has done a terrific job.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not just an ordinary slavegirl
Having studied Phyllis Wheatley's poetry at university, I was interested to read her story as envisaged by Rinaldi. Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2009 by littlepig littlepig
THE SAD STORY OF PHILLIS WHEATLEY, AFRICAN AMERICAN PIONEER POETESS
This well written book is the part fiction, part historical story of Phillis Wheatley. The author has obviously done a lot of research here and it helps to bring the tale to... Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2009 by Lee Ann Day
Interesting but ultimately disappointing
My opinion of this book is that would be most useful for a class reading project or a sememster study project. As a novel it's ultimately disappointing. Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2009 by Y. Yearwood
A true story
Phyllis, a girl named after the slave ship she came across the ocean on and Wheatley the name of the family who adopted her. Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2008 by Sally Wilton
An insightful look into a lesser known historical figure
Taken from her African home and sold into slavery, the girl who would come to be known as Phillis Wheatley starts a new life in America as the servant of the Wheatley family. Read more
Published on 29 Sep 2008 by Karura
Beautiful
I adored this book and felt a bit glum when I had finished it. Other reviewers have covered plot etc, so I won't rehash that. Read more
Published on 18 Sep 2008 by Bezerus Bezby
Edutainment
I found this novel difficult to read. Not because it was badly written, or boring. It was mainly due to the fact that I find anything to do with the Slave trade difficult to read(... Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2008 by Derrick Johnson
Interesting story
This is the amazing true story of Phillis Wheatley a Senegalese girl kidnapped into slavery who was the author of the first book of poetry written by an African American. Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2008 by artemisrhi
Fantastic potential, generally entertaing
I have mixed feelings about this book. The story of Phillis is worth writing about, and I actually like Rinaldi's style (if a little methodical). Read more
Published on 9 Sep 2008 by Philip Hale
A pleasant, delightful, but realistic read
Like others I came to this book as a complete stranger to the central character Phillis Wheatley, yet I found the book engaging, well written and the story compelling. Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2008 by Mark Loughridge
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