A wonderfully atmospheric historical novel based on the story of the first African American female poet and a perfect introduction to the subject of slavery.
A moving historical novel based on the story of Phillis Wheatley - the first African American female poet.The intriguing and moving story of a young girl kidnapped from her home in Senegal and sold, in 1761, as a slave to the wealthy Wheatley family of Boston. Phillis Wheatley - as she comes to be known - has a keen intelligence and a knack for learning. When the family discover her gift for writing poetry, they begin to mould her future by having her ''perform'' for influential guests. Eventually she is sent to England, where her work is finally published - the first book of poetry by an African American woman. However, all the trappings of success do nothing to change the fact that she is still a slave.
“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
Author
About Ann Rinaldi
Ann Rinaldi is an award-winning author of more than a dozen novels for young adults in which she brings history vividly to life. A self-made writer, Ms Rinaldi never attended college but learned her craft through reading writing, and working as a columnist for twenty one years at the Trentonian in New Jersey, USA.
