Amari and besa the story opens with kwasi amaris younger brother climbing a coconut tree to look a giraffe in the eye. Besa catches up with amari to ask her how her day was, and the two exchange affectionate words with. Study questions, project ideas and discussion topics based on important themes running throughout copper sun by sharon draper. It isnt sugar coated, and readers get a true picture of how devastating it was for human beings to be stolen from their native country, watch their families and communities murdered, and then be shipped to america to be sold as slaves. The characters that author sharon draper introduces are complex but still real and relatable. Jan 01, 2006 poignant and harrowing, this narrative of early america alternates between the voices of enslaved amari and indentured servant polly, building a believable interracial friendship centered on the common goal of freedom. It was an honest take on slavery and incredibly moving. Families may find the violence, habitual rape, and cruelty described here a challenge to read about, but the story does succeed in connecting modern teens to a period in time that many view from the. In copper sun, draper shows her readers glimpses of the horrors of slavery, but keeps her descriptions general, making this book. The theme in this book is no matter how many obstacles life throw at you never lose hope, and never give up because at the end of the storm the clouds clear and the sun shine.
Copper sun by sharon draper explores a dark period in history. An unflinching look at the brutality of the american slave trade, draper s novel tells the story of amari, a young african girl who is enslaved. I personally loved this book because, while i was reading i visualized what was going on and i felt what amari felt when she lost her family. Copper sun by, sharon draper starts in africa 1738, a group of slave traders attacks a girl named amaris, village and murders everyone who is not fit to work including her little brother. This outstanding novel is about the harsh realities of slavery. Shes also the recipient of the coretta scott kingjohn steptoe author award for new talent for tears of a tiger and the coretta scott king author honor for the battle of jericho and november blues.
Another critic claimed that the book showed themes of pain, hope, and determination and human exploitation and suffering. The new york times bestselling, and coretta scott kingwinning, author offers a riveting exploration of power in a novel where a teen is held captive and loses it all. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. James herondale, 17yearold son of will and tessa, finds himself and his perfectly lethal dimple hung up between two. Copper sun study guide the following questions could be used for small group discussions, whole class discussions, or short answer written questions. Initially, amari needs valor to survive her dreadful and sickening trip through the middle passage to the americas. Every object is a link in an endless chain and is thus connected with all the other links, that has changed.
This quote reflects from amari because, through out the book she wanted to give up and she didnt, she wanted to. Inspiring activities for copper sun by sharon draper. Poignant and harrowing, this narrative of early america alternates between the voices of enslaved amari and indentured servant polly, building a believable interracial friendship centered on the common goal of freedom. This 50page guide for copper sun by sharon draper includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 42 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Copper sun chapterbychapter discussion questions this or. I went to ghana several years ago and was overwhelmed by the beauty of the land and people, as well as the history of the place that hovered just out of reach. A vocabulary list featuring copper sun by sharon m. Beverly almond noted that the novel expresses unimaginable hardship and starvation and disease.
But when slave traders invade her village and brutally murder her entire family, amari finds herself dragged away to a slave ship headed to the. Draper about the book amaris life was once perfect. How would you feel if you had to leave your mom behind and she was the only thing you had left. It was talking about slavery, through two different perspectives. Great supplemental information for school essays and projects. Copper sun by sharon draper a choose to read ohio toolkit about the book when pale strangers enter fifteenyearold amaris village, her entire tribe welcomes them. Draper visited the slave castles in ghana several years ago.
This 16 slide powerpoint presentation is a guide for the novel, copper sun, by sharon draper. First simon pulse edition january 2008 the library of congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows. The year was 1738 and fifteenyearold amari had just witnessed the brutal massacre of her village and the murders of her family. Copper sun by sharon draper follows how amari endures life on a rice plantation, and all the pain she goes undergoes. Other activities to help include hangman, crossword, word scramble, games, matching, quizes, and tests. Copper sun summary and study guide supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. But, this novel also demonstrates that there are people in this world eager to do the right thing.
Draper, audiobook narrated by myra lucretia taylor. She has received the coretta scott king award for both copper sun and forged by fire, and was most recently awarded the charlotte huck award for stella by starlight. Edwards award honoring her significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens. Draper is an historical fiction novel that focuses on two teenage girls forced into slavery. Told from the modulating viewpoints of 15yearold slave amari, and 17yearold indentured servant polly, copper sun is a story of resilience in the face of human depravity, and a. Get this book free when you sign up for a 30day trial. The reader will develop strong feelings for amari and those who suffer along with her surprisingly including the white mistress. One was a young slave girl, and another was an american indentured servant. Told from the modulating viewpoints of 15yearold slave amari, and 17yearold indentured servant polly, copper sun is a story of resilience in the face of human depravity, and a hope for freedom against all odds. This riveting novel was written by draper, a granddaughter of a slave. Copper sun chapter by chapter discussion questions your students are going to love this book. It was kind of sad, though, and really conveyed deep meaning. At the beginning of the story i felt very angry about amari losing her family but as the story went on it showed that the loss of. Amari is captured from her idyllic home in africa, and sold into slavery in the new world.
Designed by sonia chaghatzbanian the text of this book was set in life. Also available in an atheneum books for young readers hardcover edition. Dec 04, 2011 this book is well written and relevant as historical fiction about a teen in almost unimaginable circumstances. Copper sun addresses issues of the african slave trade, slavery in america, and freedom. She was so moved, she knew she had to tell the story of one girl who might have made that harrowing journey through the door of no return. Sharon draper is the author of several coretta scott king awardwinning books. Free flashcards to help memorize facts about copper sun by sharon m. An up and coming book blogger, she loves getting books from diverse points of view into the public eye. The novel was published in 2006 and was awarded the national book. Though this book is fiction, it gives a voice to the experience of a slave and to slavery, a sometimes pushed aside, but important to remember, piece of american history. I read this as part of the poc challenge as well as the ya challenge.
Additional study guide for copper sun sharon draper. Permission to use copper sun study guide granted by sharon m. A short essay on amari in copper sun by sharon draper hubpages. Draper copper sun is unlike anything ive ever written. Derby have the time to have sexual intercourse with noah. Sharon currently lives in cincinnati, ohio, where she writes the stories that teenagers love to read. Copper sun by, sharon draper, paints that picture perfectly, this book talks about the struggle african americans had during these times. Copper sun chapterbychapter discussion questions your students are going to love this book. This 19page curriculum allows any teacher to teach copper sun in five days through both activities and discussion. Sharon mills draper born august 21, 1948 is an american childrens writer, professional educator, and the 1997 national teacher of the year. An unflinching look at the brutality of the american slave trade, drapers novel tells the story of amari, a young african girl who is enslaved. She is a fivetime winner of the coretta scott king award for books about the young and adolescent africanamerican experience. Draper even includes a list of the resources she used in writing this book.
Copper sun by, sharon draper starts in africa 1738, a group of slave traders attacks a girl named amaris, village and murders. Copper sun welcome to the official site of sharon draper. But that was what happened when her village was invaded by slave traders. Im a reading teacher who believes in the power of a good book to turn a nonreader into a reader. Aug 16, 2012 a trailer of the book copper sun by sharon draper. Sharon mills draper mills was her maiden name is a twotime coretta scott king awardwinning author for copper sun, and forged by fire.
Describe the middle passage as described in the novel. Draper there are lots of good and bad slave narratives out there. The following questions should be assigned to mature students who can. Engaged to the handsomest man in her tribe, adored by her family, and fortunate enough to live in a beautiful village, it never occurred to her that it could all be taken away in an instant. Drapers forged by fire historical novel takes on an epic sweep as it chronicles the story of 15yearold amari, kidnapped from her african. While accounts of the attack on the tribe and the middle passage are ephemeral, the. This is a great book for eight graders to study at the end of the year as they are learning about slavery and the civil war. Sharon draper how great to see our friend sharon draper again, as she visits with her latest title, panic. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Draper when pale strangers enter, 15 year old, amaris village, her entire tribe welcomes them. My book copper sun was written by a woman who was the granddaughter of a slave, award winning, and determined to not make statistics become her reality, sharon m. Sharon currently lives in cincinnati, ohio, where she. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion on copper sun by sharon draper. Have the book the middle passage by tom feelings available for students to use as a resource.
This book is well written and relevant as historical fiction about a teen in almost unimaginable circumstances. The following questions should be assigned to mature students who can handle the sensitive subject matter. Im a reading teacher who believes in the power of a good book. In her remote part of africa, visitors are always a cause for celebration, but these strangers are not here to celebrate. The reader will develop strong feelings for amari and those who suffer along with her surprisingly including the. Dear sharon draper the book copper sun is very interesting, and emotional. Another critic claimed that the book showed themes of pain, hope.
Stolen from her village, sold to the highest bidder, fifteenyearold amari has only one thing left of her own hope. It brings about enough to explain the wickedness and cruelty of slavery. Amari endures so many hardships during the three month voyage to america, to become slave. Drapers scholarship is evident, and well, this was a fantastic way for a history nerd like me to peek into the past. Sharon draper, samantha murray and cherie reisman you are free to copy, modify and use these questions in educational settings, but not for commercial purposes.
Draper is a new york times bestselling author and recipient of the margaret a. This book follows the trials and tribulations of amari, a fifteenyearold african maiden. Copper sun is a young adult historical fiction novel by author sharon draper. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read copper sun. Draper best known for her contemporary african american characters, drapers latest novel is a searing work of historical fiction that imagines a fifteenyearold african girls journey through american slavery. Copper sun is her first historical fiction and it is amazing as well as frighteningly authentic. Two fifteenyearold girlsone a slave and the other an indentured servantescape their.