In
Copper Sun, Amari is a 15-year-old Ashanti girl who is happily
anticipating her marriage to Besa. Then, slaver traders storm into
her village, murder her family, and destroy her world. She and Besa
are sent to the Cape Coast, branded a slaves and forced onto a boat
to cross the sea to the Carolinas. Once there, weakened and
despondent from all that has happened to her, Amari is purchased by
slave owner, Percival Derby who plans to use her as a gift for his
sixteen year old son’s birthday.
Draper
takes great pains to show us the harsh reality of the inhumanity as
Amari is systematically raped on the slave ship and on the
plantation where she is used as alligator bait by white teenagers.
The writing is powerful at times, and at times a bit contrived,
though those moments are easily forgiven.
To the
complex history of 18th century slavery in America, she
adds a friendship between Amari and Polly, an indentured white
servant on Amari's plantation. The narrative focuses on both Amari
and Polly, however, the story is primarily Amari's and her
perseverance.
Draper
beautifully builds the undying determination that is called forth by
the human spirit. There are those in the novel who are opposed to
the treatment of slavery and Amari’s hope is often forwarded by
them: the doctor who provides the plan for the girls' escape; and
the Irish woman who gives them a horse and wagon.
This
novel helps us better understand and depths and horrors of slavery
and gain a deeper understanding of the impact human exploitation has
for generations to come. It’s also a good look at slavery, and
indentured servitude as it really was in the 18th-century.
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