Customer Reviews
Enjoyable and rewarding - By: Sally Wilton, 06 Oct 2008 
By far the best book I have read this year, hugely enjoyable & most rewarding. From the opening it draws the reader into the period with it skilful portrayal of slavery & the wish to be free evoking the reader into many mixed emotions. A heart rending tale combining the talents andsuccess of Phllis Wheatley with an insight into America & the spoils of war. Thoroughly recommendable & a wonderful introduction to the author. I cannot wait to read another Ann Rinaldi Novel.
An insightful look into a lesser known historical figure - By: Karura, 29 Sep 2008 
Taken from her African home & 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. Taught by her master to read & write, Phillis begins expressing herself through poetry & graduallly gains fame as America's first black poet. But can even celebrity status save Phillis from the cruel reality of being someone else's chattel?
Although I'm not familiar with either the historical accounts of Phillis Wheatley or Ann Rinaldi's previous works, as a fan of historical novels in general, I decided to give this one a go. As it turned out, it was a good decision- the book made for easy reading whilst remaining both informative & insightful. Telling the story from Phillis' own perspective, the novel paints a picture of a determined yet immature girl who is flawed yet likable at the same time. She may be spoiled & hopelessly naïve, but she still remains a sympathetic character throughout, torn between the worlds of the black & white, of the British & the Americans, in the years leading up to the War of Independence- a time when you can be one thing or another, but not both.
Overalll, then, the book is a well-written & enlightening take on a little known chapter of history- not only is it a good read in & of itself, but you'll be left with a thirst for the author's other works. If you like historical works but want something more flavourful than a dry & scholarly account, then this is a good choice for you.
Beautiful - By: Bezerus Bezby, 18 Sep 2008 I adored this book & felt a bit glum when I had finished it. Other reviewers have covered plot etc, so I won't rehash that. I would like to ask, however, have you ever read a book & loved it so much that many other books pale in comparison? That's how I felt when I had finished this book & have yet to find another which evokes such emotion. I would urge you to give it a try!
Edutainment - By: Derek Johnson, 12 Sep 2008 
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( or watch) That said, once I got into the meat of this historical part fiction, part fact based piece of work, I found it an enjoyable read. I for one, had never heard of Phillis Wheatley, let alone that she was a slave, & a poet, & the first to be in print. Some of the fictional events didn't hold sway with me, for example the change in the daughter of the slave owner's attitude, but it didn't decrease my enjoyment of the novel. Whilst directed at young adults I believe that alll ages will enjoy this book. Lastly I appreciated the author taking the time out at the end to explain the factual & fictional differences in this book. All-in-alll a good read.
Interesting story - By: artemisrhi, 10 Sep 2008 
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.
Ann Rinaldi's book is a brave attempt at dealing with a difficult subject. I think that the way she tells Phillis' life story is weak in many places, skipping from one historical event to another & leaving many of her characters rather 2 dimensional & there function in telling the story rather clunky. But nevertheless Phillis' life is worth the reading & Ann Rinaldi should be applauded for bringing this tale to our sight.
