Copper Sun

By: Sharon M. Draper

Narrated by: Myra Lucretia Taylor

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Fifteen-year-old Amari witnesses the murder of her family and the destruction of her remote African village. She endures countless humiliations as she is beaten, branded, and forced to board a slave ship. The atrocities continue as she struggles through endless days of backbreaking work and daily degradation on a plantation.

Somehow, through it all, Amari's hopes and dreams survive, because there are moments of kindness from an indentured white girl, Polly, and the gentle wife of the plantation owner. Amari and Polly find that by working together, freedom could be possible.

In this well-researched novel, award-winning author and educator Sharon M. Draper successfully embarks upon historical fiction to explore plantation life.

©2006 Sharon M. Draper (P)2006 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Draper builds the explosive tension to the last chapter, and the sheer power of the story, balanced between the overwhelmingly brutal facts of slavery and Amari's ferocious survivor's spirit, will leave [listeners] breathless, even as they consider the story's larger questions about the infinite costs of slavery and how to reconcile history." (Booklist)

I need more space for stars!

Any additional comments?

This book is one of those that must be experienced to really talk about. It is beyond excellent; both in how it is written and narrated. What a treasure! This should be required reading for all.

So moving!

I wanted the book to end with a neat little ribbon with all of the people we met along the way to be accounted for, but that didn't happen. To the author's credit she didn't write for the audience, I think she wrote for the spirit of her character.

I cried and laughed many times throughout. I highly recommend it to everyone.

Packed w great Information

this was an awesome book packed with so much information I never knew the story behind st. Augustine Florida and how slaves escaped their to become free from their owners in the south the story comes alive with an amazing narrator who gives you many details so you can picture the whole scene in your head I would definitely recommend this book

worth a credit

the narrator made it sound like she was reading to children. At some points I wondered if it was actually intended for an elementary audience, but there was too much horror for that. I'm definitely not sure how I feel about it. But maybe that was the author's intent?..

Good slave story.

What did you love best about Copper Sun?

Good time period book. Shed light on the taking of slaves from Africa, the slave ship, the sale of the slave, and some new light on the life of a slave.

Don't miss this one

Have you listened to any of Myra Lucretia Taylor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The performance of Myra Taylor deserves an award. Her talent and skill for becoming several characters, all different from one another is extraordinary.

Any additional comments?

A truly remarkable experience. I enjoyed it immensely. So glad I discovered it on Audible!

Excellent Read!

I didn't know what to expect when I picked out this book other than being of biracial descent from two backgrounds who both overcame great hardship it piqued my curiosity. MyAfrican heritage where slavery may be a part of my paternal history but for many reasons I don't have all the history I seek there, as well as my Dutch ancestry where I have relatives still alive who survived the horrors of WW2, the holocaust, the depression, & for some the journey of moving to Canada with nothing and starting their lives over completely. While I can never truly comprehend what any of them endured, I believe books like this one can offer valuable insights to all the potential sacrifices those before us made for all the freedoms we have now, often taking it for granted instead of remembering what a gift it is we've been given. This book is an excellent reminder of this.this may be my favourite Audible book to date.

My new all time favorite book!

This book will haunt, horrify and also enlighten you as you hear how unsuspecting, innocent people were captured from their village in Africa, brought to America and sold as slaves.

I felt like I was right there in the story with the characters. There were many surprise twists that I didn't see coming which was fun because I am normally really good at predicting what will happen. Happy listening!!

appropriate for teens

I found the story on the simple side. This is not to say that I could write better but that I've read many more sophisticated novels. It does give a good description of slavery for younger people.

I Did not want it to be over!

This may be my favorite book. Wonderful! I will forever Remember The characters. The narration was superb as well