COPPER SUN By Sharon M. Draper ABOUT THE BOOK Amari''s life was once perfect. 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. But that was what happened when her village was invaded by slave traders. Her family was brutally murdered as she was dragged away to a slave ship and sent to be sold in the Carolinas. There she was bought by a plantation owner and given to his son as a "birthday present." Now survival is all Amari can dream about. As she struggles to hold on to her memories, she also begins to learn English and make friends with a white indentured servant named Molly.
When an opportunity to escape presents itself, Amari and Molly seize it, fleeing south to the Spanish colony in Florida at Fort Mose. Along the way, their strength is tested like never before as they struggle against hunger, cold, wild animals, hurricanes, and people eager to turn them in for reward money. The hope of a new life is all that keeps them going, but Florida feels so far away and sometimes Amari wonders how far hopes and dreams can really take her. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sharon M. Draper, 1997 National Teacher of the Year, is an award-winning author and educator. Her books for young adults include Tears of a Tiger, Forged by Fire (winner of the 1998 Coretta Scott King Award), Darkness Before Dawn, Romiette and Julio, Double Dutch, The Battle of Jericho (winner of the 2004 Coretta Scott King Honor Award), and Copper Sun, as well as the popular books for younger readers in the Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs series. She has worked with teachers, students, schools, conferences, and educational organizations all over the world, spreading the word about the power of education and the magic of reading. Visit her Web site at www.
sharondraper.com. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Copper Sun is a work of historical fiction. How does the blending of history and fiction make for a successful story? Which elements are purely fictional? Which elements are basically historical? Why does learning history through fiction make the story more memorable? How does this method of telling the story affect the reader''s response? 2. The very first page, just before chapter one, tells of a slave sale and how it must feel to be fifteen years old, stripped naked, and standing on the auction block. Describe the feelings and fears of the girl being sold. What predictions can the reader make about the girl and the rest of the story? 3.
As you first meet Amari, even though she lives in the Africa of two hundred years ago, how is she like many fifteen-year-old girls today? How is she different? What strengths do you find in her family and home life? What negatives do you observe? 4. How is the relationship between Besa and Amari similar to teen relationships today? How is it different? Describe how Amari feels about him. What predictions can you make about their future together? 5. Describe the relationship between Amari and her parents, and between Amari and her little brother, Kwasi. How does the strength of her family make a difference in her life? 6. What do you know of the village of Ziavi from the descriptions given in the text? How would you describe the social structure, family structure, and cultural structure of the community? How did the custom of graciousness to guests become a death sentence for the town? Explain why the Ashanti helped the European killers. 7. Besa''s great skill and source of pleasure is his drum playing.
The people of the village love music and singing and dancing and self-expression. Explore the importance of artistic influences on individuals as well as groups of people. How can self-expression be used as a tool for helping or healing? 8. Amari''s parents are killed, along with most of the people in her village. How do you think you would react in the same situation? What options does Amari have? What option does Tirza choose and why? What option does Kwadzo choose and why? Why does Amari continue on? Describe what you think Amari is thinking as they are forced to walk across the countryside. 9. Describe the horrors of Cape Coast Castle, the Door of No Return, and the branding on the beach. How does Amari survive? What necessary survival techniques would you have to develop to survive those experiences? 10.
Amari makes friends with people who help her survive, who give her the strength she needs at a crucial time in her life. Describe her relationship with Afi and explain the long- range and short-range influence of Afi on Amari''s life. 11. Describe the Middle Passage as described in the novel. What is it about human beings that makes one person mistreat another? What is it about humans that makes us survive in spite of it? 12. Why do you think Bill decides to teach Amari English? What does this tell you about him? Why is learning the language a powerful tool for Amari? 13. Describe Amari''s feelings as she is sold. What does she NOT know about her future that the reader probably does know? What would you have done in the same situation? 14.
Discuss the character of Polly and how she comes across as we first meet her. What kind of life has she had? How does her past explain her attitudes? What advantages does Polly have in the society and in the story? 15. Discuss the first meeting between Polly and Amari. Why is this part of the story told from Polly''s point of view? 16. How do Teenie and Tidbit and Hushpuppy add color and flavor to life on the plantation? What are their attitudes about being slaves? Give specific examples. 17. Discuss the character of Clay and his complicated feelings for Amari. Does he have any redeeming qualities, or is he purely a negative character? What about Clay''s father? Does he have any redeeming qualities, or is he purely a negative character? 18.
Explain the title of the novel. Why does the title have more than one possible interpretation? Find several examples of references to "copper sun" within the story. 19. Discuss the gradual development of the relationship between Polly and Amari. How is each girl unique? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each? What does each girl offer that the other needs? What makes a friendship? 20. How is Mrs. Derby almost like a slave herself? What predictions did you make about Mrs. Derby and Noah? What foreshadowing is given to prepare the reader for what happens? 21.
Why would Mr. Derby be socially and legally justified by what he did to Noah and the baby? Why didn''t Dr. Hoskins speak up? Why is tragedy more memorable and more powerful than happiness in a novel? 22. What was the overall effect of the gator bait scene? How do you think Tidbit felt when he was in the water? How do you think his mother felt? Amari tried to object, but endangered Tidbit by doing so. How do you think she felt? 23. Why didn''t more slaves rise up and protest or fight back? What social and cultural pieces were in place to prevent it? 24. Discuss the argument between Amari and Polly over whether to go north or south. Why was it extremely unusual to choose a southern route? What does this show about Amari''s personality? 25.
On the journey we find out more about Polly''s family and her background. How did Polly''s parents and her relationship with them shape the person that Polly became? 26. Describe the difficulties of traveling by night, all alone, with no food and no real guarantee that the place you are heading to really exists. How would you have survived the trip? What seemed to be the most difficult for the travelers? 27. What does Amari learn about herself, her past, and her future through her reunion with Besa? 28. How do you think Amari, Polly, and Tidbit felt when they finally reached their destination? What was disappointing about the place when they finally saw it? What was reassuring? 29. What predictions can you make about Amari in the next five years? Will the three of them still be together or will Polly have gone off on her own? How has Amari grown and changed? 30. What did you learn about Africa, the Middle Passage, slavery, and African-American history that you did not know before? How has it changed your thinking, if any? ACTIVITIES & RESEARCH 1.
You are a reporter at one of the following scenes. Write the story for your newspaper. * The destruction of Ziavi * A day in Cape Coast Castle * A day on the slave ship * A day on a plantation * For a slave * For a slave owner * The day Teenie found out Tidbit was alive * Clay and the snake 2. Minor characters are often very important in the development of a story. How do the following characters influence the journey of Amari, Polly, and Tidbit? How do they balance some of the horror that had previously happened? * Dr. Hoskins * Cato * Nathan * Fiona * Besa * The Spanish soldier * Inez * Captain Menendez 3. Find a map of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida and trace the route that the three travelers might have taken as they walked from Columbia, South Carolina, to St. Augustine, Florida.
How long would the trip have taken if they had been able to go by boat? What if they had been able to go by car? 4. Research the history of slavery in the United States. Look up the Triangle Trade and find out why selling human beings was one of the most profitable business ventures available. 5. Write a letter to one of the characters in the book explaining your feelings about the events in the story. What advice would you give Amari, or Polly, or Mrs. Derby, or Teenie or Besa? What would you say to Clay? 6.