| Sixteen year old Raisha is living with her family in Africa when she is taken hostage by slave traders and transported on a ship away from her homeland. On board the ship is Konje, Reisha's close friend and the man she is betrothed to marry. For six months the ship sails on the high seas, stopping at different ports to pick up additional slaves. Finally, the ship reaches the islands of St. Thomas and St, John, the place where the slaves will be placed on the auction block. Raisha and Konje are sold together to a plantation owner named Jost van Prok. Jost's wife Jenna tells Raisha that she will be a house slave due to her docile nature. Raisha has been told that house slaves have an easier life than field slaves, so she is slightly reassured. Jenna also tells Raisha that her new name is Angelica. Slave owners had a custom of changing slave's names so that they would forget their native land. In turn, Konge's name is changed to Apollo. Konge/Apollo runs away from the plantation and hides away at a camp for runaway slaves. In the dark of the night Konge steals away to visit Raisha, who begs Konge to take her away with him. Konge tells Raisha that there is barely enough food to go around and the camp and that she should remain patient until he can find a way for them to be together. Meanwhile, the Governor has enacted legislation with regards to runaway slaves. If Konge is found he will be hanged, beaten, burned or maimed. The punishments are just as severe for those who aid runaway slaves, have knowledge of runaway slaves or slave revolts or any who harbor runaway slaves. As a group of one hundred runaway slaves is poised to stage a rebellion, Raisha must decide if she is willing to risk her life to aid runaway slaves. | ||
|
Plot & Themes Tone of book? - thoughtful Time/era of story - 1600-1899 - Political/social activism Yes Plotlet: Is this an adult or child's book? - Age 11-14 Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Age: - a teen Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - society Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 8 () Africa Yes Kind of Africa: - Black Africa Island? Yes Island: - Caribbean Islands Writing Style Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog |
||