A Voice of Her Own: The Story of Phillis Wheatley, Slave Poet

Candlewick Biographies

by Kathryn Lasky, Paul Lee (Illustrator)

"We’ll call her Phillis."

In 1761, a young African girl was sold to the Wheatley family in Boston, who named her Phillis after the slave schooner that had carried her. Kidnapped from her home in Africa and shipped to America, she’d had everything taken from her - her family, her name, and her language.

But Phillis Wheatley was no ordinary young girl. She had a passion to learn, and the Wheatleys encouraged her, breaking with unwritten rule in New England to keep slaves illiterate. Amid the tumult of the Revolutionary War, Phillis Wheatley became a poet and ultimately had a book of verse published, establishing herself as the first African American woman poet this country had ever known. She also found what had been taken away from her and from slaves everywhere: a voice of her own.

Genres: History, Biography, Picture Books, Poetry, Nonfiction, African American, Childrens

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Kathryn Lasky, also known as Kathryn Lasky Knight and E. L. Swann, is an award-winning American author of over one hundred books for children and adults. Best known for the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, her work has been translated into 19 languages and includes historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction.

Reviews

[Marigold Bookhound · Rating 2 out of 5]

The life of Phillis Wheatley, who was kidnapped from the African continent and enslaved as a house servant in Boston, is told clearly and with special attention paid to Phillis's path as a poet and writer. The author pays special attention to how Phillis last saw her mother in Africa, before Phillis was separated from her mother and father by enslavement. This memory is referred to several times to show Phillis's positioning and voice as a writer – how, though she is finely educated and devoted to her craft, Phillis's life is distinct from other writers being published in the 1700s, as Phillis was the first Black American woman to be published and this occurrence was a rarity.

The illustrations are lovely oil paintings, though I did not appreciate the illustrator's note that "Phillis Wheatley proved to everyone around her that all things are possible if you work for them" – this kind of messaging implies that hard work equals success. In the light of slavery and the institution of racism, hard work rarely leads to "success" or leaving slavery. Hard work done by a Black enslaved person generally lead to continued oppression, to the benefit of white people, with little to no recourse for Black enslaved people. So this sentiment is a poor choice.

Clearly written and engrossing, but lacking in anti-racist sentiment. I would have liked to see the author push back at the institution of slavery, calling out the fact that though Phillis Wheatley was formally educated, hundreds of thousands of enslaved people were denied access to education and were brutalized. It would have also been useful if the author were to push back on the Wheatleys' role in Phillis's life. I would have liked to see Susannah and John Wheatley be referred to as slave owners, to remind the audience of their culpability to the institution of slavery - and to see some push back against the idea that Susannah Wheatley "saw Phillis as a daughter". I think the narrative of Susannah Wheatley as a kindly slave owner who just wanted a "personal servant" and was "impressed" by Phillis's intelligence is not in keeping with an anti-racist framework. Slave owners should not be portrayed as kindly or without culpability, no matter how "nicely" they treated the people they enslaved.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring girl & woman, skillfully put together book, authentic seeming illustrations and story. But for me, this true tale’s facts are crazy making. The author obviously abhors slavery and makes that clear. But while “Phyllis” was eventually given manumission papers, freeing her from slavery, I found it disturbing how the relationship between slave and “mistress” seemed glorified a bit: she loved her like a daughter, taught her to read and write, and “Phyllis” came back to care for her when she was dying and would not leave her former “owner’s” home. My head was spinning as I was reading this book.

Poetry segments by “Phyllis” are included, a nice touch. The illustrations were well researched. The pictures and account are heartrending and fascinating. It’s an excellent book.

But, given that for all the “love” she had, the fact that she wasn’t freed as a servant slave much, much earlier should (I think) have been stressed even more than it was.

“Phyllis” was an amazing person, very bright and talented, but definitely a product of her time and place. And, I was inspired but horrified even more so. Perhaps that was part of the point? The situation was so horrendous and the name “Phyllis Wheatley” drives me up the wall, given why her name was as it was.

The account is very well written, and it’s text heavy and definitely written for older children, especially if they’re reading the book themselves. Excellent author’s and illustrator’s notes.

What most interested me about this story was how this slave woman knew and met so many people influential in the American revolution and others of that era. Fascinating!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opening in 1761, as a young girl sits miserably huddled in the hold of a slave ship bound for the Americas, A Voice of Her Own is a picture-book examination of the life of Phillis Wheatley, the first African-American poet ever to be published. Purchased by the wealthy Wheatley family of Boston, and named 'Phillis' after the ship which brought her from Africa, she so impressed her owners with her intelligence that they took the unheard of step of educating her. While still a slave in the Wheatley household, she became a published poet, a guest in many of Boston's finest homes, where she was asked to recite, and traveled to England. She dedicated poems to well-known clergymen, to George Washington, and wrote sympathetically of the colonists' determination to free themselves from British rule. Eventually, she herself was freed, although (as is made plain in the afterword) her story did not end happily...

I found this an immensely engaging biography of a fascinating historical and literary figure, and was impressed with the way that Lasky's well-written narrative captured the desolation of Wheatley's early kidnapping and enslavement, and the subsequent story of her education, and development as a writer. How strange and disconcerting it must have been for Wheatley, to take tea in the drawing room of the Finch family, when the master of the house owned the very ship, the 'Phillis,' that brought her to the Americas! How odd that she wrote so sympathetically of the patriots' cause, and believe in their right to freedom, when no American publisher would print her work, because she was African! So many things struck me, in my reading: how unusual Wheatley's story was, how few women of that day were educated to her level, and how few slaves.

All in all, this is an effective biography, in that it made me want to know more! I want to know more about Wheatley's life, and I want to read her poetry - in the eighteenth-century original, of course! I may have to look her up on archive.org...

[Elisabeth Ensor · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book about Phillis Wheatley! There are some heavy images of slaves aboard a ship being kidnapped from Africa but worth the read. There are so many similarities between her desire for freedom and her captors struggle for freedom from the British. I’m not sure I’ve put myself in that position and wondered what that would have felt like to hear Americans desire for freedom while simultaneously enslaving blacks from Africa!!!

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me want to grab a book of her poems and start reading. What an interesting woman! It's a shame her life was so short, and that she didn't write more. And how sad that she, though from America, had to get her poems published in England. Wish I could write poetry like that!
Recommended.

[Marta E C R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely little biography of Phillis Wheatley, whom I've been studying with a friend. The illustrations are equally lovely.

[N_katiebernard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story tells of a Phillis Wheatly, a slave during the time of the Revolutionary War. Phillis is brought to the northern colonies, where her "owner" recognizes her intelligence and decides to see if she can teach an African slave to read/write. The Phillis not only achieves this, but she becomes quite accomplished and writes wonderful poetry. Despite her great ability, Phillis continues to struggle with the fact that she does not fit in with anyone. She is not allowed to go to certain places or do many activities because she is not white. However, her literacy skills and inclusion within her "owner's" family makes her less like other slaves. During this struggle, she continues to write and through the perseverance of the family she is with, she goes to England to get her poetry published. Not only was her poetry published, but many copies were sold in the colonies. Phillis continued her life as an intelligent woman who wrote great poetry.

While the story of Phillis is interesting, the writing style is quite dry. The text within this book is plentiful for a picture book and were given in a very matter-of-fact manner. I felt like I was reading a textbook and did not like the presentation of the facts. However, the illustrations kept me quite engaged with their interpretations of the people and events.

[L13_Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The message of this book is inspiring. This books describes the life of Phillis Wheatley, a slave during the Revolutionary War. As she is sent to the northern colonies, she is able to teach other slaves how to read and write once her master discovers her unique intelligence. However, she still struggles to fit in and find a place within her situation. Phillis writes her own poetry throughout this time, and eventually is able to have it published. It becomes very popular later on in the colonies. The theme of this book is empowering and reminds readers that anything is possible. The style of writing is a bit dry, but the information provided, along with the illustrations, keep the reader engaged. Although this is a picture book, it could definitely be used to introduce a history unit in the middle grades, or even to discuss a poet's life in a Language Arts class in the middle grades. Great read!

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lasky does a very nice job with biographies for children.

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice introductory book that might get kids interested in reading more about Phillis Wheatley.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful and inspiring story!

[Justin Xi]

A voice of her own is a great book and i really liked it the main charcter phillis wheatley is a african girl who got kidnapped and sold for 7 dollors in America, her owner told her to write as an experiment because no slave knows how to write, phillis later turned out to be a great poet but cant publish her poems because no one believed that she could write poems With the help of her owner shesuccessfully published it

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing and inspiring true story of slave Phillis Wheatley who was author of first book to be written by a black American woman.

[Margo Tanenbaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Candlewick has recently reissued in beautiful full-color paperback editions several biographies of famous African-American women by Kathryn Lasky. In A Voice of Her Own, Lasky shares the story of an equally extraordinary woman, Phillis Wheatley, known as the first black woman poet in America.

Lasky begins her book as a young girl is kidnapped from Africa and sold into slavery in America in 1761. Through the girl's eyes, Lasky describes the harrowing journey from the west coast of Africa. A powerful illustration, painted in acrylics, shows a terrified young girl huddled in the hold of the ship. Upon arrival, she is purchased at a Boston slave market by the Wheatley family and given the name Phillis. When we next meet Phillis, we learn that she has become no ordinary slave. Mrs. Wheatley, realizing quickly how bright her new young slave was, decided to teach her to read and write, a sort of social experiment to see if an African could learn and understand the Bible. While this sort of instruction was not illegal as it was in the South, it was nevertheless never done.

Phillis proved to be such an able student that she progressed beyond English to Latin and Greek, geography and mathematics--this at a time when few white women were offered this sort of education, and only the elite among white men. Phillis was especially attracted to poetry, and had her first poem published when she was only fourteen years old. Phillis became a celebrity in Boston, and was trotted out by her mistress to all the finest houses in town as a sort of curiosity.

Ironically, Boston printers refused to publish a compilation of Wheatley's poems, refusing to believe that a Negro slave could have written them, even after a panel of distinguished Bostonians, including John Hancock, interviewed her and vouched for her. Instead, the Wheatleys sent Phillis on a trip over the ocean to London, where she met a British publisher willing to publish her volume, and was received in the finest homes. Returning to America when she learned her mistress was ill, she continued to write, even as Boston rebelled against the British. After being published in London, her book sold well in Boston, and Phillis' fame grew. She was even invited to meet General Washington after writing a poem in his honor.

In an epilogue, Lasky relates briefly the last years of Wheatley's life; after receiving papers freeing her from slavery from the Wheatleys, she married and had three children, all of whom died in infancy. Her final poem, "Liberty and Peace," celebrated the end of the war, and she died in poverty at the age of thirty-one.

Back matter includes an index and a list of selected sources, as well as notes from the author and illustrator. The text includes a few brief quotations from Wheatley's poems.

At a brief 38 pages, with beautiful and abundant color illustrations, this very accessible biography is one step up from a picture book, and could be read aloud in class or by parents as well as read independently by students in about third grade and up. While the author provides plenty of information for a biographical report, the subject matter is fascinating and suitable for general reading as well as school assignments. Phillis Wheatley's remarkable rise from an illiterate slave to a literary figure celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic is an inspiration to share with children, particularly during Black History Month or Women's History Month.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Voice of Her Own: The Story of Phillis Wheatley, Slave Poet by Kathryn Lasky and illustrated by Paul Lee provides a very approachable biography of Phillis Wheatley for a grade 3-7 audience. Paul Lee illustrations done in acrylic on board provide a window into Ms Wheatley's life and expands upon the text. It is difficult to grasp the significance of Wheatley's accomplishments without reading more of her poems and letters. I feel that there are better choices of poem segments for that purpose. The sad ending of Ms Wheatley is only briefly mentioned in the after notes. The story of how she was able to express herself, the form she choose, and the limits on her behavior and expression remain a story that still needs to be told. I liked this presentation of Phillis Wheatley, 3 stars, and I felt that Kathryn Lansky's strongest contribution was in her Author's Note.
Ms Lasky writes, "What slavery and every other form of oppression have in common is that they impose silence. To be voiceless is to be dehumanized."
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7
Lexile Measure: 940L

[Hannah Braunstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kathryn Lasky's biography of Phillis Wheatley, the first published slave poet, outlines her kidnapping and transportation to America on a level that upper elementary grade children would be able to grasp. The evocative illustrations by Paul Lee add depth to the emotional language Lasky uses. This book would be great as an author study in a unit on poetry, as Lasky laces quotes from Wheatley's poetry into her own narrative. In the unit, I would have students explore further into Wheatley's poetry and inspirations. Lasky also uses poetic language and metaphors that could provide a basis for a reading or writing lesson.

Though the book does deal sensitively with Phillis' treatment as a slave, it is hindered by some unfortunate word choices. I definitely raised an eyebrow when Lasky paralleled America's "enslavement to England" to Phillis' or each time she refers to Phillis as the Wheatley's "daughter." For this reason, I would want to make sure my class had an appropriate amount of scaffolding about slavery and the relationships between slaves and their masters, even in the North. I also would consider collecting some other biographies of Phillis Wheatley for my students to have comparison points on some of the topics discussed in the book.

Overall, I felt the book was a great way to introduce a fascinating woman whose story is not widely told. Stories like these broaden students' perceptions of American history and showcase the contributions of various groups in our society.

[Olivia Lagore]

The story of a Phillis Wheatley, a slave girl living in New England, who was taught to read and write, eventually becoming the first published African American author. Her story is interwoven with historical events and issues, such as the beginnings of the American Revolution, including the Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre, and the slave trade.
This would be a good book to read during a lesson on Civil Rights or when discussing the revolution. In neither lesson would this book be a good main text, but as an additional text, telling the story from a different perspective, this would be very appropriate. It could also be used for a student needing some inspiration for a topic for a paper.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all loved A Voice of Her Own. I hadn't read about Phillis Wheatley before, but as we are studying the American Revolution, we decided now was the time to read about this slave who became the first black woman to publish a book (I guess in the USA). The book deals sensitively about her being taken away from her mother in Africa and sold in Boston, although it goes into enough detail that you ache for her, her mother, and all those affected by slavery. Thankfully she was bought by Susannah Wheatley, who early on recognized how brilliant Phillis was and taught her not only to read and write, but Greek and Latin too! I won't tell the whole story. Read it for yourself. You'll love it.

[Amber Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The story tells of a Phillis Wheatly, a slave during the time of the Revolutionary War. Phillis is brought to the northern colonies. She teaches other African Americans during this struggling time. I enjoyed reading this book because it uses such detail in her writing. I would use this book to teach sensory details. Phililis uses sensory detail like blackness, scurrying shapes of rats, etc. students will learn to capture their sensory details in their story's. the students will need to write stories about how their senses were affected in their everyday lives.

[Sarah Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told elegantly and with beautiful illustrations, this biography of Phillis Wheatley is suitable for older elementary students. It draws comparisons between Phillis' slave status and the struggle of the American colonies for independence from Britain. Using snippets of her own poems, it shows her journey from being kidnapped from Africa to being the first African American female published poet. As another Goodreads reviewer stated, this children's biography makes me want to get Phillis' poem collection for companion reading.

[Katie DeVries · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an incredible story! I've heard the name Phillis Wheatley, but I never knew her story. This book gives a very simplified look into the time and life of Phillis Wheately. I really enjoyed this book, as I do with most historical fiction books. I'm not sure how much of this is true when it comes to the story of Phillis' mother, but I know her being such a successful poet is in fact true and once again is such an incredible story!

[Kris Odahowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celebrate Poetry month with this well written and illustrated biography of an African woman who became a published poet during the early days of the American Revolution. This books is a great steeping off point for students learning about American slavery, it's impact on Africans. This book is available or check out at the Gadsden County Public Library.

[Veronica Baca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good resource for a discussion on slavery, poetry, and the English War.

[Katie Sargent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story of a brilliant poet. She was the first African-American woman to have a book published. The illustrations were also very good.

[Amanda Hlava · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a biography about the slave poet Phillis Wheatley and her journey to success. Takes place during the Revolutionary War, would be a great introduction to poetry unit.

[ThePinkCarrot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspirational story of a slave girl allowed to be educated

[Janel G. B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great imagery. Accessible for 4th grade but the underlying themes and stylistic choices are probably better approached in middle school.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intelligent introduction to slavery for young children as well as being a good introduction to Phyllis Wheatley's life and poetry w/bright, clear, historically accurate illustrations.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful book!

July 10, 2021: BEAUTIFUL book! I love learning about Phillis Wheatley. Each book I read about her gives me some new insightful gems.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Voice of Her Own: The Story of Phillis Wheatley, Slave Poet is a children's picture book written by Kathryn Lasky and illustrated by Paul Lee. It is a fine, albeit cursory biography of Phillis Wheatley – the first published African-American female poet.

February, at least in my part of the world is Black History Month, which I plan to read one children's book, particularly a biography, which pertains to the subject everyday this month. Therefore, I thought that this book would be apropos for today.

Phillis Wheatley was the first African-American woman to publish a book of poetry. Born in West Africa, she was sold into slavery at the age of seven or eight and transported to North America. She was purchased by the Wheatley family of Boston, who taught her to read and write and encouraged her poetry when they saw her talent.

Lasky's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, informative, and lyrical. Lasky offers intimate projections throughout this biography from captured slave to published poet with excerpts of some of her poems. Lee's large-scale, realistic acrylic paintings emphasize Wheatley's strength and constancy amidst the turbulent tenor of her times.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Arriving in Boston, the captured girl is purchased by Susannah Wheatley, who recognizes Phillis' intelligence and teaches her to read, write, and to encourage her in her poetry pursuits. Phillis' poetry expresses sympathy for the American Revolution even as the colonies in which Phillis lived as a slave were struggling to slip the chains of their own enslavement to England.

All in all, A Voice of Her Own: The Story of Phillis Wheatley, Slave Poet is a wonderful, but cursory introduction to the first published African-American female poet – Phillis Wheatley.