Phillis Wheatley

by Susan R. Gregson

Provides the story of Phillis Wheatley, a woman who was kidnapped as a child in Africa, sold into slavery, then finally given her freedom to become the first African American woman to publish a book.

48 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

About the author

Susan R. Gregson has been writing for more than 22 years. She is the author of nearly 20 children's books. She also writes magazine and Internet articles, speeches, and technical reports. Her favorite part of writing books is the research.

Reviews

[Antionea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a magnificent women Phillis Wheatley born in West Africa in around the 1750s. As a child Wheatley was brought into the U.S. as a slave she was kidnapped and brought to Boston in 1961. Phillis was intelligent and caught on to things quickly she learned to speak English, she wrote about events that occurred around her, she also wrote poetry and infact published a book. Phillis always had a coughing problem, not knowing of the time but she probably had asthma.Her slave owners thought Phillis was special because of how intelligent she was they gave her her own room, and only allowed her to do a little work around the house because of her coughing problems. In 1767 Phillis first poem was published it was about the night she and a hundred others were taken from their home to become slaves. Her poems soon began to be published into newspapers giving her notice and attention.Phillis had wrote plenty of poems she got her fame when writing a poem about the colonies Chang in America.1770 Phillis was inspired by a British leader George Whitefield,who felt that slaves should be free,once she learned that he died she wrote a poem her slave owner got her poem published into a book which got the attention of many important people of Britain, making her famous.Phillis was freed by her slave owners and she later married John Peyers in 1778 and together they had child in 1779 but the baby died at birth and Phillis health began to weaken. In 1781 together they had another child and moved to a small old farming town where she worked washing clothes. John was running out of money so he sold most of Phillis important books that were gifts from Britain. Being unable to pay his bills John Peters was in jail, and in 1784 Phillis had passed away along with her baby. John took Phillis poems and they have never been seen again.
The litary of this book was simple great for elementary readers, but would consider this book for middle schooler who may have had some type of education on slavery.
I gave this book 5 stars because Phillis was an intelligent women, she published books and poems, and although she had such ill health she never stopped trying to support herself and her baby she always worked to provid food for her and her baby and I admire her for that. I honestly wished that John Peterson had not taken her poems so that her personal poems could have been in a museum.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phillis Wheatley's brief life really makes you think. She was enslaved, but she had the opportunity to become a published poet who is remembered by later generations in a way that she might not have been had she lived out her life in Africa. I now want to read a grown-up biography to know her better.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book for young adults. Full of information about Phillis Wheatley and the history of her time. Must have for any parent trying to teach about slavery.

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phillis Wheatley is an American poet from revolutionary times. She was a slave until her owners freed her. Interesting. Has a section in the back telling how to write your own poem.