The Captive (Apple Paperbacks) [Paperback]

Joyce Hansen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1995

Celebrating a special event for his people, Kofi, the prince of a West African village, is horrified when he is betrayed, kidnapped, and sold into slavery in Massachusetts, in a story based on an actual slave narrative. Reprint. PW. K. H.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An 18th-century African boy recounts his journey to slavery in America; in a starred review, PW said that the story "offers a deeply moving, Afrocentric perspective on the brutal inequities of American life in the nation's earliest years-and now." Ages 9-12.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-This novel, inspired by a journal written in the late 1700s, is about the capture of Kofi, a 12-year-old son of an Ashanti chief. The boy is taken and subsequently sold after his father is betrayed and murdered by a trusted family slave. He makes two friends on the trip across the ocean; one is a white indentured servant, the other is another black slave. Once they reach America, they are all sold to a Puritan farmer in Massachusetts. (He is never called a Puritan, however, and children may have difficulty figuring out why the characters go to a long, low building once a week, as it is never referred to as a religious meeting house). Eventually, the boys run away. They are chased onto a ship and discovered by its captain, who agrees to help them. Readers might hope for a description of Kofi's return to Africa, as it is clear from the prologue that he does return, but it is not mentioned again until the epilogue. His life in Africa is presented as both orderly and good; the discussion of a black man's involvement in the selling of others of his race is handled well; and the topic of slavery in New England is one not often discussed. Unfortunately, the sense of passage of time is unbalanced as winter lasts three chapters and spring and summer last two paragraphs, and the story seems to take a long time getting started. Nevertheless, this book may be worth purchasing in support of units on slavery.
Sandra J. Langlais, Newport Public Library, RI
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 195 pages
• Publisher: Apple (June 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590416243
• ISBN-13: 978-0590416245
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,537 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent piece of historical fiction, August 10, 1999

By 

Jessica Robinson (North Star Academy, Newark, New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Captive (Apple Paperbacks) (Paperback)

I've taught this book to 6th and 7th graders at two different schools. Both years, it was one of my students' favorite books. There is plenty of action to keep readers interested, and the story deals well with the issue of slavery. Another excellent book in this same genre--though a little more challenging--is "Amistad" by Alexs Pate.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an awsome book, January 11, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Captive (Apple Paperbacks) (Paperback)

Captive is a great book that is definetly worth reading. The author puts a visual in your head that makes you feel as if you are actualy there whitnessing the story.the story is about an African American Kofi who gets taken out of his home and is shiped to an owner to be his slave. his only possesions are the clothes on his back and a flute. On the ship the author describes his frusteration and confusion wtih not being able to talk to any one.He meets two other boys and they get sold to a master. his master beats him and tourchers him.The masters wife however teaches him to speak to learn and to write English. Then him and his two friends dreanm of being free again and plan to ecscape. Will Kofi and his friends ecscape?Will Will kofis dream of being free someday come true?
I enjoyed reading this book and I hope you will too.It has all the things that I like in a book action suspence and emotion. so if you are looking for that kind of book this would be a good one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an awsome book, January 11, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Captive (Apple Paperbacks) (Paperback)

Captive is a great book that is definetly worth reading. The author puts a visual in your head that makes you feel as if you are actualy there whitnessing the story.the story is about an African American Kofi who gets taken out of his home and is shiped to an owner to be his slave. his only possesions are the clothes on his back and a flute. On the ship the author describes his frusteration and confusion wtih not being able to talk to any one.He meets two other boys and they get sold to a master. his master beats him and tourchers him.The masters wife however teaches him to speak to learn and to write English. Then him and his two friends dreanm of being free again and plan to ecscape. Will Kofi and his friends ecscape?Will Will kofis dream of being free someday come true?
I enjoyed reading this book and I hope you will too.It has all the things that I like in a book action suspence and emotion. so if you are looking for that kind of book this would be a good one.