Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons: The Story of Phillis Wheatley [Paperback]

Ann Rinaldi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1996 | Series: Great Episodes

Kidnapped from her home in Senegal and sold as a slave in 1761, a young girl is purchased by the wealthy Wheatley family in Boston. Phillis Wheatley--as she comes to be known--has an eager mind and it leads her on an unusual path for a slave--she becomes America’s first published black poet. “Strong characterization and perceptive realism mark this thoughtful portrayal.”--Booklist

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up-Rinaldi's latest contribution to historical fiction tells the story of the first important African-American poet. Since Phillis Wheatley lived in Boston just before the Revolutionary War, readers get a dose of U.S. history as well. Rinaldi freely admits in her author's note that she has altered many facts to create "my own Phillis." In her biggest change from reality, she makes Nathaniel Wheatley, irthe handsome, bright, bored son of Phillis's owners, the girl's tutor. This teacher-pupil relationship, which develops into a full-scale crush on Phillis's part, dominates the book. Readers will be drawn in just as Phillis is, and will enjoy their conversations, quarrels, and activities. Unfortunately, Nathaniel is absent during the last few chapters and they consequently limp along, suffering from wordiness and an overabundance of historical data. Phillis's interview with George Washington, which concludes the novel, is sentimental and didactic-a disappointment rather than a celebration. Rinaldi writes well, gives an engrossing look at pre-Revolutionary War life with numerous interesting details, and brings her characters vividly to life. It's too bad she couldn't sustain the novel's initial excitement and appeal. Those who follow it through should also read Merle Richmond's Phillis Wheatley (Chelsea, 1988; o.p.), which sticks strictly to the facts and provides a fascinating contrast to Rinaldi's treatment.
Ann W. Moore, Guilderland Public Library, NY
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 7^-12. Phillis Wheatley, America's first black poet, was a child when purchased by John Wheatley in 1761, and her entrance into his Boston household marked the beginning of her unique position. She was educated, nurtured, and encouraged to write by the prominent Wheatleys, but was never considered an equal because of her color. It is Phillis' dilemma of belonging to neither the white nor the slave society that Rinaldi so well delineates. Obviously deeply researched, the novel abounds with details of colonial life--encounters the Wheatleys had with America's early historical figures as well as the effects of the day's politics on Mrs. Wheatley's campaign to get Phillis' poetry published. The poet's circumstances deteriorated after the deaths of the Wheatleys, and she died at age 30 in abject poverty, her husband in debtor's prison. In contemplating this quick decline, Rinaldi questions the motives of Phillis' mentors and friends--did they consider her a serious poet or a plaything, a parlor conversation piece? And did they properly prepare her for the attention she received for her poetry? It is difficult to know, and the author, fortunately, does not make judgments but leaves it up to readers to decide for themselves. Strong characterization and perceptive realism mark this thoughtful portrayal. Laura Tillotson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Graphia; 1 edition (October 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152008772
• ISBN-13: 978-0152008772
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,099,796 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ANN RINALDI is an award-winning author best known for bringing history vividly to life. A self-made writer and newspaper columnist for twenty-one years, Ms. Rinaldi attributes her interest in history to her son, who enlisted her to take part in historical reenactments up and down the East Coast. She lives with her husband in central New Jersey.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book took my breath away!, November 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons: The Story of Phillis Wheatley (Paperback)

I loved this book more than any other Historical fiction novel that I've ever read! It is the story of a young black girl who is kidnapped from her home in Africa, and taken on a slave ship to Boston Mass.{They give you a detailed account of how she was caught and her journey} Soon after, she is taken in by the Wheatley family, and treated as a daughter, not a slave. Nathanial, John Wheately's son, teaches her to read and write. The Wheately's soon realize, that she has a great talent for writing poetry! So, they take her to England to have it published.{because she is black and a woman, they won't publish her work in America}. Once in England, Benjamin Franklin tells her that now that she is in England, she is free! So, the question is, will she betray the family that has treated her so well? Or will she take her long wanted freedom?

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Suprisingly Wonderfully Written, July 31, 2002

By 

"xxsadafxx" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons: The Story of Phillis Wheatley (Paperback)

When I first learned that I had to read this book for school and what it was about, I began being pessimistic about how interesting the book would be. I was very wrong, though...very wrong.
This book is a fiction AND non-fiction book about Phillis Wheatley, a girl who was kidnapped at the age of seven by her greedy uncle's people, as the story says. The rest of the book is about the Wheatleys and their kindness, Nathaniel and Phillis's surprising love for him, Phillis's childhood and entry into young womenhood, her relationships with everyone, and how her intelligence made her different from every other Negro. Phillis tries to discover who she is, as she feels white on the inside, Negro on the outside, on the side of the British, and American. She is shameful of her looks, as most teenagers are, but she wishes to be white. Her Negro friends try to tell her, but she never listens. The plot is wonderful!!!!
I am astonished at how wonderful this book was and how well explained it was. I love how Rinaldi makes up her own story at times to fit what she thinks of Phillis. The book is one of the best I have read in a while. I am amazed!!!
Now that I know what a greatr author Rinaldi is, I will now read "The Fifth of March", which is also on my summer book list.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love Doesn't Conquer All, November 8, 2000

By 

chrissy c (slums of hp) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons: The Story of Phillis Wheatley (Paperback)

The life long yearning for an unattainable man, unlike what Hollywood would have you believe, does not always end happily, as the main character in Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons, could explain. Ann Rinaldi's thrilling historical fiction novel about the life of the famous balck poet, Phillis Wheatley, shows the maturation of Phillis from a young girl captured in her homeland of Africa and sold as a slave in America to a lovely young lady with a published poetry book. Upon first viewing of the only son in her new family, Phillis develops very loving feelinds towards Nathaniel Wheatley, and the two form a very special relationship, all the time Nathaniel oblivious to her feelings. Everyone, except for the object of her desire, understood and warned Phillis that nothing would come of the crush, but Phillis refused to believe this. Her belief that love would overcome all the racial barriers which separated her from Nathaniel was brought down. Nathaniel, who became a very wealthy merchant, married a beautiful young English woman. Phillis was heart broken, but eventually overcame her hurt and found new happiness in her life. Throughout this book, the reader goes through every one of Phillis' emotions with her, and anyone who believes in the statement "Love conquers all", should not read this book unless they pepare themselves to be disappointed at the end results. Although not finding the love she was looking for, Phillis did find love and the ending of the book is not unhappy, even though the desired events do not take place.