My Name Is Not Angelica [Hardcover]

Scott O'Dell (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

In this historical novel set in the Virgin Islands of 1733, Raisha escapes from her Dutch "owners" in time to witness the mass suicide of her fellow slaves, who prefer death to recapture.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

O'Dell, like a conjurer, weaves worlds out of words, over the years dazzling readers with a string of remarkable novels richly steeped in a sense of time and place--and, most of all, character. His latest story is set in 1733, and centers on a slave revolt in the West Indies. As in so many of his books, O'Dell unfolds the tale through the eyes of a strong central heroine, in this case, Raisha, daughter of a Senegalese sub-chief, who is captured and sold to Danish slavers. O'Dell doesn't spare readers any of the grim realities of slavery; the details of Raisha's harrowing six-month crossing on the slave ship God's Adventure (which may bring to mind Paula Fox's The Slave Dancer ), and subsequent life as a house servant on the island of St. John, are at times almost unbearably painful. But, as always, O'Dell's story is ultimately life-affirming, a moving tribute to the dignity of the human spirit. Raisha's betrothed, the Barato chief Konje, whom she eventually weds, escapes and joins a band of runaway slaves, quickly becoming their leader. Soon, "drums are talking," and the night wind carries their messages of hope from the rebel camp across the island. The voice of the drums underscores Raisha's own miseries at the Van Prok plantation (where she's given the name Angelica), and urges the story to its dramatic climax. The ending, in which all of the rebel slaves except Raisha, who is carrying Konje's child, leap to their deaths from a cliff rather than return to slavery, is so powerful, so searing, it will leave readers stunned. My Name Is Not Angelica is a magnificent tale, superbly told by a grand master of historical fiction. Ages 10-14.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-8-- Raisha, a 16-year-old Senegalese girl, is betrothed to Konje, the young king of her tribe. They are betrayed by a rival ruler, sold to slavers, and taken to the Danish Virgin Islands. The island is plagued by drought, and the owners of the plantation to which both she and her lover have been sold are listless, indifferent managers. The slaves are controlled with acts of cruelty and torture which are mandated by the local governor, but many have escaped to isolated encampments from which they communicate through African talking drums. Konje escapes and quickly becomes the leader in a nearby camp, and Raisha later joins him as both the cruel punishments and revolution grow. The rebel slaves are able to ward off a first, half-hearted attack but are then trapped by a troop of French soldiers from nearby Martinique. Facing almost certain torture and death, the slaves throw themselves from the cliffs into the sea--all except Raisha who chooses to save the life of her unborn child. The events portrayed are dramatic, and the story is a compelling indictment of slavery, but unfortunately, none of the characters achieve full dimension. The detached narrative style which O'Dell has used effectively in past novels serves here to hold readers at a distance and limits any sense of the emotions Raisha would experience under such painful circumstances. Many events (such as the long journey from Africa) are passed over so quickly that there's little sense of time or the suffering involved. Still, the novel gives a clear picture of historic events which are unfamiliar to many readers and shows once again the dehumanizing effect slavery had on both slaves and their owners. --Eleanor K. MacDonald, Beverly Hills Public Library
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; None edition (October 30, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395510619
• ISBN-13: 978-0395510612
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,038,715 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Scott O'Dell (1898-1989), one of the most respected authors of historical fiction, received the Newbery Medal, three Newbery Honor Medals, and the Hans Christian Andersen Author Medal, the highest international recognition for a body of work by an author of books for young readers. Some of his many books include The Island of the Blue Dolphins, The Road to Damietta, Sing Down the Moon, and The Black Pearl.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "My Name Is Not Angelica" Erika, December 13, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: My Name Is Not Angelica (Hardcover)

O'Dell,Scott.(1989).My Name Is Not Angelica"
New York:Scholastic, Inc.

This book is about a girl named Raisha. Raisha and her family and friends live in Africa, until one day the white people came and brought them to America to work as slaves. Raisha, her family and her friends were sold at an auction.Luckly her and Konje were sold to the same master and were sent to Van Prok.
When they got to there plantation they saw the huts they were going to live in and saw the work they were going to do. Then Konje planed a plot of running away tomaho bay, he told Raisha that when there was enough food she could come. So Konje left Van Prok.
Then the other owners slaves ran away, and the run away slaves started stealing food and goods from different plantations. So Governer Gardelin had to make up these rulers that were a lot harsher than the old ones.
Raisha would steal some goods for Konje and hide them by a bush and then Konje would pick them up. Raisha is so upset about all the deaths and everything that is going down that she plans to plot to run away her self.
Raisha runs away and on her way these 2 white boys stop her and ask her if shes a slave and what plantation she belongs to. Raisha doesn't answer. Instead she runs as fasts as she can, until she reaches Cinnamon bay were she catches a lot of fish a drys them out for the slaves to eat, she also gets fruit from some fruit trees.
After Raisha collects enough food for the slaves she heads towards Konjes camp of run away slaves. When she gets there she is greeted by Konje with a hug. Raisha gives Konje the food she colected for the slaves.Then Raisha finds out she's pregnant with Konjes Baby. Then Raisha and Konje get married.
Then the Governor brought a lot of soliders to kill the run aways. Konje told everyone not to surrender. The soldiers came and killed a priest, and all the slaves thought that killing themselves would be better than having them selves killed by white people. So the slaves jump off the cliff. Konje takes Raishas hand and she pulls away telling him she doesn't want to kill the baby, Konje told Raisha that they would all be together in heaven, but Raisha still refused. So Konje jump by himself.
Later Raisha and her baby became free.
I think you should read this book because it has everything. Its sad and happy and basicly has every mood. This book is very good, there was never really a dull part in it.
The genre of this book is slavery. I would give tis book a 9 out of 10.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Definite Read, January 11, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: My Name Is Not Angelica (Paperback)

The book My Name Is Not Angelica by Scott O'Dell is an intriguing guide through the slavery of African Americans. It is a brilliant story with descriptive characteristics of each specific individual and setting. Raisha, the protagonist of the book, was sold to the Van Prok family of Hawks Nest and throughout the story she gains her individuality. Mistress Jenna Van Prok renamed Raisha "Angelica" to try to make her forget her heritage. Raisha, sold in a trio with two of her friends from home, blossoms into an emotionally strong woman in tough times as this publication progresses. Her entire "career" as a slave she had dreamed to be free. It made it tougher for her when she dealt with the surprises of her new lifestyle and community. Can she escape this mind buckling experience? The inquiring minds of all that read this are to whom this will prevail.

I recommend My Name is Not Angelica because it is a somewhat brief anecdote that shows how Raisha deals with the slave revolt of 1733. It was admirable how Raisha gained her independence "waltzing" from location to location. After the unbearably treacherous happening of being removed from her home and in Africa at an age where she nearly understood the horror and details of the slave revolt. Although the heat of Africa was similar to that of St. John, the location of Hawks Nest, it seemed hotter to her to a scorching degree while suffering and slaving away. Even though her existent work was tending to Mistress Jenna. There were many sections of the story when Raisha found her self bedazzled by the new nature of her life. The strongest obstacle beyond her nature was when she constantly found herself looking upon a collection of white faces (especially in the market in the West Indies where she was sold). She also had to deal with the trauma of watching her friends suffer, and in one case die by the strokes of a whip. This 130 paged telling may seem like it is a children's book by it's length, but it has the potential of an award winning novel. It has been a winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award in the past. But presently I'm sure it will tolerate many more awards to an utmost extent.

A negative characteristic of My Name Is Not Angelica is it was not as well organized as it could have been. An example is not having a directory of page numbers as most books do contain which made it difficult to find a concluding point when needed. It also could have added an adventurous twist to the beginning as well as midway and the end. That way in would have a forceful push to complete reading it. Most short story style "novels" are considered childish and don't dare to dream, but this author made a strenuous effort and greatly succeeded in executing it perfectly. This tale is a nail biter, not a head scratcher. This wonderful story has necessity for a sequel.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest Book on Earth, February 29, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: My Name Is Not Angelica (Paperback)

This book is the best book in the world. It is about a girl named Raisha and her 2 friends Dondo and Konje. They get taken from their home in Africa and get taken to St. Thomas. They get sold as slaves to Jost van Prok and his wife. Then they go to St. John where the van Proks change their names to Abraham, Apollo, and Angelica. I just have to say that Scott O'Dell is the greatest writer in the world. One of the reasons why I like this book is that it talks about the history of the St. John Slave Revolt. This is Raisha's story.