Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons: The Story of Phillis Wheatley (Great Episodes) Paperback – March 1, 2005

I've read many books by Ann Rinaldi. My favorite is Last Silk Dress. This one is also in my top 10 reads. At the time I read it I was teaching all the subjects and this book fit perfectly. It is so much easier to teach a book you also enjoy. Now I teach math, but as an avid reader I always ask what they are reading. If they don't have anything to read I hand them an Ann Rinaldi book. She tells the historical story as i you are there. Excellent book.

Moving and well written.

Loved this true story of a slave girl! Well written , and gives historical events in a very interesting story!

Cover I got was rather thin. I already read this though got it for my man. It’s a really really good book. I highly recommend

I really enjoyed this version of storytelling of one of the country's first Afro-American female poet. The twist of mixing history facts with fiction was very good. And to have a love story in the fold of this tale was very great. I think young adult readers will love this book. The ending of such a surprise it makes me want to research more about this young lady. I want to thank the author for sharing her version of Phillis Wheatley's life. This was a really good read.

I am always looking for books about Legacy and this one tells a story about a slave, her accomplishments as a poet, and her struggles & challenges. As a young girl then, woman she overcame a lot, had a brilliant creative mind, and was able to record a history in poetry. Yet, in the end her story is tragic. As stated in the book, "We build walls around ourselves. We imprison ourselves with longings."

I bought this out of the blue. Great book!

Interesting and educational

Phyllis, a girl named after the slave ship she came across the ocean on and Wheatley the name of the family who adopted her. Luckily for this skinny little girl standing naked aside from just a piece of carpet at the slave auction, she was bought by the kindest and most humanitarian couple that could have ever existed. One of only 2 little girls of just 7 years who survived this particular inhumane crossing. A journey that cost her own mother her life when she was murdered a crew member who threw her overboard, hacking off her hands to ensure she could not save herself. All witnessed by the brilliantly intelligent girl from Africa.Ever questioning those around her, including her master's son and mentor, Nathaniel, whom she falls in love with and suffers un reciprocated feelings, Phillis strives in her own way to gain a high level of education, almost unknown to women in the 18th Century let alone a black woman. She is feted both in America and even more so in England for her poetry.The most poignant bit of the story to me is the part where Nathaniel takes Phillis to the docking of the latest slave ship at Boston Harbour. He says to Phillis 'If there is anyone on board that you know, tell me and I will buy them for you'. My heart broke to hear that and to think of the terrible injustices carried out against these poor, innocent black people.There were however, white people who had the kindness in their heart to know this was wrong and to go against the thinking of that period when black people were considered inferior in every way, and could be bought and sold.The background history in this story, the treatment of slaves and the insight into 18th century life is to me greater than the story of the poet. However I am a little disappointed that no pieces of PW's poetry were included in the story as this would surely have added to it.From the opening it draws the reader into the period with it skilful portrayal of slavery and the wish to be free evoking the reader into many mixed emotions. A heart rending tale combining the talents and success of Phllis Wheatley with an insight into America and the spoils of war. Thoroughly recommendable and a wonderful introduction to the author. I cannot wait to read another Ann Rinaldi Novel.

This is the first novel I've read by Ann Rinaldi, on the back cover it says "For Young Adults", to me it doesn't matter what age you are if you love history and biographies you'll love this. :-)We meet Philllis when she's kidnapped from her home and sold into slavery, we follow her sea voyage to America where she is sold to a Boston family. A caring family, who look after her welfare and give her an education, but she wants more! She starts to write poetry and although she is told a little of what she should be writing they family are all for it and help to promote and get her published. Above all, the one thing she wants more then anything is to get her freedom, to no longer be a slave.The author has researched the life of Phillis well, and written the novel with great care.Whether you're an adult or teenager you'll find that the story grips you right from the start, it's a compulsive read and one I've really enjoyed.Not only is the story interesting, it's enjoyable, and I struggled to put the book down once I started.:-)Its one novel I will definitely read again. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves history, whatever their age. :-)

When I first started reading the novel I didn't like the character but warmed to her within a few pages and the story just grabbed me completely.The central character is a very natural character - in that she is not romanticized and her contradictions are on display.This is for those who like historical novels and I would recommend it.

This well written book is the part fiction, part historical story of Phillis Wheatley. The author has obviously done a lot of research here and it helps to bring the tale to life.While it is a good read for me the most important aspect was that the book remembers a remarkable girl who not only managed to make the most of circumstances that would have put out the light in most people, but she became a pioneer for black literature. Phillis deserves to be remembered and her poems are good enough to be read today.Phillis was a black slave girl who took the name of the ship that carried her to America (The Phillis) and the man who bought her, taught her to read and encouraged her to write, the wealthy merchant John Wheatley. Her birth is not recorded but believed to be sometime in 1753. She died a free woman on December 5, 1784.Many incorrectly belive her to be the first published African American port but she was in fact the second.Wheatley's 'Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral', was published in 1773. The book was acclaimed by various people including President George Washington. She was very well known and even toured England. The Wheatley family who had owned her set her free in the same year following this poetic success, but Phillis chose to remain with them until the death of her former master. She married a free black man who was a grocer with whom she had three children, but he left her. Very sadly after overcoming so much in her life, she died poor and alone in a boarding house in 1784 at the young age of 31. She was making a meagre living as a seamstress and working on her second book of poetry but she could not find a publisher. This book was never published and is considered lost. She and her last surviving child who died together were buried in an unmarked grave.There is not much about her own life in her poetry, she mainly wrote about famous personalities of the times and Christian themes. One of the few which refers to slavery is 'On being brought from Africa to America':Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,Taught my benighted soul to understandThat there's a God, that there's a Saviour too:Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.Some view our sable race with scornful eye,"Their colour is a diabolic dye."Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.'This book has been out for sometime now and if you have not read it and are interested in American history, poetry or African American Literature then read it now!I wanted to upload a photo of the statue of Phillis on Commonwealth Ave. in Boston which is a fine tribute to her, and part of the Boston Women's Memorial.Those who enjoy reading this book might also wish to read another based upon a true story -Slave Girl: The Diary of Clotee, Virginia, USA 1859 (My Story

This is the tale of a young girl who was dragged from Africa, shipped in barbaric conditions that caused her mother's horrible death and then sold into slavery in America. Despite all this became a famous poet. This book is not always an easy read but it is always a gripping one. We follow Phillis as she is bought by the Wheatley family where she is taught to read and write and express her feelings in poetry. Phillis Wheatley was a real person and a real poet, but the story is an odd mix of historical accuracy and fiction/conjecture that I found a bit annoying at times. Nevertheless I did believe totally in the development of a somewhat brattish young Phillis into an accomplished young woman who met famous people. I alsoreally liked John Wheatley.Phillis was startling in her time because she proved that black people could write wonderful poetry, Voltaire quoted her and the Lord Mayor of London praised her.Don't read this book just to find out about Phillis. Read it and be inspired by a tale of overcoming adversity and prejudice, and entertained by a really interesting story.I would have liked some of her poetry in the book.