49 pages 1 hour read

Sharon M. Draper

Copper Sun

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2006

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapters 14-16

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part Two: Polly

Chapter 14 Summary: The Slave Sale

The point of view of this section of the book shifts to that of Polly, an indentured girl who must work for Mr. Percival Derby for fourteen years to “pay off the debts of her parents” (76). It is immediately revealed that “Polly really didn’t like negroes…they talked funny, they smelled bad, and they were ugly…Besides, Negroes made it difficult for regular folks like herself to get work. Who could compete with somebody who worked for free?” (76) While watching the slave auction, she sneers at the behaviour of the black women for “living here in the colonies had to be better than living like a savage in the jungle” (76). Polly believes that “they ought to be grateful” (76).

A “repulsive” large man approaches Amari and offers ten pounds for her. There is a slight bidding war for Amari, and the other man wants her for his son as a present for his sixteenth birthday. Amari is sold to Mr. Percival Derby for 60 pounds. The auctioneer offers her “mother” (meaning Afi), but Mr. Derby doesn’t want her, his reasons being that “Family ties confuse the poor creatures. They’ll forget each other as soon as the sun sets” (78).

Related Titles

By Sharon M. Draper

Study Guide

logo

Darkness Before Dawn

Sharon M. Draper

Darkness Before Dawn

Sharon M. Draper

Study Guide

logo

Forged By Fire

Sharon M. Draper

Forged By Fire

Sharon M. Draper

Plot Summary

logo

Just Another Hero

Sharon M. Draper

Just Another Hero

Sharon M. Draper

Study Guide

logo

November Blues

Sharon M. Draper

November Blues

Sharon M. Draper

Study Guide

logo

Out of My Heart

Sharon M. Draper

Out of My Heart

Sharon M. Draper

Study Guide

logo

Romiette and Julio

Sharon M. Draper

Romiette and Julio

Sharon M. Draper

Study Guide

logo

Stella by Starlight

Sharon M. Draper

Stella by Starlight

Sharon M. Draper

Study Guide

logo

Tears of a Tiger

Sharon M. Draper

Tears of a Tiger

Sharon M. Draper

Plot Summary

logo

The Battle of Jericho

Sharon M. Draper

The Battle of Jericho

Sharon M. Draper

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE

logo

We Beat the Street

George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt, Sampson Davis, Sharon M. Draper

We Beat the Street: How A Friendship Pact Led to Success

George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt, Sampson Davis, Sharon M. Draper