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A Voice of Her Own: Candlewick Biographies: The Story of Phillis Wheatley, Slave Poet Paperback – September 11, 2012

by Kathryn Lasky (Author), Paul Lee (Illustrator)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 106 ratings
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"Lasky shows not only the facts of Wheatley’s life but also the pain of being an accomplished black woman in a segregated world." — Booklist 

In 1761, a young girl was sold to the Wheatley family in Boston, who named her Phillis after the slave schooner that had carried her. Kidnapped from her home in Africa and shipped to America, she’d had everything taken from her-her family, her name, and her language. But Phillis had a passion to learn. Amid the tumult of the Revolutionary War, Phillis Wheatley became a poet and ultimately had a book of verse published, establishing herself as the first African- American woman poet this country had ever known.
Back matter includes an author’s note, an illustrator’s note, sources, and an index.
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    8 - 12 years
  2. Print length
    48 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    3 - 7
  5. Lexile measure
    940L
  6. Dimensions
    6 x 0.16 x 9 inches
  7. Publisher
    Candlewick
  8. Publication date
    September 11, 2012
  9. ISBN-10
    0763660914
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0763660918
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Lasky's lyrical text combines perfectly with Paul Lee's illustrations to convey Wheatly's remarkable spirit, as well as the tumultuous times in which she lived.
—Washington Post Book World

Lasky shows how Wheatley's struggle for personal identity and respect paralleled the prevailing political talk of freedom and revolution. Lee's carefully researched paintings give a vivid picture of colonial Boston through the eyes of an extraordinary woman.
—San Francisco Chronicle

In this moving picture book, biographer Kathryn Lasky traces important themes in Phillis's poetry while noting the terrible way slavery rendered so many voiceless.
—Washington Parent

Lasky shows not only the facts of Wheatley's life but also the pain of being an accomplished black woman in a segregated world.
—Booklist

About the Author

Kathryn Lasky is the author of many books for children, including SUGARING TIME, a Newbery Honor Book; SHOW AND TELL BUNNIES and SCIENCE FAIR BUNNIES; and VISION OF BEAUTY: THE STORY OF SARAH BREEDLOVE WALKER. Kathryn Lasky says she was drawn to Phillis Wheatley’s story because she was fascinated by the relationship between the writer’s voice, her identity as a slave, and freedom.

Paul Lee is a painter and freelance illustrator. He has illustrated the acclaimed AMISTAD RISING by Veronica Chambers, and THE GOOD LUCK CAT by Joy Harjo. While working on A VOICE OF HER OWN, Paul Lee had to do considerable research to make sure the illustrations were historically accurate - research that even entailed renting costumes from a local opera house.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick; Reissue edition (September 11, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 48 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0763660914
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0763660918
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 940L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.16 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 106 ratings

About the author

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Kathryn Lasky

Kathryn Lasky

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Hi Readers! Thanks for coming by my author page. I've written all sorts of books - from fantasy about animals to books about science and historical fiction. I’m in that historical fiction zone now with my new series Tangled in Time. The Portal is the first book and it explores what happens when a girl, Rose Ashley, feels trapped in her own time. Newly orphaned she is sent live with her slightly weird grandmother whom she has never met, in a new city and a new school where she encounters three bullies known as The Mean Queens. But shortly she will tumble through time and find herself in the 16th century in the service of Princess Elizabeth. I always wondered when I wrote the Royal Diaries, Elizabeth the Red Rose of Tudor what it would be like to serve royalty rather than to be royalty. This led to Tangled In Time, my first time travel series.

Visit my website, www.kathrynlasky.com for the latest news. All my best, Kathryn

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
106 global ratings
Exactly what I was looking for!
5 Stars
Exactly what I was looking for!
Beautiful illustrations with history on slavery-American Revolution included in this biography. Highly recommend. Purchased for homeschool black history. Mentions Crispus Attucks, former slave and first black martyr.
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Top reviews from the United States

Yvette
5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what I was looking for!
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2021
Verified Purchase
Beautiful illustrations with history on slavery-American Revolution included in this biography. Highly recommend. Purchased for homeschool black history. Mentions Crispus Attucks, former slave and first black martyr.
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Yvette
5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what I was looking for!
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2021
Beautiful illustrations with history on slavery-American Revolution included in this biography. Highly recommend. Purchased for homeschool black history. Mentions Crispus Attucks, former slave and first black martyr.
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One person found this helpful
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Jon and Miss
5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous illustrations
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2021
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Beautiful pictures and story. We loved it!
One person found this helpful
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Phyllis
5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice and quick read
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2019
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This was very quaint and informative but I wish it was longer. More so for beginning reader.
2 people found this helpful
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J S C
5.0 out of 5 stars Great biography of Phillis Wheatley - inspired my daughter to ...
Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2017
Verified Purchase
Great biography of Phillis Wheatley - inspired my daughter to seek out more of her poetry. Excellent historical lesson for colonial times.
5 people found this helpful
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Eager Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2014
Verified Purchase
Having not grown up stateside I wanted my 4th grade daughter to do her Black History project on someone we had never heard about. She found this book full of information, and in addition, it sparked her interest in poetry.
7 people found this helpful
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AV
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2016
Verified Purchase
Arrived in time and it's excellent for a 5th grade reader! Not too much, too too little. Perfect!
4 people found this helpful
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JuEwelry
3.0 out of 5 stars Children's Lit
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2018
Verified Purchase
Definitely for children. Nicely written, although it's highly simplified it provides a good introduction to an unusual woman who overcame great odds against her.
2 people found this helpful
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PaisleyP
5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2023
Verified Purchase
The kids (and I) read this as part of a homeschool program. It is not a difficult or long read, and we found it fine for our sensitive reader. The kids enjoyed learning about Ms. Wheatley and have talked about her a few times since.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Marina Redford
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 14, 2016
Verified Purchase
excellent as expected
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