Why Is 'Copper Sun' Banned In Some Schools?

The protagonists of 'Copper Sun' are Amari and Polly, two young women whose lives intertwine in harrowing yet hopeful ways. Amari is a 15-year-old girl stolen from her African village and sold into slavery in America. Her resilience is staggering—she endures the Middle Passage, brutal labor, and sexual violence, yet clings to memories of her family and culture. Polly, an indentured servant, starts prejudiced but gradually unlearns her racism as she witnesses Amari’s suffering. Their shared journey toward freedom becomes the heart of the story. What makes them compelling is their contrast. Amari’s grief and quiet strength highlight the inhumanity of slavery, while Polly’s evolution from complicity to allyship mirrors America’s fraught racial reckoning. Their friendship, forged in escape, feels earned—neither sentimental nor simplistic. Supporting characters like Teenie, the plantation cook, and Tidbit, Teenie’s son, add depth, but the novel’s power lies in Amari and Polly’s dual perspectives, offering a nuanced look at survival and solidarity.

'Copper Sun' unfolds across two starkly contrasting worlds, painting a visceral portrait of resilience. The first is the vibrant but brutal 18th-century Ashanti Kingdom (modern-day Ghana), where 15-year-old Amari’s village is razed by slave traders. The lush forests and communal rhythms of her life there are shattered in an instant. The second setting is the oppressive American colonies, where Amari is sold to a rice plantation in Carolina. The novel doesn’t romanticize either location—the golden fields of Africa or the suffocating marshes of the South—but instead shows how both shape her fight for survival. The plantation’s relentless heat and the whispered rebellions in slave quarters create a tension that hums beneath every page. Historical details, like the Middle Passage’s horrors or the Underground Railroad’s secrecy, ground the story in painful reality.

I’ve dug deep into Sharon Draper’s 'Copper Sun' and its literary footprint. The novel stands as a powerful, standalone work about Amari’s harrowing journey from slavery to freedom. No official sequel exists, but Draper’s other books, like 'Tears of a Tiger,' explore similar themes of resilience and identity. 'Copper Sun' wraps up Amari’s arc definitively—its impact doesn’t need a continuation. Fans craving more can dive into Draper’s broader bibliography, rich with historical and emotional depth. Interestingly, the absence of a sequel amplifies the story’s raw honesty. Some tales are meant to linger as singular monuments, and 'Copper Sun' is one. Its open-ended finale invites readers to imagine Amari’s future while grounding them in her hard-won liberation. The book’s legacy thrives in classrooms and book clubs, where discussions often spark wishes for more—but its completeness is part of its brilliance.

'Copper Sun' doesn’t just depict slavery—it immerses you in the visceral horror and resilience of Amari’s journey. The novel strips away romanticized notions, showing slavery as a system designed to crush spirit and body alike. Amari’s capture in Africa, the brutal Middle Passage, and the dehumanization on the Derbyshire plantation are rendered with unflinching detail. The whip marks, the auctions where families are torn apart, the constant threat of violence—it’s all there, raw and unvarnished. Yet, the story also pulses with defiance. Amari’s friendship with Polly, an indentured servant, highlights how oppression wears different faces. Their eventual escape to Fort Mose, a real haven for freed slaves, becomes a testament to hope. The novel balances atrocity with agency, making it a powerful lens into history’s darkest corners while honoring the light that persisted within them.

'Copper Sun' by Sharon Draper is a powerful work of historical fiction that draws deeply from real events, though it isn't a direct retelling of a single true story. It vividly captures the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade, weaving together elements like the Middle Passage, plantation life, and resistance. The protagonist, Amari, embodies the collective trauma and resilience of countless enslaved Africans. Draper meticulously researched the era, so while the characters are fictional, their experiences mirror documented atrocities—whippings, forced labor, and the brutal separation of families. The novel's strength lies in its authenticity; it feels true because it echoes history so precisely. What makes 'Copper Sun' stand out is its emotional depth. It doesn’t just recount events—it immerses you in Amari’s journey, from her kidnapping in Africa to her fight for survival in America. The supporting characters, like Polly, reflect the complexities of race and allyship during that time. Though the plot isn’t biographical, it’s a tribute to real people whose stories were erased or untold. The book’s realism comes from Draper’s commitment to honoring history, not inventing it.

For the wanderers out there in the vast expanse of the Commonwealth, 'Fallout 4' makes it easy to search as copper can be both an exciting and arduous task. Nevertheless, Don't worry, I assure you that I will be of help to you . The first thing to keep in mind is that copper is never found in large quantities. It is usually held within various items that can be dissembled using the scrapping process. Light bulbs, fuses, hot plates-anything at all, even those pesky alarm clocks. All of these are chock full of sweet copper! Take the money from the world and turn it into cash. For example, I always look for Pre-War money because that's actually a very good source of copper. Don't forget to pawn your loot at either weapon workstations or your own settlement. Also, remember to take 'Scrapper' perk which is your ticket for obtaining even more copper from the items you scrap. Good luck!

The concept of a sun god appears in many cultures worldwide, reflecting humanity’s deep reverence for the sun as a vital source of energy, life, and spiritual power. Sun gods and goddesses often embody the qualities of light, creation, justice, and renewal, serving as central figures in mythologies and religious beliefs. Below is an up-to-date and concise guide to some of the most important sun deities from various ancient and classical traditions: 1. Ra (Ancient Egyptian Mythology) Ra is one of the most iconic sun gods and was considered the supreme deity in ancient Egypt. Seen as the creator god, Ra symbolized the sun’s life-giving power and the cyclical nature of day and night. Often depicted with a falcon’s head crowned by a solar disk, Ra was believed to travel across the sky in a solar barque during the day and journey through the underworld at night, ensuring the sun’s rebirth each morning. His worship deeply influenced Egyptian kingship, symbolizing divine authority and cosmic order. 2. Helios (Greek Mythology) Helios personifies the sun itself in early Greek mythology. He was imagined driving a golden chariot pulled by fiery horses, carrying the sun across the sky daily. Though later overshadowed by Apollo, who became associated with light and prophecy, Helios remained a powerful figure representing the physical sun and its relentless passage. Helios’ role reflects ancient Greeks’ understanding of natural phenomena and celestial cycles. 3. Surya (Hinduism) Surya is the Hindu solar deity embodying the sun’s energy, brilliance, and life-sustaining qualities. Worshipped as the dispeller of darkness and ignorance, Surya is often shown riding a chariot drawn by seven horses, symbolizing the seven colors of the rainbow or the seven days of the week. Beyond illumination, Surya is connected with health, vitality, and cosmic order (dharma). Daily prayers to Surya (Surya Namaskar) remain a vital spiritual practice in Hindu traditions. 4. Sol / Sol Invictus (Roman Mythology) The Roman sun god Sol, later known as Sol Invictus (“The Unconquered Sun”), was revered especially in the later Roman Empire as a symbol of eternal victory and strength. Sol shares attributes with Helios and Apollo, symbolizing both the literal sun and a divine protector of emperors. Sol Invictus was celebrated on December 25th, a date later linked with Christmas in Christian tradition, highlighting the sun’s symbolic role in renewal and hope. 5. Tonatiuh (Aztec Mythology) In Aztec belief, Tonatiuh was the fierce sun god who required human sacrifices to ensure the sun’s daily rising. Central to the “Fifth Sun” myth, Tonatiuh represented the present cosmic era and the ongoing battle between light and darkness. His worship underscored the Aztecs’ understanding of time as cyclical and the importance of balance between creation and destruction. 6. Shamash (Mesopotamian Mythology) Shamash was the Mesopotamian sun god associated with justice, truth, and law. Beyond providing daylight, Shamash was considered a divine judge who watched over humanity’s deeds. Often depicted with rays emanating from his shoulders or sitting on a throne, Shamash embodied fairness and moral order, reflecting the societal values of ancient Mesopotamian civilizations. 7. Xihe (Chinese Mythology) Xihe is a solar goddess in Chinese mythology who is often linked with the story of the Ten Suns — mythical birds that once threatened the earth with excessive heat. Xihe is credited as the mother or driver of these suns, representing the sun’s power and its regulation to sustain life. Her myth highlights the Chinese cultural emphasis on harmony between nature and human society. 8. Har-em-akhet (Egyptian Mythology) Meaning “Horus in the Horizon,” Har-em-akhet represents the dawn and the rising sun. This form of Horus symbolizes renewal and the transition between night and day, closely tied to Egyptian cosmology and the sun’s journey across the sky. 9. Revanta (Jainism and Hinduism) Revanta is a lesser-known solar-associated deity linked to horses and the dawn. Revered in some Jain and Hindu traditions, Revanta is considered a divine protector and warrior figure, symbolizing strength and the connection between solar energy and vitality. Why the Sun God Matters Across civilizations, the sun god symbolizes more than just the physical sun—it represents creation, authority, justice, and the cycle of life and death. These deities remind humanity of the sun’s indispensable role in agriculture, timekeeping, and spiritual enlightenment. Their enduring presence in myths illustrates universal human attempts to understand and honor the forces that sustain existence. Summary The sun god is a powerful and universal figure found in ancient cultures worldwide. From Ra’s cosmic rulership in Egypt to Surya’s life-giving radiance in Hinduism, and from Helios’ daily chariot ride in Greece to Tonatiuh’s sacrificial fire in Aztec beliefs, sun deities continue to inspire awe and symbolize

A word that rhymes with sun is 'run.' It's short and simple, just like the bright sunshine makes me feel when I go for a jog. I use it often in my poems. Those little moments of inspiration are everywhere.