My Name Is Not Angelica

by Scott O'Dell

Book Overview

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. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0395510619
• ISBN13: 9780395510612
• Release Date: October 1989
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 130 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.9" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 7 to 10 years
• Grade Range: Grades 2 to 5

Customer Reviews

Great Story

I read this book like 15 years ago when I was little and still remamber it - I loved it along with Island of the blue dolphins.

The Greatest Book on Earth

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.

Excellent

A fondly remembered book from my childhood. I highly recommend this and most other Scott O'Dell works.

A Definite Read

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.

& :-)

This was thee saddest book I've ever read....I loved it though. I hope Scott O'Dell makes a sequel, for reasons I can't say.