When Phillis Wheatley, an enslaved house servant in Boston, learned to read and write and wrote numerous fantastic poems, the most powerful white men in Boston did not believe she had written her own work. They tested Phillis on her literacy in court. Phillis’s strong will and identity as both a reader and a writer helps her persist through this tedious, sexist, and racist trial.
The writing as well as the illustrations of this book seem to walk hand in hand. Gentle and also fierce, imbuing Phillis’s humanity and her intersectional identities as a young, Black, enslaved woman. Well-researches blend of facts and story. ( )

This book is about Phillis Wheatley and what she had to go through to get her poem published. Since she was a slave, they thought she was not competent enough to actually write. She went through a lot of rough times to have to prove herself to others and showcase her ability to write. ( )

This book is about how the famous poet Phillis Wheatley had to go through many significant steps to get her poem published. She was given such a hard time because she was a enslaved, black, African native woman and they did not believe she could write such words. To get her book of poems published, she had to stand in front of the most influential men in the country and answer questions about her poems to prove they were hers. I found out that she was able to write so well because the kids of the Wheatley’s decided to teach her their lessons and also Latin and Greek. ( )

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Illustrations: acrylic paint and paper collage ( )

I thought this book was pretty good. I like that the author included a quote from Susanna Wheatley, Phillis's master. "Your talent will speak for itself." It showed the close knit bond that Phillis had with her master and his family. Secondly, I like that the author ended the book on a cliff hanger. "She moved into the hall as all eyes turned toward to her: 'Good day, gentlemen. I am the poet Phillis Wheatley'". The author makes you read on to the epilogue to see if Phillis is accepted as an author or not. This story tells of the determination of one female African American slave to have her poems published. ( )