Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley: The Slave Girl Who Wrote Her Way Into History When a frail seven-year-old slave girl arrived in Boston in 1761, no one could have imagined the legacy she would leave behind. Yet that young girl, named Phillis Wheatley, would grow up to become the first published African American author—earning recognition in both America and England. Phillis quickly learned to read the Bible and classic literature, astonishing everyone with her brilliant intelligence. At just thirteen years old, she published her first poem, and by 1773 she had released an entire book of poetry. Her writings spoke boldly of freedom and human dignity, proving to a skeptical world that talent and intelligence are not bound by race. Through Phillis’s remarkable journey, young readers will discover the power of education, faith, and courage—and learn what it means to trust God’s plan while standing up for justice and the good of others. Endorsements “Simonetta Carr has written an accessible and balanced b