Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons is a historical novel written by Ann Rinaldi. It is about Phillis Wheatley who was sold as a slave when she was kidnapped from her home in Senegal. Phillis Wheatley is about to be "tested" to see if her poetry is really hers. She is the first African-American poet ever to be published in America. She begins to think how she found herself in that situation. The story then goes into flashback, as she remembers everything from when she was a slave up to that point.
Phillis Wheatley, a young Negro slave, was twelve when she was first sold. She held an image of skin and bones put together. Her mother and her best friend, Obour, had been forced to board the slave ship with her. Her mother was been killed by one of the crew members. Phillis then develops hatred for the slave trade and the slave traders. Obour was sold to another family in Newport. Phillis Wheatley lived with three others servants, Sulie, Prince, and Aunt Cumsee. Phillis liked all of them except Sulie, who was mean to her from the beginning. Over the years, Phillis developed a crush one of the older Wheatley children, Nathaniel, who had been tutoring her in reading and writing all kinds of literature. Phillis seemed real in many ways. She had many feelings and thoughts. Phillis was troubled about her way of life. All of the keys to success do not change the fact that she is still a slave.
Nathaniel Wheatley had been the help to Phillis over the years. He wanted to follow the footsteps of his father and become a merchant, and he succeeded. The story describes Nathaniel as a handsome and tall respected man. Nathaniel loved his parents and his younger sister, Mary. Nathaniel was also strong in his Christian belief. Nathaniel believed that freedom was not what Phillis wanted, but she was not sure for herself. He was the one who supported Phillis all the way through.
Mr. and Mrs. Wheatley were also major help to Phillis. They were the ones that took Phillis in and...