The Captive

by Joyce Hansen

When Kofi's father, an Ashanti chief, is killed, Kofi is sold as a slave and ends up in Massachusetts, where his fate is in the hands of Paul Cuffe, an African American shipbuilder who works to return slaves to their homeland in Africa.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Africa, Childrens, Historical, Young Adult, Novels

Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Joyce Hansen has been writing books and stories for children and young adults for over twenty years. Joyce was born and raised in New York City, the setting of her early contemporary novels. She grew up with two younger brothers and her parents in an extended family that included aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents, all living nearby in the Morrisania section of the Bronx.

Attending Bronx public schools, she graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1960. While working secretarial jobs during the day, Joyce attended Pace University in New York City at night, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree. She then began her teaching career in the New York City public schools and earned a Master of Arts degree from New York University. She also taught writing and literature at Empire State College (State University of New York).

Joyce’s first children’s book, The Gift-Giver, published in 1980, was inspired by her own Bronx childhood and by her students. She continued to teach and write until retiring from teaching in 1995. Joyce Hansen presently lives in South Carolina with her husband and writes full-time.

Reviews

[سارة عادل · Rating 5 out of 5]

رواية الاسير ، من الروايات القليله التي قرأتها بشكل متواصل دون توقف ، تتحدث عن صبي اسمه كوفي كان يعيش في افريقيا من قرية الاشانتي ، وتعرض للخطف والبيع والأستعباد والعبودية على ايدي الامرييكين . الرواية صغيرة الحجم 188 ورقة ، وسلسه وسهلة الاسلوب ، وشعرت بقرب اسلوب الكاتبة وسردها للأحداث لعقلي وشعوري . أحببت الروايه واستمتعت بها ، صحيح انها ليست مستفيضه بتفاصيل تاريخيه او بوقائع ولكنها تصل بك للمشاعر التي يجب لك ان تشعرها تجاه فكرة أستعباد الانسان من اي جنس كان. الرواية مناسبة جدا لعمر 11 سنه حتى 15سنه، بسبب سهولة الاسلوب وتعطي فكرة جيده عن إستعباد هذه الفئه من الناس ولن تكون ممله لهم بسبب قلة الأستفاضه بالمعلومات .

[K Whatsherface]

With everything, I've been thinking about this book. I read it in school years ago. Book stick with you. I did forget the title and had to google the basic plot of the book. But this it. I remember the cover. But I still dont remember what grade I was in. It was late elementary or early middle school. may try to find the book and do a reread.

[John Najjar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story explained the life of the African, and how their life could change by simply being kidnapped. This Historical-Fiction book by Joyce Hansen is about a prince named Kofi and his life. One day Kofi and his family attend a ceremony to the King. Their slave Oppong, who is very worried, tells Kofi’s royal father that the Europeans are coming to attack Great Chiefs (Kofi’s Father was a great chief!). Now Kofi’s father and two of Kofi’s big brothers leave with Kofi to a secret hideout so that the Europeans don’t find them. Kofi, who senses something fishy, yells, “Oppong has secrets, he’s been acting in a strange way!” (19). They think that Kofi’s just a child and he has no idea of what he’s talking about. Little did they know, Oppong just led Kofi’s family to their death… With no family left Kofi will venture a new life as he is kidnapped and sent to Massachusetts. Will he ever find his way back home to Africa? I honestly really liked this book because it was based on an interesting situation and Joyce Hansen did not make this book too sad or too happy. I recommend this book to Middle school students which would be ages 11 to 14. Age 11 is the minimum because younger ages would just find history boring. Age 14 is the maximum because beyond that age would be to mature and would just feel that this book is too unrealistic. I realized that the moral of this story was to always be patient. You will see this as Kofi makes a small mistake of being impatient and it results with lots of trouble for Kofi.

[Anjelica Mallow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was about a boy named Kofi. When kofi's father died he was sold as a slave to a shipbuilder named Paul Cuffe who tries to send slaves back home. Kofi tried to escape, but he was then captured and bound with chains. While Kofi is the with Paul Cuffe his friend Joseph's contract is being bought by Master Browne. Kofi learns how to read english, until Master Browne stops his wife from teaching him. Later on Kofi and his friend are released into Master Brownes custody.
I thought that this book was okay. It wasn't the greatest book I've ever read but it wasn't that bad either. I you like books that have a bit of suspense on slavery then its a good book to read. If you don't like the books that have suspense in it about slavery then don't read it. It was a pretty good book and i would recommend it for people who like slavery with a little bit of suspense.

[Wanda Wilds · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Captive is a historical fiction novel that brings the experience of a young boy named Kofi to life for the reader. Kofi is the youngest son of a powerful king in Africa. Unfortunately, his father is betrayed, and he becomes captured by slave traders. The reader is able to learn about the horrors of the slave trade and slave life through the eyes of a child.
Kofi endures the voyage across the sea and lands in a home in Massachuttes to serve as a house servant with two other young boys. The novel allows the reader to peek into this piece of our history as Kofi fights for freedom. The story is filled with suspense.
I used this novel with my 5th-grade class. The students loved the novel and did not want to put it down.
I highly recommend The Captive.

[Bedoor al · Rating 3 out of 5]

رواية مقتبسه من قصة حقيقية لطفل يدعى كوفى كان ابن امير في افريقيا وتعرض لخيانه من خادم العائله وأدى ذلك الى خطفه من قبل البيض وبالتالي استعباده ونقله الى امريكا الشماليه .. وقد عانى الأمرين وحاول الهرب أكثر من مره الا ان محاولاته باءت بالفشل ماعدا المحاوله الأخيره
تبين هذه القصه مدى الحزن والقهر والمعاناة التي كان يعيشها
...العبيد المخطوفين.. تظهر لك هذه الرواية كيف يتجرد الانسان من انسانيته ورحمته من اجل الحصول على المال وكيف تظهر العنصرية البغيضة اتجاه الذين لم يختاروا لونهم او اصلهم .. كيف يتم التعامل مع الإنسان كانه حيوان لاعقل له ولا ادراك ويتم دمغه بوسم فيتحول الى عبد ليس له حول ولاقوه.. الرواية توضح الطريقة الغير قانونية التي تم فيها نقل الأفارقة من جنوب أفريقيا إلى امريكا

[Doha Helmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

الحكايات المبنية على قصص حقيقية هي أكثر انواع الحكايات التي تروق لي
الرواية تحكي بلغة شديدة البساطة وتفاصيل بالتأكيد أقل بكثير مما حدث في الواقع عن كيف كانت العبودية

ولد أشانتي - اسم قبيلته - تم اختطافه واسره من قبل الرجال البيض، محاولاته للهرب او العودة للوطن دائمًا كانت تفشل
إلى أن يستطيع أن يصل إلى خلاص من خلال قبطان سفينة كرًس حياته للقضاء على العبودية بعد تجربته المريرة

نهاية الرواية سعيدة ولها حظ كبير جدًا من السذاجة
مما يليق برواية موجهة في الأصل للمرهقين، تعكس الفكرة بشكل مبسط عن حقبة زمنية شديدة البشاعة

[Gavin Griffiths]

I wonder if Kofi will be captured and made into a slave. I wonder what the ceremony is about. I wonder where Oppong went when the elder was talking. I wonder who the men were that went into the forest. The book keeps talking about these umbrellas, I wonder what there significance is. I wonder why Kofi's father gave him gifts. The book keeps talking about a stool that Kofi is carrying around. I wonder what the significance of the stool is, other than being a stool. I wonder if the men Kofi saw are the same men the greeted the king. I wonder what these men are doing.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a young boy name Kofi who lives in a kingdom with his family. He had a great life until Oppong, one of Kofi's father slaves said a lie that his father was in danger and needed to escape before people captured him. Kofi warned his family that Oppong had been acting weird lately, but noone believed him. Manu one of Kofi's brother was going to look after his father while they escape, but it turned out that Oppong betrayed them and took money from the 2 men who captured Kofi's father and Manu and murdered them.And while Kofi and Kwesi was finding them, they saw their bodies lying down on the ground, but Kofi and Kwesi was captured. And things became different then.


I made a text-to-world connection in this book because I can connect how slaves were back then in 1777 were captured and was treated with cruelty.I learned some of the characters in this book were true because Captain Cuffe was achually a real man who hated slavery and wanted to free slaves.


I rate this book 4 stars because this book became more intresting in the middle to the end of the book. I would had gave 5 stars if in the 1st few chapters werem't that boring because when I first started this book, the first chapter made me fall alsleep, but when I contiune reading I learned alot of things and the struggles Kofi had, and how he wanted to escape for freedom, but needed to struggle through court in order to go with Captain Cuffe. I reccommend this book to people who likes fiction or realistic fiction books.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is about a boy named Kofi who lives in Africa and is a Prince for his father Kwame who is an important Cheif. One day for a celebration there slave Oppong lies to them and gets Kwame and Manu one of his sons} dead and the whites steal Kofi and his other brother Kwesi to be shipped to America to work as a slave.
I made a text-to-text connection with another book a read Copper Sun. These 2 books are the same way because they have same plot but there in different point-of-views. These 2 books at the end the slaves get freedom and are happy. In book these book its the same setting in the beginning and both main characters go through hard times but get over it when they get freedom.
I rated this book 2 stars. I really didn't like this book. It was really sad I mean because no one likes slavery, it is a horrible thing But Kofi doesn't really try to run away until he is really definite he is gonna leave. He keeps complaining how oh he wants to go home. He should say how horrible it is and why he is there. I would reccoednd this book to anyone who likes to read about slavery.

[cheyenne · Rating 3 out of 5]

the plot in this book was that Kofi had a great life. but then his father and brother got murdered the guys how did it took him and his other brother to a slave compound. he tried to tell them that he was taken but one man believed him and he was going to take him back to his family. kofi ranaway with this girl named ama and kofi and ama got caputured but the slave traders.he got taken to a man whos wife taught him how to read and write. but kofi and two other slaves ranaway and went to a judge to try and be free and and one of his freinds got free but the other one had to stay with the slave owner.
a few connections thatn i have with the Captive is when Kofi was taken home by the slave buyer. when he got there he was put to work but he didn't know how to clean and he was not going to learn now.but he had to he tried to pull his weigth. if i was him i would of done the same thing i dont really clean.
i give this book a 4 out of 5 stars because this book was good. but in the beginning the book was boring but in the middle it got a lot better and at the end it was really good.

[Tyree]

This book is about a young Prince named Kofi. He owned lots of things. During the middle off the book, he gets capture by some evil slave owners. This book compares between the life that Kofi lived when he had everything he wanted and when he was rich/powerful. Compared to the life he lives now with his new master name Mr.Browne. Kofi had a huge internal conflict. It was to chose between, staying at Mr.Brownes house and stay a slave. Or runaway and try to get home to his dad which is the chief by the way. Copper Sun can connect to this book real good because, Amari was also rich and lived a very good life before until she got captured just like Kofi. The book Copper Sun is the same thing like The Captive except the main characters. Kofi is a boy and Amari is a girl. I'll give this book a 4 because everything else besides the court day was so exciting and not that sad. But on court day I felt like was going to cry because Mr.Brownes wife was so nice to Kofi. Until court day when she lied about Mr.Browne not legally buying Kofi and his friends.

[ØrionSof2014 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a fourteen boy named Kofi. Kofi is a prince and a son of a leader of the clan Kwame. When the chief has a festival one of the tribe members Oppong lies to the clan and gets Kwame dead. Oppong is working with the white people and Kofi gets taken to America to be a slave
I can make a text to text connection to the book Copper Sun. In Copper sun the main character Amari gets taken to America to be a slave. In America she gets beaten and get treated horribly. In the book The captive Kofi gets taken away from his country too and he gets turned into a slave. In the end of these books the slaves get to go free and the stories end up happily
I would rate this story three out of five stars. The story was very good but it has its faults. The story was good but there were some boring parts to the book and there was not so much action. The story was also a little sad too. No one likes slavery and this book proves it. The book has a good point but it is not so strong

[Ella Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about when a young prince, named Kofi gets kidnapped and tries to find his way back home. After getting tossed around from a ship to being a slave to being rescued. On his journey he meets some friends; Ama, Timothy, and Joseph. Kofi never actually gets home but is happy where he is.

I can make a text-to- text connection with Copper Sun. I can make a connection with that The Captive and Copper Sun because they are kind of the plots but only in different perspectives. They are both about black people who go through tough times. They both get lost and get to be free. Also in both the books the ending is happy!

I would give this book 4 stars because I thought that it was good, but sometimes the book reminded me to much of Copper Sun. I kind of liked it because it had so much details and was a really moving book. I was good in some ways and bad in others.

[Dilan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book The Captive is about a boy named Kofi who was betrayed by a guy named Oppong into slavery. While Kofi was a slave he learned many things a lot about people and he made some friends. His friends looked after him and he looked after them. When Kofi was taken prisoner he was taken away from his family that were slaves they were separated.


I made a text-to-text connection. I can connect this book to Copper sun because Amari and Kofi went threw many of the same things. They met very good people, they were taken from African, they were sold, they escaped, and they ended up being free.


I gave this book 3 stars. This is my opinion but the book wasnt that good. At the beggining the book was boring and it wasnt that good. Towards the end the book was getting good like about the captain and stuff the important people in the story. That they got free about the court that was the good part.

[Sharaesof2014 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a boy named kofi who one day was at a festival with his family until a tribe came and took over they killed his father and took him and his friends Timothy and Joseph. They got sold to a master who treats them really bad They need to find away to get set free or to escape.
I im going to do text-to-world with this book because back in the days in like the 1700's there were black people who were like some what rich and lived in kingdoms where another tribe just came and took over just tryed to make a land there's and thats exactly what happened in The Captive.
i would give this book 4 stars because in the beginning of the book it was really boring but as i kept reading the book got really intresting and at the end i was very suprised and i really liked it.
i would reccomnend this book to who ever likes books about slavery and books with happy endings.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a boy named Kofi. Kofi has a very good life because his dad is like a king and he can get a lot and is the boss of a lot of people. This book takes place in Kofi's tribe when slavery was a big thing. Kofi gets kidnapped and gets taken captive. He does not even get bought he gets stolen.
in this book Kofi has to learn a lot about himself and how to take care of himself and fast. because Kofi is getting whipped a lot and herassed a lot so he has to learn how to get along with other people and take care of himself. He has to become more mature and fast.
I rate this book a 4.5 because I think it is a very good book and teaches us all a lot but I felt like this was a girl version of copper sum and i felt a lot of the time I was rereading copper sun which got me annoyed

[Angeluismanzueta · Rating 4 out of 5]

a young boy named,Kofi known as in his village the chief's son, kwame until he was killed by a man named oppong who had betrayed kofi and kwame later on in the book kofi gets captured and becomes a slave of a man known as Mr.Browne who disrespects kofi with cruelty. this book can relate to coppersun because of course a slave, mr.browne, and the ship and the indentured servant. it is exactly the same but it is just in a boys point of view. i would give this book 4 stars because although the book is excellent it does not have much details and also very, very short. types of readers who would enjoy this book is readers who LOVE books about slaves but in a good way and who like to learn about history

[Tyshawnsof2014 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a boy name kofi havin a good life intel a man name oppong changed his life for ever. On the day a great festivel for the kings and the chiefs. Oppong was planing some thing to kill kofi mfather so he could get some gold. Later on in the book kofi got sold and don't do his work like a slave in his village. But he don't give up on hope.
i could make a connection to copper sun because in the book amari do not give up the fight to free dom. Also amari and kofi had the same goal in to the fight to live and go to home again.
i would give this book a 3 because the book is not good at all to me in my way i see it. the resson i gave it a 3 is that, it did not cacth my attetion enough to keep on reading.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book by joyce hansen is about a boy name kofi. Who is a son of a prince.Once there was a ceromony for the past and pervious kings.then strange looking men had came and killed his dad and capture kofi.I't also happened because oppong was a trader to his village.Kofi had meet people timothy and joseph they get sold to a guy mr.brown.he had treated them badly.then later they were free to go.
I can connect this to copper sun.In copper sun they had the same themes and lesson.In copper sun the theme was to never give hope in the toughtest time. In the captive it was the same.
i would give this book 2 stars. I gave this book 2 stars because it very boring and i didn't like it. I would recommend this to people who are intersting in slavery other wise i don't recomend it.

[Kareem · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a boy who lived in Africa and he was taken to over sea to be sold, in this book he meets Tim,josh,atta,and others. His dad was killed and his family is still scared for him.
I can connect this book to copper sun, because amari's family was killed too and she had to go over sea, but the only difference is that it was set in different times.
I rate this book a 5 for getting better and better, in the start it I didn't really like it but it shaped up good when he went over sea and it was even better when he was free.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book for the age group it's geered towards. There are even some interesting historical facts in there for adults. The Captive takes a Afrocentric look at slavery from the late 1700s. I would have liked Kofi to be a bit more complex, but other than that the author did a good job of showing life as a slave from the slave's point of view. There are just enough realities of slavery in the novel to prove a point, but the soft ending allows young readers to walk away with some hope. Good stuff.

[Justins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The captive was about this kid name Kofi he lived in africa and

than he got captured and put on the slave ship. wich took a lot of

days on the slave ship. Kofi meets a lot of people. would he be a

free man?

I connect this book to copper sun b/c Amria and Kofi was a slave.

they both were free. Also they meets lot of people.

I give the book a five star b/c they change the setting when they get into details.

[Abdul · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is about a yuong boy named kofi.heis father is the chief of the village.he was a prince now he is a slave.the white's came and kidnabed them.
i connct this book to copper sun.Becaus when kofi's family died in the story then ameri family died.also because it was in the u.s.a.and the both had freinds with them.
I give this book 4 stars because this book is my tipe of book.also because enshsting.and it was good.finely it was about slavery.

[Kathy]

This book wasn't that amazing. I thought it would be better.

This book is basicly about a boy named kofi who was taken from his village and sold to MR. Brown a british man. MR. Brown would treat them really bad, he would beat them, mistreat them, etc. Till one day kofi and his friends Timothy and joseph had it and they ran away.

I give this book 4 stars because honestly it didn't really amaze me. I recommend this book to every body who hates slavery and wants to know more about it.

[Layla · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is about a boy named kofi. kofi is stolen from his village and betrayed by one of his closest friends. then becomes a slave. kofi gets his prized possesion stolen and his only way out is escaping.
i could connect this book to copper sun because in copper sun amari is stolen from her village then becomes a slave.
this book i rated it a 3 because it was a pretty good book but it could have been better.

[Tina Valenzuela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually found this book at the Goodwill (Second-hand stores are the best place for books. People never know the true value of them!) I got it for a nickel and thought my little cousin would like it. But before I gave it to him I read it and I have to say that I changed my mind. Obviously a kid book, but it was very interesting. JH makes you feel for the main character from the beginning and you cling to him till the very end.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great introduction for my kids on how the slave trade worked. The protagonist in the story is 12 when he is captured - my own children are 12 and 10, and we didn't find his voice quite authentic to his age - he seemed babyish during his time in Africa. I would still definitely recommend it, as it authentically depicts the capture and treatment of slaves, children in particular, based on the author's extensive research.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a quick read and had a great story about the life of a young boy snatched from his home in Africa and sent to the US as a slave. THis is one of my favorite books of this type, it was very action-y and historical at the same time.

[Bev · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book is poop. i had to read it for s.s. extra credit. the writing is elementary and the plot is too predictable. suprise me joyce hansen!