Snatched from her home in Africa, 16-year-old Raisha and the young chief she is to marry find themselves transported on a plague-ridden slave ship and sold to Danish planters on the island of St. John. Raisha becomes a sheltered house servant, but Konje soon joins the runaways holding out on a remote island promontory. The planters react harshly, and the runaways know they face torture, maiming, or even death. In this compelling account of the great slave rebellion of 1733, Raisha contrives to help the man she loves and eventually runs away to join him. In a dramatic climax to this powerful and tragic story, the slaves have only one awful choice.

From the reviews:

"O'Dell's story is ultimately life-affirming, a moving tribute to the dignity of the human spirit. ... The ending ... is so powerful, so searing, it will leave readers stunned. My Name Is Not Angelica is a magnificent tale, superbly told by a grand master of historical fiction."

Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The events portrayed are dramatic, and the story is a compelling indictment of slavery."

School Library Journal

"This is a fierce story, fairly and urgently told."

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The dispassionate style ... makes the tale of tragedy and heroism all the more forceful."

Horn Book

My Name Is Not Angelica's awards:

Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies (National Council for Social Studies and Children's Book Council). 1990
South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominee. 1992/93