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FreewaterKindle Edition
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Winner of the John Newbery Medal
Winner of the Coretta Scott King Author Award
Award-winning author Amina Luqman-Dawson pens a lyrical, accessible historical middle-grade novel about two enslaved children’s escape from a plantation and the many ways they find freedom.
After an entire young life of enslavement, twelve-year-old Homer escapes Southerland Plantation with his little sister Ada, leaving his beloved mother behind. Much as he adores her and fears for her life, Homer knows there’s no turning back, not with the overseer on their trail. Through tangled vines, secret doorways, and over a sky bridge, the two find a secret community called Freewater, deep in the recesses of the swamp.
In this new, free society made up of escaped slaves and some born-free children, Homer cautiously embraces a set of spirited friends, almost forgetting where he came from. But when he learns of a threat that could destroy Freewater, he hatches a plan to return to Southerland plantation, overcome his own cautious nature, and free his mother from enslavement. Loosely based on a little-mined but important piece of history, this is an inspiring and deeply empowering story of survival, love, and courage.
Winner of the Coretta Scott King Author Award
Award-winning author Amina Luqman-Dawson pens a lyrical, accessible historical middle-grade novel about two enslaved children’s escape from a plantation and the many ways they find freedom.
After an entire young life of enslavement, twelve-year-old Homer escapes Southerland Plantation with his little sister Ada, leaving his beloved mother behind. Much as he adores her and fears for her life, Homer knows there’s no turning back, not with the overseer on their trail. Through tangled vines, secret doorways, and over a sky bridge, the two find a secret community called Freewater, deep in the recesses of the swamp.
In this new, free society made up of escaped slaves and some born-free children, Homer cautiously embraces a set of spirited friends, almost forgetting where he came from. But when he learns of a threat that could destroy Freewater, he hatches a plan to return to Southerland plantation, overcome his own cautious nature, and free his mother from enslavement. Loosely based on a little-mined but important piece of history, this is an inspiring and deeply empowering story of survival, love, and courage.
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level5 and up
- PublisherJimmy Patterson
- Publication dateFebruary 1, 2022
- ISBN-13978-0316056618
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Gr 5–8—Sometimes, to be free, you have to make a life in a place where no one can find you. Freewater is such a place. With their mother leading the way, Homer and his younger sister Ada try to escape their hellish lives of slavery on the Southerland Plantation. But Homer remembers his promise of freedom to his friend Anna; his mother turns back for her but is caught. Homer and Ada run to nearby river and plunge into the raging waters that carry them into the Great Dismal Swamp. Lost and disoriented, they are rescued by Suleman, a mysterious and taciturn guide who leads them through the inhospitable swamp to Freewater, a settlement of escaped men, women, and children living in freedom. Slowly, Homer begins to appreciate living and working together to contribute to the thriving community. But what about his mama? Plagued by guilt about his mother's capture, Homer decides to return to the plantation to rescue his mother and Anna. His new friends from Freewater pledge to return with him. Using a hand-drawn map that (unbelievably) survives multiple drenchings, Homer and company undertake the seemingly impossible rescue. Told from many alternating points of view, it is somewhat challenging to keep the characters straight at the outset. While using archeological evidence of settlements of formerly enslaved people within the Great Dismal Swamp as the basis for the text, the story itself is a speculative look into such a community. VERDICT A fascinating look at a fictional Black resistance settlement in little-known place.—Lisa Crandall
Review
With both stirring emotion and apparently effortless skill, Dawson braids the many compelling strands of this story into a stunning conclusion. A remarkable accomplishment--a sheer triumph of a book.
-- "Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medal winner and New York Times bestselling author"Gorgeously told, thrilling, and deeply empowering.
-- "Meena Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author"About the Author
Amina Luqman Dawsonis the author of the pictorial history bookImages of America: African Americans of Petersburg.Her op-eds on race and popular culture have appeared inThe Washington Post,The San Francisco Chronicle,and more. She's a proud mother of a twelve-year-old son.
Cary Hitehas performed in several theaters across the country as a cast member in the longest-running African American play in history,The Diary of Black Men.He also appeared inEdward II,Fences,Macbeth,Good Boys,Side Effects May Vary,and the indie featureThe City Is Mine.He has voiced several projects for AudibleKids, includingSouls Look Back in Wonder,From Slave Ship to Freedom Road,andPapa, Do You Love Me?
Sisi Aisha Johnsonhas narrated numerous audiobooks and has twice won the AudioFile Earphones Award.
Product details
- ASIN : B09G2RBTCQ
- Publisher : Jimmy Patterson (February 1, 2022)
- Publication date : February 1, 2022
- Language : English
- File size : 2388 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 417 pages
- Best Sellers Rank:#230,143 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #2,324 inChildren's eBooks (Kindle Store)
- #213,358 inKindle eBooks
- Customer Reviews:
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About the author
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Amina Luqman-Dawson loves using writing to tell stories and to build an understanding of race, culture and community. Her published writing includes op-eds in newspapers, magazine articles, travel writing and book reviews. She’s authored the pictorial history book Images of America: African Americans of Petersburg (Arcadia Publishing). She’s worked as a policy professional, researcher and consultant on issues of education and criminal justice. She has a BA in Political Science from Vassar College and a Master of Public Policy from UC Berkeley. She’s a proud mother of a 13-year-old son. She, her husband and son reside in Arlington, VA.
Customer reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
408 global ratings
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the writing style vivid and descriptive. They also describe the book as excellent, engaging, and informative for all ages. Readers also say the storyline is important and stories like this are vital.
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11 customers mention "Storyline"11 positive0 negative
Customers find the storyline important, pulling at their heartstrings. They say the narrative reads like a thriller, and a rich historical perspective is brought to light through the story. Readers also appreciate the author's highly informative afterword.
"...Theauthor provides a highly informative afterword,but young historians will want to combine reading the novel Freewater with Internet searches.... "Read more
"...While it doesn’t shy away from the realities of slavery, itweaves a magical talethat draws you in and you will fall in love with the children... "Read more
"...I couldn’t put the book down. This is afantastic story to introduce childrento the hard topic of slavery while also telling a beautiful woven... "Read more
"Great history support."Read more
10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative
Customers find the book excellent, quality, and highly recommend it as an independent reading book for middle grade and adults. They also mention it's a story of hope, perseverance, and humanity.
"...This is a classic for the ages. It is agenuine masterpiece."Read more
"...It’s a bit like Harry Potter in that it will beenjoyed as a read aloud book,as a independent reading book for middle grade and also by adults.... "Read more
"...I read every book before I read it to my class to make sure it’squality,appropriate, and will be beneficial for them.... "Read more
"...A story of hope,perseverance,and humanity…history is vital!!All children should read.... "Read more
6 customers mention "Writing style"6 positive0 negative
Customers find the writing style vivid, descriptive, and easy to read. They also appreciate the creative writing style that enables them to imagine the characters.
"...Freewater opens the eyes of readers in so many, many ways. Thelyrical text is magical.This is a classic for the ages. It is a genuine masterpiece. "Read more
"...The writing is absolutely beautiful andlyrical.The book humanizes enslaved persons and particularly enslaved children.... "Read more
"I love thevivid and descriptive writing styleof this book. The author made you feel like you were in the story.... "Read more
"...Theauthor writes with exceptional detailas Homer and Ada venture through the swamp and explore Freewater.... "Read more
4 customers mention "Story"4 positive0 negative
Customers find the story engaging and informative for all ages.
"Engagingand informative for all ages (including this grandma). Purchased multiple copies for my grandkids and grandnieces. "Read more
"...From the beginning of Freewater, I wasfully immersed in the worldand completely invested in these characters.... "Read more
"...Captivatingand an easy read. I love imagining the characters. I bought it in audible, kindle and hardbook.... "Read more
"My tween found the story to beimmediately engagingand a quick page turner. "Read more
3 customers mention "Audience appeal"3 positive0 negative
Customers find the book engaging and informative for all ages. They also say it's great for empowering black kids.
"...The lyrical text is magical. This is aclassic for the ages.It is a genuine masterpiece. "Read more
"Engaging andinformative for all ages(including this grandma). Purchased multiple copies for my grandkids and grandnieces. "Read more
"Amazing Book Great for Empowering Black Kids... "Read more
3 customers mention "Emotion"3 positive0 negative
Customers find the book emotional and beautifully written. They also say they hear the author’s soft, kind soul and feel that presence.
"...If you watch the video, you can literally hear the author’s soft,kind souland you will feel that presence as you read the words that weave... "Read more
"...A story of hope, perseverance, andhumanity…history is vital!!All children should read.... "Read more
"A must read for any late elementary/middle school student. Anemotionaland beautifully written story of resistance. Highly rec! "Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2023
Writing her very first novel, Amina Luqman-Dawson has created a genuine masterpiece of young adult fiction that richly deserves the very high honors it has won, namely the Newbery and Coretta Scott King Medals. The sense of respect for the multiple narrators is wonderful. They are never referred to as slaves. Rather, they are collectively known as enslaved souls. One of the highlights of Freewater is that most of the chapters are revealed by young people as the predominant voices. Young readers will easily identify with these heroes. The narrative reads like a thriller. It is hard not to cheat and jump to the final chapters to discover the heroic outcome of the chief protagonists. Freewater will engross adult readers as well as young adults. Readers learn a lot about Maroon Communities, both in the past and even into the present. These miraculous free communities existed not only in the American South but in the Caribbean and in South America, especially in Brazil. Many readers have been educated to know about the Underground Railroad and flights to freedom in the North and in Canada by enslaved souls, but many readers will learn about such havens as Freewater for the first time. The author provides a highly informative afterword, but young historians will want to combine reading the novel Freewater with Internet searches. Freewater opens the eyes of readers in so many, many ways. The lyrical text is magical. This is a classic for the ages. It is a genuine masterpiece.
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2022
Just got this book. Only part way in and I already know it will be an all time favorite book. It’s a bit like Harry Potter in that it will be enjoyed as a read aloud book, as a independent reading book for middle grade and also by adults. Like HP, the characters just worm their way into your thoughts and heart. The writing is absolutely beautiful and lyrical. The book humanizes enslaved persons and particularly enslaved children. As the dedication says, it gives voice to generations of enslaved children. How fitting. It’s also an adventure book sprinkled with historical facts. While it doesn’t shy away from the realities of slavery, it weaves a magical tale that draws you in and you will fall in love with the children who have escaped enslavement, you will marvel at their resilience and you will cheer as they discover that they really do matter. If you watch the video, you can literally hear the author’s soft, kind soul and you will feel that presence as you read the words that weave together this wonderful book. Every school should have this book on its reading lists.
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2024
Bought this for my classroom, I read every book before I read it to my class to make sure it’s quality, appropriate, and will be beneficial for them. I got sucked in and genuinely enjoyed the story. I couldn’t put the book down. This is a fantastic story to introduce children to the hard topic of slavery while also telling a beautiful woven story of some who escaped.
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2024
Great history support.
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2023
Engaging and informative for all ages (including this grandma). Purchased multiple copies for my grandkids and grandnieces.
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2024
I love the vivid and descriptive writing style of this book. The author made you feel like you were in the story. I love how this book creates an entry point into the discussion on maroons and how African people were always resisting enslavement and oppression.
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2024
My 9 year old is part of a book club. He had this book to read and I making read out loud. I did not want him to stop reading and he would wake up and read a chapter before school. Great story.
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2022
Sometimes you read a book and you realize very early into it that you are experiencing something special. This is that book.
From the beginning of Freewater, I was fully immersed in the world and completely invested in these characters. I realize it's too early to call, but I can't imagine another middle grade book topping this one for me this year. The characters, the story, the community, the heart, gah! A book that pulled all my heartstrings and that will stay with me for a long time. Surely this one is going to bring home some awards. SURELY.
From the beginning of Freewater, I was fully immersed in the world and completely invested in these characters. I realize it's too early to call, but I can't imagine another middle grade book topping this one for me this year. The characters, the story, the community, the heart, gah! A book that pulled all my heartstrings and that will stay with me for a long time. Surely this one is going to bring home some awards. SURELY.
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