I would like to share a new book Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson (Author). I received a physical copy of in exchange for this review. Freewater is a chapter book is for girls 5 to 8 seeped into History which I wanted and I read to the book together as I wanted to get his opinion. Not this is the perfect book to teach Charlie history and to remind him of what slaves went through.
The Author has created a detailed and well-researched historical fiction book. At times Freewater did get a tad bit confusing but the more we read the more we figured out the characters and became drawn into the story and didn’t want to put the book down. I believe Freewater is a book all children and there parents should read.
If you know a teacher or someone in a school then I would like to ask you to make sure they have copies of Freewater for there students. Charlie let me know we should purchase a copy of the book for both of my nieces and there parents for Christmas so they can learn about History and slaves. Then they can discuss what it was like back in those times and how things have changed.
About the book:
Winner of the John Newbery Medal
Winner of the Coretta Scott King Author Award
An Indiebound Bestseller
A New York Times Bestseller
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.
Under the cover of night, twelve-year-old Homer flees Southerland Plantation with his little sister Ada, unwillingly leaving their 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 swamp.
In this society created by formerly enslaved people and some freeborn children, Homer finds new friends, almost forgetting where he came from. But when he learns of a threat that could destroy Freewater, he crafts a plan to find his mother and help his new home.
Deeply inspiring and loosely based on the history of maroon communities in the South, this is a striking tale of survival, adventure, friendship, and courage.
About the Author: Amina Luqman-Dawson
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.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
