Newbery Medal Winner
Freewater
by Amina Luqman-Dawson
Summary
After escaping a plantation, siblings Homer and Ada find refuge in Freewater, a hidden community of formerly enslaved people living secretly in the swamp. Through several young narrators, Amina Luqman-Dawson imagines life inside a maroon settlement, where freedom is fragile and constantly defended. The historical novel honors the real resistance of self emancipated people while telling a suspenseful story of family, courage, and the meaning of liberty.
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Historical Context & Significance
Freewater won both the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Author Award in the same year.