Quick facts for kids
Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan
 |
| Author |
Ashley Bryan |
| Illustrator |
Ashley Bryan |
| Language |
English |
| Set in |
1828, southern United States |
| Publisher |
Atheneum Books |
|
Publication date
|
September 2016 |
| Pages |
56 |
| Awards |
2017 Newbery Honor |
| ISBN |
9781481456906 |
Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan is a young adult picture book written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers in 2016. It is set in a slave-owning state in 1828 and describes the hopes and dreams of eleven slaves listed for sale. It was named a Newbery Honor book in 2017.
Plot summary
The story starts with a poem recounting the thoughts of the slaveowner, Mrs. Mary Fairchilds; after her husband, Cado died, she has decided to have her property appraised to prepare it for sale; afterward, she intends to return to England. The book gives the names and appraised value of each of the 11 slaves owned by the Fairchilds, accompanied by two poems: one describing their work and another describing their dreams.
| Slave |
Age |
Value |
Position |
Name |
Origin |
| Peggy |
48 |
150 |
Cook |
Mariama |
|
| Stephen |
32 |
300 |
Carpenter |
Yerodin |
Central Africa |
| Jane |
28 |
300 |
Seamstress |
Serwaa |
West Africa |
| John |
16 |
100 |
Child |
Osere |
America |
| Athelia |
42 |
175 |
Laundress |
Adero |
|
| Charlotte |
30 |
400 |
Basketmaker |
Bisa |
|
| Dora |
8 |
Child |
Akua |
America |
| Bacus |
34 |
250 |
Blacksmith |
Abena |
|
| Qush |
60 |
100 |
Herdsman/Laborer |
Kayode |
Yoruba |
| Mulvina |
60 |
100 |
Field |
Niami |
|
| Betty |
36 |
150 |
Flower gardener |
Temitope |
Yoruba |
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