Friday, February 10, 2023

Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson - ADVISABLE

Freewater
by Amina Luqman-Dawson.
403 pages. Middle Grade Little, Brown and Company/Poppy. 2022. $17

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG no on-page violence, but beatings had occurred at the plantation and injuries were described. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

 AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

12yo Homer and his sister 7yo Ada escape the Sutherland Plantation. They are without their mother as she didn't get away, but are discovered by Suleman who brings them to a community of people living deep in the swamps who have also escaped. Homer is desperate for news about his mother, and when he hears a wedding will happen soon at the Plantation, begins to make plans to return and rescue her. 

I loved reading about this little known part of American history - communities of ex-enslaved people living in less-than-desirable circumstances, but better than the alternative. There were plenty of adults telling the children what to do, as well as bounty hunters, overseers and plantation owners looking for the children and being generally terrible. Freewater was a long read, over 400 pages. There are several side stories and a lot of characters. However, it all weaves together well. There is a lot of danger and action which will keep the reader engaged.

Lisa Librarian

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