Book Info:
Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawnson
Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction
Publishing Date: February 1, 2022
Synopsis:
Debut 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.
Book Links:
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Freewater-Amina-Luqman-Dawson/9780316056618?ref=grid-view&qid=1636645563565&sr=1-3
IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316056618
About the Author:
Amina Luqman Dawson is the author of the pictorial history book Images of America: African Americans of Petersburg (Arcadia Publishing). Her op-eds on race and popular culture have appeared in The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, and more. She’s a proud mother of a 12-year-old son. Amina, her husband, and her son reside in Arlington, VA.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.aminaluqman-dawson.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AminaLuqman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mz_minasaywhat/
Tour Schedule:
First off I like to say a big thank you to TBR Tours & Beyond for allowing me another chance to be on one of their wonderful tours and to the Publishers for sending me a Netgalley Arc.
Well for one I do not pick up many historical fiction and that includes Middle Grade but there was something about Freewater which intrigued me and so I was delighted when I got approved.
Amina managed to get me hook, line and sinker after reading the first few pages that I knew I was onto something special. I loved the different POV's and you always knew which was POV you were reading about as it was in the main chapter header. Out of all the POV's my favourite was Sanzi as she was so sassy but yet had so many flaws to her character. I also loved the short chapters it gave the story a huge momentum which worked amazingly well towards the end. One thing that really hit me was that the consequences of each character's actions not only could change them but for all those around them and that must of been huge for them.
I am not going to delve anymore into the book but I would say is read the author's notes. This should be a mandatory read in schools even in the UK where I am from I think this would be a great book to be discussed about. So I am rating Freewater 5 stars