Freewater

A Newbery and Coretta Scott King Award winner, 'Freewater' is a powerful historical middle-grade novel about two enslaved children, Homer and Ada, who escape a Southern plantation. They navigate a dangerous swamp to find Freewater, a hidden community founded by formerly enslaved people. The story beautifully weaves together themes of survival, the strength of community, the enduring bonds of family, and the fight for freedom. Loosely based on real maroon communities, it offers a lyrical and accessible entry point for young readers into a difficult but crucial part of American history, while also delivering a compelling adventure.

Winner of the John Newbery Medal Winner of the Coretta Scott King Author Award An Indiebound 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.