| 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 |
| 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.
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 |
The book was inspired by an actual appraisal dated July 5, 1828 in the author's collection; the appraisal listed names and values, but not ages.[1] The title is taken from the spiritual Oh, Freedom.[2]
In 2017, the American Library Association named Freedom Over Me to its list of Newbery Honor winners, alongside Adam Gidwitz's The Inquisitor's Tale and Lauren Wolk's Wolf Hollow.[3]