56 pages · Released 2016 · Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Content report card
Freedom over Me parent’s guide: what’s inside
High confidence
Language
None · 0/5
Sexual content
None · 0/5
LGBTQ+ themes
None · 0/5
Substance use
None · 0/5
What it offers
A note for parents
This Newbery Honor book uses poetry and historical documents to present the lives and inner worlds of eleven enslaved people, centering their humanity, dreams, and resilience rather than graphic depictions of abuse. The content is age-appropriate for upper elementary and middle-grade readers ready to engage thoughtfully with slavery's historical reality, though it addresses heavy themes that benefit from adult guidance. Ashley Bryan's illustrated approach honors the dignity of the subjects while teaching about this critical period of American history.
"Using original slave auction and plantation estate documents, contrasts the monetary value of a slave with the priceless value of life experiences and dreams that a slave owner could never take away"--"Using original slave auction and plantation estate documents, contrasts the monetary value of a slave with the priceless value of life experiences and dreams that a slave owner could never take away"--
