Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives And Dreams Brought To Life

"In this moving, beautifully illustrated picture book, Ashley Bryan uses historical documents to evoke the lives of 11 slaves who were sold during the 1828 dissolution of a Southern plantation. Using a combination of free verse and illustration, Bryan elegantly accomplishes a challenging feat: honoring the work of these slaves, imagining the pride they might take in that work and celebrating their rich interior life without ever muting our awareness of the oppressive framework that defined their lives and their existence in America. A stunning book and a wonderful, accessible demonstration of the artistic potential of primary source research. (For ages 6 to 10)"