Freedom Over Me
# Freedom Over Me

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.

## Plot summary

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 | 400 | 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 |

## Development

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. The title is taken from the spiritual Oh, Freedom.

## Reception

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.

