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| Amina Luqman-Dawson (photo: Zachariah Dawson) |
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Amina Luqman-Dawson has won the 2023 Newbery Medal and the 2023 Coretta Scott King Author Award for her first children's book, Freewater (Jimmy Patterson).
Two awards! Which call came in first, the Newbery or the CSK?
The first call came from the Coretta Scott King Award. I had no idea the award committee called winners. I felt overwhelmed and overjoyed. I think I may have screamed and cried and screamed again. It was a dream come true. I kept feeling so grateful that the judges had read Freewater. They not only read it, but they loved it. I had a sense of contentment that everything had turned out well for Freewater. Kids were going to read my book.
This made the call from the Newbery committee all the more surprising. I really lost it. There were tears of joy. I felt so very honored and humbled. My legs turned to jelly, and I fell to the ground for the second time that day. I thought, "The whole world is going to know about Freewater."
Freewater isn't your first published title, but it is your first children's book. How would you describe this book in two sentences?
Freewater is a heartwarming adventure tale of two children, Homer and Ada, who escape enslavement and find themselves deep in a swamp where they discover a maroon community--others who escaped enslavement and managed to live free clandestine lives. It's a story of resistance, strength and love in the midst of the nation's hard history of enslavement.
Would you tell our readers a little bit more about the history of maroon communities in the South and what made you want to bring them to life in this way?
The Great Dismal Swamp, here in Virginia and North Carolina, has a history of being used as a place of clandestine refuge for people who escaped enslavement. Some who escaped were caught, while others used it as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Still, there were others who managed to live free in the swamp for years. They are known as maroons. The strong history of maroons throughout the Americas helped spark Freewater.
What made you want to write this book specifically for children?
Childhood is when you first learn to have characters and stories live in your heart. It's a perfect time to have readers experience the world through the eyes of other children, in this case, children who lived during the nation's period of enslavement. The connection formed with Freewater's many characters is one that can last a lifetime.
What do you hope children take with them after reading this book?
I hope they take away a sense of connection to and understanding of this historical time period. Hopefully Freewater will help create a generation that is able to shake off the awkwardness, fear and avoidance of the nation's history of enslavement that has plagued prior generations.
How did you do research for this book?
My research began at my local library, then the Library of Virginia, and the Library of Congress. I also spoke with people with expertise on the subject matter and read their works. And, of course, I visited the Great Dismal Swamp.
Are you working on anything new?
Yes, I'm working on a new book where I follow one character from Freewater and see what happens to them. Hopefully, it will be a great opportunity to illuminate another fascinating bit of history. --Siân Gaetano, children's and YA editor, Shelf Awareness