Introduction

The well-deserved accolades pour in -- Newberry Medal, Coretta Scott King Award, Cyblis Award, and more -- but what caught my eye about Amina Luqman-Dawson's wonderful book Freewater was her deft deployment of curiosity. Whether as a springboard for her own writing and research, as an invitation to her readers, or the force that enables her characters' growth and literal freedom, curiosity in everywhere in this rich, evocative story of children escaping enslavement and finding their power. "Curiosity," she says, "is a wonderful place to begin." More about Freewater and Amina Luqman-Dawson: https://www.aminaluqman-dawson.com Theme music by Sean Balick; “Home, Home at Last” by Warmbody, via Blue Dot Sessions. Amina Luqman-Dawson Photo Credit: Zachariah Dawson