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Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life By Ashley Bryan is a 2016 children's poetry book written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan. It was originally published by Atheneum Books, a children's book imprint of Simon & Schuster. The book won an honorary Coretta Scott King Award in 2017.

Synopsis
Each person appears in a four-page section, opening with a page of free-verse text opposite a riveting head-and-shoulders portrait with a grim collage background of slavery-related documents. A banner reveals the persons appraised value, master-imposed slave name, and age. In the text, these individuals introduce themselves, their roles on the estate, and the skills (cooking, blacksmithing, sewing) they take pride in. On the second double-page spread, a verse text offers more personal reflections on their African roots, their love of family, and their dreams, while a more detailed, colorful painting expresses their heritage, their strength, and their rich inner lives.

The book begins with the poem Mrs. Mary Fairchilds who grieves the death of her recently deceased husband. She reminisces about his ownership of their land and eleven slaves, how he trained them in various trades and sold them to neighbors to increase profit. She expresses fear being alone with the slaves, as many are running away and fighting back. She decides to sell the house and move to England. The book continues with two poems about each of the eleven slaves: one about their current life, and one about the life they had in Africa and wish for in the future. There is Peggy, who is the Fairchild's cook. Her poems explore her love of collecting plants and herbs to make poultices for the slaves' injuries. Because of this, they give her the affectionate name "Herb Doctor." Stephen is the family's carpenter who builds for them, as well as others in the neighborhood. He and another slave named Jane secretly learn how to read. He wishes for the freedom to build homes all over the world and have a family with Jane. Jane's poems come next, and she talks about her role as a seamstress. She also expresses her conversations with Stephen about running away. Before she was a slave, she made textiles with her parents in Africa, and continues to make them in their memory. A young boy named John was given as Mrs. Fairchild's birthday present. He spends time drawing on used paper and dreams of creating portraits of his people. Athelia is the laundress and a laborer in the fields. She shares her tradition of story-telling with slave children. Another slave Charlotte was married and had a child. Her child visits her while she weaves baskets from reeds for the Fairchild's home. Her husband Bacus is a blacksmith, who expresses his wishes for justice, respect, and freedom with each blow of the hammer. Qush and Mulvina both try to lift the spirits of the other slaves through singing. Betty's poems are the last. She decorates the Fairchild's home and hopes that one day her talents are recognized. At the end of the book, there is a page outlining Mrs. Fairchild's estate, including all of the slaves listed next to the livestock, mill and cotton.

Background
Within Bryan's own collection of slave-related documents, he found an appraisement of the Fairchild Estate written in 1828. On the ledger, there are eleven slaves listed along with their names and prices. The document also lists livestock and cotton. The slaves' ages and jobs were not there, but Bryan fictionalized them for the book. A copy of the appraisement can be found in the back pages. The title of the book came from the spiritual "Oh, Freedom" which came to being right after the Emancipation Proclamation and continued to be sung throughout the civil rights movement.

The illustrations were done in pen, ink, watercolor, and collaged photo reproductions of historical events. Bryan says that in order to create the portraits of these slaves he "studied each one, listening for their voices."

Reception
In a starred review from Booklist critics praise the simple free verse and rich artwork that bring that character to life. They say it is a "powerful, imaginative book honors those who endured slavery in America." Horn Book Magazine comments on the "contrast between the strong, spare portraits of the enslaved people and the extravagant, rainbow-hued glories of their dreams" noting that the difference adds "interest" and "heart." In a starred review from the same publication, critics note Bryan's ability to restore humanity to the lives of the slaves through double-spreads of poetry. His illustrations are   The portraits are etched in a manner similar to wood carvings, suggesting the mask each slave wears for day-to-day life on the plantation. In contrast to the dry, parchmentlike tones of the introductions, the dream spreads are in gloriously brilliant colors, as bold as the aspirations of the individuals themselves