Nevada Young Readers' Award
2009 · Young Adult · Nominee
About This Book
Stolen from her village, sold to the highest bidder, fifteen-year-old Amari has only one thing left of her own -- hope.
Amari's life was once perfect. Engaged to the handsomest man in her tribe, adored by her family, and living in a beautiful village, she could not have imagined everything could be taken away from her in an instant. But when slave traders invade her village and brutally murder her entire family, Amari finds herself dragged away to a slave ship headed to the Carolinas, where she is bought by a plantation owner and given to his son as a birthday present.
Survival seems all that Amari can hope for. But then an act of unimaginable cruelty provides her with an opportunity to escape, and with an indentured servant named Polly she flees to Fort Mose, Florida, in search of sanctuary at the Spanish colony. Can the illusive dream of freedom sustain Amari and Polly on their arduous journey, fraught with hardship and danger?
Amari's life was once perfect. Engaged to the handsomest man in her tribe, adored by her family, and living in a beautiful village, she could not have imagined everything could be taken away from her in an instant. But when slave traders invade her village and brutally murder her entire family, Amari finds herself dragged away to a slave ship headed to the Carolinas, where she is bought by a plantation owner and given to his son as a birthday present.
Survival seems all that Amari can hope for. But then an act of unimaginable cruelty provides her with an opportunity to escape, and with an indentured servant named Polly she flees to Fort Mose, Florida, in search of sanctuary at the Spanish colony. Can the illusive dream of freedom sustain Amari and Polly on their arduous journey, fraught with hardship and danger?
Awards
Sequoyah Book Award
2009 · Young Adult · Nominee
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award
2008 · Grades 9-12 · Nominee
Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers
2008 · Young Adult · Nominee
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award
2008 · Young Adult · Nominee
South Carolina Childrens, Junior and Young Adult Book Award
2008 · Young Adult · Nominee
Virginia Readers Choice Award
2008 · High School · Nominee
Black-Eyed Susan Award
2007 · High School · Nominee
Coretta Scott King Award
2007 · Author · Winner
Heartland Award
2007 · Young Adult · Winner
Society of Midland Authors Award
2007 · Children's Fiction · Finalist
Tayshas Reading
2007 · Young Adult · Commended
Volunteer State Book Award
2007 · Young Adult · Nominee
