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Voice of Freedom
A stirring collection of poems and spirituals, accompanied by stunning collage illustrations, recollects the life of Fannie Lou Hamer, a champion of equal voting rights.
Despite fierce prejudice and abuse, even being beaten to within an inch of her life, Fannie Lou Hamer was a champion of civil rights from the 1950s until her death in 1977. Integral to the Freedom Summer of 1964, Ms. Hamer gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention that, despite President Johnson’s interference, aired on national TV news and spurred the nation to support the Freedom Democrats. Featuring luminous mixed-media art both vibrant and full of intricate detail, Singing for Freedom celebrates Fannie Lou Hamer’s life and legacy with an inspiring message of hope, determination, and strength.
Reading Age: 10 - 13 years
Publisher: Candlewick (December 24, 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-1536203257
“Holmes’ multimedia collages perfectly capture the essence of each poem. Like Hamer’s life, the illustrations are filled with light, texture, movement, and darkness. They are both abstract and realistic, brilliantly juxtaposing gentle floral motifs with protest placards and Fannie Lou Hamer’s face in bold relief.”
— Booklist
Voice of Freedom
Awards & Honors
2015 Gold Parents' Choice Award winner
Horn Book Fanfare List 2015
New York Public Library: 100 Books for Reading and Sharing
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books
Huffington Post Best Picture Book Biography of 2015
Booklist Editor's Choice, Books for Youth
Caldecott Honor
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal — Honor Book
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent
ALSC Notables List: All Ages category
Amelia Bloomer List: Top Ten Choice
CCBC Choices
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
Bank Street College's Flora Stieglitz Straus Awar
Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Notable Children's Books in the Language Art
TriState YA Review Group Books of Note
Marion Vannett Ridgway Award Honor 2016
Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Book 2016
Social Justice Literature Award for Nonfiction winner
Notable Books for a Global Society list
Arnold Adoff Poetry Honor Award for Teens
Young Hoosier Book Award nominee