Voice Of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer

 

Bibliography

Carole Boston Weatherford, & Holmes, E. (2015). Voice Of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer. Somerville, Massachusetts Candlewick Press.

ISBN: 9780763665319

Carole Boston Weatherford, & Holmes, E. (2015). Voice Of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer. Janina Edwards. [Audiobook]. Dreamscape Media, LLC.

Plot Summary

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer is a biographical picture book that tells the story of a powerful woman during the Civil Rights Movement. This book tells the reader her life as a poor Mississippi sharecropper to a fearless activist who challenged racism, poverty, and voter suppression. Through the beatings, arrests, threats, and racism, Fannie Lou Hamer never lost her voice. This book encourages young readers that courage, voice, and persistence can change the world.

Critical Analysis

This book is now on my shelf at home because of the audio version. I read this book first, and I thought it was great. I would reread the poems to make sure I understood what the author was trying to portray. I had to travel and I could not bring the book with me to finish, so I downloaded the audiobook. It was only 30 minutes, but Janina Edwards' voice had me hooked. She had me feeling all the emotions. I cried, smiled, wanted to fight, and wanted to hold her through the pain. I have listened to the audio 3 times since listening to it because that is how much I loved hearing it. Fannie Lou Hamer’s story is brought to life by Ms. Edwards, the music in the background, and sound effects only enhance the story that is being told. I highly recommend listening to the audio of this book. It brings the story rawness and feels as though Fannie Lou Hamer was sitting down with me and telling me her story. These poems had me researching more about this amazing woman and more about the hardships during that time.

This book, compared to my other poem selections, was different because it had illustrations. Ekua Holmes used mixed media collage illustrations that are bright and show emotions to the readers. As the reader, it helped deepen the emotions.

Review Excerpts

Told in the first person from Hamer’s own perspective, this lyrical text in verse emphasizes the activist’s perseverance and courage, as she lets her booming voice be heard. Holmes’s beautiful, vibrant collage illustrations add detail and nuance, often depicting Hamer wearing yellow, which reflects her Sunflower County roots. Hamer’s heroic life story should be widely known, and this well-crafted work should find a place in most libraries.

—School Library Journal (starred review)

Awards and Recognitions

• A Caldecott Honor Book
• A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
• A John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award Winner

Connections

• Have students learn about Civil Rights history.

• Learn about other important African Americans during this time.

Here is a Link to read more about this amazing woman: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/fannie-lou-hamer