{"product_id":"biddy-mason-speaks-up-9781597144032","title":"Biddy Mason Speaks Up","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWinner of the Nautilus Book Award\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWinner of the 2021 FOCAL Award\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSilver Award Winner, 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWinner of the Book Award for Young People's Literature, 2020 Maine Literary Awards\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA \u003ci\u003eGreat Kid Books\u003c\/i\u003e Best New Book\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBuilding on the brilliance of \u003ci\u003eFred Korematsu Speaks Up\u003c\/i\u003e, the newest installment in the Fighting for Justice series introduces young readers to another real-life champion for civil rights: Bridget \"Biddy\" Mason, an African American philanthropist, healer, and midwife who was born into slavery.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen Biddy Mason arrived in California, where slavery was technically illegal, she was kept captive by her owners and forced to work without pay. But when Biddy learned that she was going to be taken to a slave state, she launched a plan to win her freedom. She refused to be defined by her enslavement, and coauthors Arisa White and Laura Atkins devote much of their narrative to Biddy Mason's later life as a business and civic leader in the fledgling city of Los Angeles. \u003ci\u003eBiddy Mason Speaks Up\u003c\/i\u003e is an age-appropriate yet unflinching examination of slavery, racism, and community healing in the United States. Each chapter begins with lyrical verse and full-color illustrations that draw readers into the narrative, and is followed by visually engaging sections filled with keyword definitions, historical context, timelines, and primary sources. Throughout the book, the authors pose questions to the reader, such as \"How do you see power at work in your community?\", making Biddy Mason's story all the more relatable to the present day.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eArisa White\u003c\/b\u003e is a Cave Canem graduate poet and her work has been nominated for the NAACP Image Awards, California Book Awards, and Wheatley Book Awards. Her recent poetry collection \u003ci\u003eYou're the Most Beautiful Thing That Happened\u003c\/i\u003e was a nominee for the 29th Lambda Literary Awards. As the creator of the Beautiful Things Project, Arisa curates cultural events and artistic collaborations that center narratives of queer and trans people of color. She served on the board of directors for Nomadic Press and is an assistant professor at Colby College. Visit her website at arisawhite.com.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLaura Atkins\u003c\/b\u003e is an author, teacher, and independent children's book editor with over twenty years of editorial experience. She worked at Children's Book Press, Orchard Books, and Lee and Low Books, helping to produce winners of the Coretta Scott King Award and American Library Association Notable Book selections, among others. She taught creative writing at the National Centre for Research in Children's Literature (NCRCL) in London, where she also received her M.A. in children's literature, and she completed her M.F.A. in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2016. In addition to cowriting\u003ci\u003e Fred Korematsu Speaks Up\u003c\/i\u003e, Laura is the author of the lighthearted picture book \u003ci\u003eSled Dog Dachshund \u003c\/i\u003e(Minted Prose Press). Passionate about diversity and equity in children's books, Laura is based in Berkeley, California, where she lives with her daughter. Find out more at lauraatkins.com.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLaura Freeman\u003c\/b\u003e is a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honoree. Her work on \u003ci\u003eHidden Figures\u003c\/i\u003e written by Margot Lee Shetterly, was recognized with an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Children, reached the New York Times Best Seller list and was listed as one of \"Ten Books All Georgians Should Read\". Her art has been honored at the Society of Illustrators in NYC and in the Annuals for Communication Arts and American Illustration. She has illustrated over thirty children's books. In addition to illustrating books, Laura's art can be found on a wide range of products, from dishes and textiles to greeting cards. And her editorial images are frequently seen in the \u003ci\u003eNY Times\u003c\/i\u003e and other periodicals. She is a native New Yorker residing in Atlanta with her husband, two sons, two cats and a fish. Visit her website, lfreemanart.com.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Heyday Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50505384034578,"sku":"9781597144032","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_e03d16d7-dd1f-43de-b249-44360d10a255.jpg?v=1730839075","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/biddy-mason-speaks-up-9781597144032","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}