Freedom Soup by Tami Charles,
illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara
Candlewick Press, 2019, 32 pages
It's a cold, snowy day outside, but inside Ti Gran's kitchen, it is warm and busy. As the beats of traditional Haitian kompa music and dancing fills the kitchen, so does the aroma of traditional Haitian Freedom Soup. And today, Belle, who "has a heart made for cooking," is getting her first lesson on how to prepare her Ti Gran's secret recipe for this celebrated New Year's Day soup.
And as they mash the epis and the herbs, add the meat, the pumpkin, and the vegetables into a big pot, Ti Gran begins to tell Belle why it is called Freedom Soup and what it means to Haitians everywhere. And even though Belle has heard this story every year, she still wants to hear it again.
Ti Gran, who was born in Haiti, recounts how long ago the people in her country were enslaved, and forced to work hard for their masters. Part of that work was making Freedom Soup, a dish they themselves were never allowed to eat: "Freedom Soup was only for the free," Ti Gran tells Belle. But finally, the Haitians had had enough and rebelled, driving out the people who have enslaved them, and, having won their freedom, celebrated by making and eating Freedom Soup, because now they, too, were free.
And so every New Year's Day, Haitians prepare and eat Freedom Soup, remembering their past and their fight for freedom with every bite.
Some of the reason I really liked about this story of family, history and Haitian independence:
I love stories about traditions, both family and national traditions. Tradition is what connects people to each other, and when shared, has the power to inform and enlighten and add to the lives of others. That is just what this book does. And luckily, there is a recipe for Freedom Soup in the back matter and it looks as delicious as Belle and Ti Gran made it sound.
I loved the warm intergenerational relationship between Belle and her Ti Gran and how connected to each other they feel. Also, knowing important cultural traditions is one of the ways for a young person to feel connected to their past and understanding who they are, and Freedom Soup is a perfect example of just how that can happen.
I loved the dynamic pencil, marker, and gouache illustrations done in a palette of bright blues and yellows that reminded one of the warmth and brightness of Haiti and the surrounding Caribbean waters. Well, except for the last two pages, which bring the reader back to winter's cold and snow, but a look into the windows readers can see how everyone has their own way of celebrating the New Year, including Belle and Ti Gran:
Freedom Soup is such a beautiful story, and can't recommend it highly enough, not just for New Year's but for everyday.
What more can I say, except
I wish you a very Happy New Year!
This book is recommended for readers age 5+
This book was gratefully received by me from Candlewick Press
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