"A Free Woman On God's Earth," The True Story of Elizabeth "Mumbet" Freeman, is a juvenile biography for ages 8 and up containing over 40 beautiful pencil illustrations. It is the story of Elizabeth "Mumbet" Freeman, the enslaved African woman who had the courage and conviction to speak what was in her heart, suing for her freedom in a Massachusetts court of law. In gaining her own freedom, she set the stage for the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts in 1783. An easy, moving and poignant history for children and adults alike. An engaging history that fulfills the many curriculum frameworks including Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for third, fourth and fifth grades in the categories of Local Biography, Local History, Revolutionary War Heroes. "... lively and moving account of Mumbet's impressive life."-- John Sedgwick, In My Blood "We have to get these stories out to the children. We cannot let this legacy die! Wonderfully told!" -- E.B. Lewis, Coretta Scot King Award winning children's book illustrator Mumbet was born a slave but she did not die a slave. After more than 30 years of bondage, she lived free for nearly 50 years. Like the best stories, Mumbet's life illuminates what one woman, man or child can accomplish when the human heart refuses to accept injustice. Mumbet, in having the courage to speak what was in her heart and the resolve to follow through, was able to change the course of history. "A Free Woman On God's Earth" The True Story of Elizabeth "Mumbet" Freeman, The Slave Who Won Her Freedom, is the story of Mumbet, an enslaved African from Sheffield,Massachusetts who had the courage and conviction to follow her heart and sue for her freedom in 1781 and win. Her victory set the tone for the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts two years later in 1783, a full 80 years before the Emancipation Proclimation Jana Laiz has been writing for as long as she can remember. She wrote her first novel at age 6: Fuzzy Wuzzy Rabbit. She is the author of the triple Award Winning novel, Weeping Under This Same Moon, Elephants of the Tsunami, written to raise money for tsunami relief, and the co-author of "A Free Woman On God's Earth, The True Story of Elizabeth "Mumbet" Freeman, The Slave Who Won Her Freedom". Fascinated by other cultures, Jana studied anthropology and Chinese language at University. She is a teacher, a writer, an editor, a publisher, a photographer, a mom, an animal lover and keeper of pets, Ann-Elizabeth Barnes has been a story-teller since she was a child. Her favorite thing to do is to make complicated subjects uncomplicated. She likes to do this because in school she didn't always understand the significance and order of historical events as they were presented in class. It was often a hodge-podge of events that made sense to the teachers but not so much to the kids. She loved history but didn't like it when it was described without a continuous thread that kept events in sequence. She loves context! She likes to put history in context so that it is simple to remember.