Day after day, Nemy is forced to sow seeds in the sugarcane plantation, until one night, she follows a woman called Big Mother to a hidden shack. There, she finds a group of women braiding each other’s hair. But these are no ordinary braids. Hidden in each elaborate pattern is a secret – a message signaling their intent to flee and a map to guide them in their escape. Will the paths these courageous women weave guide Nemy to a new home where she can be free? A picture book of love, liberation and legacy inspired by the true story of enslaved African women in Colombia braiding maps to freedom.
Amnesty International endorses this book as it vividly unfolds the story of an enslaved child who finds friendship, solidarity, and an escape to freedom.