Edmonia by Brianne Baker

 

 Edmonia by Brianne Baker. Kensington Books, 2026. Historical fiction based on real person.

Edmonia Lewis was a real person who lived from 1844 to 1907. In New York near Niagara Falls, she sold trinkets to tourists with her Native American aunts. She was orphaned by age twelve. Her older brother realized that she was gifted and sent her to an abolitionist prep school. Edmonia's skin was Black and she was always different and struggled to fit in, even later at Oberlin College in Ohio. She ultimately was accused and tried for poisoning her two roommates and left under a dark cloud. Determined to use her artistic talents as a sculptress, she escaped to Boston where others motivated her to study in Rome.  Her talents grew and she became well known for her work. She met President Grant and Frederick Douglass. 

This debut novel tells her story based on her life. To round out her story, it is useful to search the Internet to find photos of the real Edmonia and her work. She was a success but always found it hard to accept herself and to find love. This fictional book may be a steppingstone to learning more about racism and the challenges of artists during this time period. Nonfiction books also exist on Edmonia Lewis