In the early nineteenth century, enslaved Africans are not allowed to gather together in groups. For Simmy and his family, that means they must worship in secret. If they are caught, the punishment will be terrible. Simmy's job is to watch for danger while the others pray and sing as the Spirit moves them. Will he be able to keep the hush harbor safe?

Freddi Williams Evans enjoys writing historical fiction for young readers that feature African American characters and stories. Her books are A Bus of Our Own, The Battle of New Orleans: The Drummer's Story, and Hush Harbor: Praying in Secret.
Freddi's work for general audiences has appeared in local newspapers, The Storytelling Classroom, and poetry anthologies including From a Bend in the River: 100 New Orleans Poets and Kente Cloth: Southwest Voices of the African Diaspora. Her history book on Congo Square, a historic cultural landmark in New Orleans, written for general audiences, will be published in the fall of 2010.
Freddi, a native of Madison, Mississippi, holds degrees in music and psychology from Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, Mississippi, and a graduate degree in creative arts therapy (music) from Hahnemann University, Philadephia, Pennsylvania. She has worked with children of all ages and exceptionalities in various public and private settings as a music therapist, arts educator, and arts administrator. In addition to coordinating a public school arts education program, Freddi works as an independent arts education consultant and conducts author visits. She resides in New Orleans.