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All Different Kinds of Free

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Pub Date Nov 10 2026 | Archive Date Nov 6 2026

History Through Fiction | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles


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Description

A free woman of color kidnapped and sold into slavery fights for her family and her freedom, sparking one of the most pivotal Supreme Court cases in American history.

This fully revised15th Anniversary Edition of Jessica McCann’s award-winning debut novel brings new attention to the astonishing true story of Margaret Morgan—a free woman of color whose life changed forever on a frigid Pennsylvania night in 1837. When Maryland bounty hunters burst into her home, Margaret and her children are violently abducted, torn from everything they know, and sold into slavery. But even as her body and spirit are tested beyond imagining, Margaret refuses to stop fighting for her freedom and for the family ripped away from her.

Her ordeal sparks a firestorm that reaches the U.S. Supreme Court in Prigg v. Pennsylvania, a landmark decision that marked the first major pro-slavery ruling by the federal government and helped lay the groundwork for the states’ rights battles that would erupt into the Civil War. While history often records the case as a constitutional turning point, McCann’s engrossing novel shifts the focus to the woman at its center—restoring Margaret to her rightful place as a symbol of courage, resilience, and unyielding hope.

Richly researched and emotionally powerful, All Different Kinds of Free illuminates a critical but overlooked chapter of American history through the eyes of a woman who refused to be forgotten. This special anniversary edition celebrates both Margaret’s legacy and McCann’s enduring contribution to historical fiction.

A free woman of color kidnapped and sold into slavery fights for her family and her freedom, sparking one of the most pivotal Supreme Court cases in American history.

This fully revised15th...


A Note From the Publisher

Additional Book Formats with (ISBN-13):
9781963452518 - Hardcover
9781963452495 - Ebook

Additional Book Formats with (ISBN-13):
9781963452518 - Hardcover
9781963452495 - Ebook


Advance Praise

“With stunning clarity and empathetic grace, McCann creates a heroine to celebrate. A gripping story, this novel illuminates a forgotten history of a free woman and her children abducted into slavery who fought for freedom, dignity, and social justice. This pre-Civil War novel beautifully demonstrates the courage of a woman, a mother who mentally, spiritually, and emotionally fought for every ounce of freedom. Margaret Morgan’s story, now visible thanks to McCann’s superb research and fictional skills, is a hopeful symbol for us all.”

 – Jewell Parker Rhodes, New York Times bestselling author and Coretta Scott King Author Award winner for WILL’S RACE FOR HOME

All Different Kinds of Free is a moving, heart-rending account of injustice, shining a light on a dark place in America’s past. McCann perfectly balances history and story with a cast of unforgettable characters led by a courageous, honorable, and remarkable woman. An inspiration!” 

Erika Robuck, national bestselling author of THE INVISIBLE WOMAN

“Jessica McCann brings to light a story that defies imagination, rich with detail and historical significance. Through Margaret Morgan’s voice, we learn how one strong woman took on her enemies and fought with a courage that can only inspire. A wonderful story, beautifully written. Thank you, Jessica, this story needs to be told.” 

Kathleen Grissom, New York Times bestselling author of book club classics THE KITCHEN HOUSE and GLORY OVER EVERYTHING

“With stunning clarity and empathetic grace, McCann creates a heroine to celebrate. A gripping story, this novel illuminates a forgotten history of a free woman and her children abducted into slavery...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781963452501
PRICE $20.95 (USD)
PAGES 328

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