The points of issue
First edition 2022, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, James Patterson Presents imprint (New York); ISBN 9780316056618. First printing has a number line ending in 1 with a 2022 copyright. Pictorial boards; first-state jacket without the Newbery seal.
Is this the true first?
US true first; no competing UK or Canadian precedence. Newbery Medal 2023; also Coretta Scott King Author Award.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A number line not ending in 1 indicates a later printing; post-award jackets add the seal.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Freewater a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition 2022, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, James Patterson Presents imprint (New York); ISBN 9780316056618. First printing has a number line ending in 1 with a 2022 copyright. Pictorial boards; first-state jacket without the Newbery seal.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. US true first; no competing UK or Canadian precedence. Newbery Medal 2023; also Coretta Scott King Author Award.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A number line not ending in 1 indicates a later printing; post-award jackets add the seal.
I have a first edition of Freewater — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.