Elizabeth Yates (1905–2001) was an American author best known for her works of children's literature and historical fiction. She won the Newbery Medal in 1951 for her book "Amos Fortune, Free Man," a biographical novel about an African prince who is captured and brought to America as a slave but later gains his freedom and becomes a successful businessman. Yates wrote over forty books throughout her career, spanning various genres including biography, memoir, and adult fiction, but her stories often carried themes of perseverance, moral integrity, and the dignity of the individual. Her writing is characterized by engaging storytelling, emotional depth, and vivid historical settings.