PowersPowers
Score Modern
What it's about
Young Gav can remember any page after seeing it once, and sometimes he 'remembers' things that haven't happened yet. As a loyal slave in a city-state, he must keep these powers secret. But when tragedy strikes, Gav flees the only world he has known, on a dangerous journey toward freedom and understanding himself.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Nebula Award. It's a moving, thoughtful novel about slavery, freedom and the power of stories, from Ursula K. Le Guin.
You'll love it if you liked
A Wizard of Earthsea
The Dispossessed
KindredGood to know
It's the third Annals of the Western Shore book but stands alone. It's written for young adults and adults.
By the numbers
- Readers61 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics54 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller1 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #71 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #602 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1143 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
More by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Dispossessed
The Left Hand of DarknessA Wizard of Earthsea
Always Coming HomeIf you like this, read next
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
The Hobbit
Jane Steele
Sophie's World
Noughts & CrossesExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Powers worth reading?
Yes. It won the Nebula Award. It ranks #1,143 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Powers about?
Young Gav can remember any page after seeing it once, and sometimes he 'remembers' things that haven't happened yet. As a loyal slave in a city-state, he must keep these powers secret. But when tragedy strikes, Gav flees the only world he has known, on a dangerous journey toward freedom and understanding himself.
How long does it take to read Powers?
About 13 hours (502 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Powers won?
Nebula Award winner (2008).
What should I read after Powers?
If you liked it, try A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin or Kindred by Octavia E. Butler.