Washington BlackWashington Black
Score Modern
What it's about
George Washington Black, an eleven-year-old enslaved boy on a Barbados sugar plantation, is terrified when his master's brother, Christopher Wilde, chooses him as a servant. But Wilde turns out to be a naturalist, explorer, inventor and abolitionist, and Wash enters a world of flying machines and discovery, and a life of dignity.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Booker Prize finalist. It's an inventive, sweeping adventure.
You'll love it if you liked
The Underground Railroad
The Water Dancer
Half-Blood BluesGood to know
It's a sweeping adventure that crosses continents.
By the numbers
- Readers41 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics32 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller28 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz7 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
- #288 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #1036 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1909 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Moving
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Quick answers
Is Washington Black worth reading?
Yes. It was a Booker Prize finalist. It ranks #1,909 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Washington Black about?
George Washington Black, an eleven-year-old enslaved boy on a Barbados sugar plantation, is terrified when his master's brother, Christopher Wilde, chooses him as a servant. But Wilde turns out to be a naturalist, explorer, inventor and abolitionist, and Wash enters a world of flying machines and discovery, and a life of dignity.
How long does it take to read Washington Black?
About 8 hours (334 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Washington Black?
If you liked it, try The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates or Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan.