Washington Black
Ratings62
Average rating3.9
George Washington Black, or "Wash," an eleven-year-old field slave on a Barbados sugar plantation, is terrified to be chosen by his master's brother as his manservant. To his surprise, the eccentric Christopher Wilde turns out to be a naturalist, explorer, inventor, and abolitionist. Soon Wash is initiated into a world where a flying machine can carry a man across the sky, where even a boy born in chains may embrace a life of dignity and meaning--and where two people, separated by an impossible divide, can begin to see each other as human. But when a man is killed and a bounty is placed on Wash's head, Christopher and Wash must abandon everything. What follows is their flight along the eastern coast of America, and, finally, to a remote outpost in the Arctic. What brings Christopher and Wash together will tear them apart, propelling Wash even further across the globe in search of his true self.
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The premise and first half were so good, and the writing is great throughout, but the second half of the plot dragged with a lot of telling and overly wrapped up character connections. I was emotionally invested in Wash for almost all of the book, but the other two main characters didn't draw me in. Dion Graham's audio narration was excellent, but I switched to the book at the end to finish. I was so excited for this to be on next year's BOB list, I'm curious to hear what the kids will think about it.
Interesting - on my first reading, I gave this a three. On my second reading, a bit over a year later, I'm going to give it a 4.
I think on my first reading I was more caught up in possible plot issues, such as travel and finding people issues. However, on the second reading, I could focus more on the characters.
I'm still not entirely sure what I feel about this book, but I'm glad I read it again.
One sentence synopsis... An eccentric gentleman's choice of a young slave as his prodigy sets off a series of wonderful, heartbreaking adventures fueled by scientific enlightenment and world exploration. .
Read it if you liked... Fantasy works of Jules Verne. .
Dream casting... DeRon Horton as the older Wash and Jude Law as gentleman-scientist Titch Wilde.
