Book: Washington Black
Author: Esi Edugyan
Pages: 400
This is my 47th read for the year
This is the story of an 11 year old slave named Washington "Wash" Black. The book starts in 1830 where Washington is on the Field Plantation in Barbados. One day, the younger brother of his master - Christopher - comes to the plantation and picks out Washington to be his scientific assistant. Is is quickly discovered that Washington is a skilled artist and Christopher decides that he wants to take Washington with him when he leaves. And accident on the plantation, though, causes Christopher and Washington to flee and a warrant to be relesed for Washington's arrest. Christopher and Washington leave the plantation on a hot air balloon and crash land in the United States and head to the artic - trying to get as far away as they can. Washington and Christopher become separated, and Washington ends up alone in Nova Scotia. He meets an elderly man and his daughter and his adventures continue while with them. However he longs to find Christopher - find out what happened to him after they got separated.
This is an okay book. The writing is great, and the first half of the book was great. Then once Christopher and Washingto got separated, it started to meander and just fizzled. The story of Washington gets lost in all the movement that happens once he leaves Barbados, and I struggled to finish it. It is a shame because it started so strong.
Stars: 3
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