Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 352 pages
Published: August 2018

When Hulu announced Washington Black was being released as a series, I picked up my long-overdue copy and quickly immersed myself in the ~350-page novel, eager to see the story come to life on the silver screen. (Sterling K. Brown, hello!)  Written by Esi Edugyan this beautifully-told coming-of-age novel captivated me. The TV adaptation took too many liberties and ultimately fell short of my expectations. This review will focus solely on the historical novel. 

The story begins with the titular character, an 11-year old enslaved field hand, on a Barbados sugar plantation whose life is upended when he is stripped away from all he knows and "given" to the slave master's eccentric brother, Titch, to assist with his scientific endeavors. Titch introduces Washington to the world of science and exploration, and the two develop a bond rooted in humanity. However, when a white man is killed, Washington is unjustly blamed, forcing he and Titch to abscond for his safety. This sets off a whimsical adventure that takes Washington from Barbados to the Arctic to Canada to London and to Morocco where he encounters experiences beyond his wildest imagination. The book explores themes of freedom, identity, belonging and abandonment. 

Edugyan excels at character development, particularly with Washington, who evolves from a frightened young boy into a resourceful young man. The author creates beautiful imagery as Washington embarks on this physical and emotional journey across the globe, all the while struggling to define his identity in a world that constantly seeks to limit him. My only criticism of the plot is the ongoing tension between Washington and Titch. Given the context of slavery, abandonment, and lost family, I found it questionable that Washington's continual quest for Titch would have ensued the span of the entire novel. 

Recommendation: I really enjoyed this story and the adventurous, uplifting spirit with which the author presents it. This is a must-read for anyone interested in history fiction, exploration, science, or simply a wonderfully created tale. It's sure to have you thinking past the final page. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Rating: 5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 368 pages
Published: April 2025 

After the remarkable success of her her critically-acclaimed novel Take My Hand, I was eager to pick up Dolen Perkins-Valdez next book, Happy Land. My book club discussed this novel, and we enjoyed the extra benefit of having the author join our group to give further insights into her well-researched and creatively-written story. 

In Happy Land, the author tells the story of the perseverance of a group of formerly enslaved Black people who, post-slavery, create a community built on self-reliance and ingenuity. On their land, they form their own government, make their own food, and create the own wares. But as is often the case, this good thing comes to an end through a common crisis in a tumultuous time. The book then alternates between this time period and present-day when a descendent of the kingdom's leaders, Nikki, visits her grandmother who is having a crisis of her own. Nikki's headstrong grandmother, Rita, is too stubborn to ask for her right out. So, the elder woman weaves a story that almost seems to be a tall tale rather than a history lesson in order to create a vision for Nikki that helps shape Rita, Nikki, and their family's future. 

Perkins Valdez's writing is captivating as she transports her readers to this historical time period that is typically not bright for Black people, but in this particular story their light shines through. She creates such a vivid picture that I wanted to remain in that time period of the novel rather than present day. I truly appreciated how she took care with her words and the presentation of Black people, specifically Black women, in this novel. 

Recommendation: I sincerely enjoyed this novel and appreciated the storytelling that focused on the importance of community and connection in the face of adversity. It is a story, based in fact, that encourages the reader to learn more about the kingdom of Happy Land. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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All We were Promised by Ashton Lattimore

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 368 pages
Published: April 2024

All We Were Promised is the debut historical fiction novel by Ashton Lattimore, an award-winning journalist and former lawyer. The book is set during the pre-Civil War era in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and features three female protagonists serving as soldiers for justice: Charlotte, who has escaped slavery with her father, who is hiding in plain sight while his daughter poses as his housemaid; Nell, a well-to-do aspiring abolitionist; and Evie, a freedom-seeking friend from the plantation that Charlotte and her father absconded. All three of these characters' lives collide in Philadelphia where they help each other to make the ideal of freedom a reality because none of us are free unless we are all free (Fannie Lou Hamer). 

The premise of the story is not new. There have been many non-fiction and fiction stories that covered the topic of Black people who knew they did not belong to anyone and fought for something different. Additionally, the phenomenon of passing (e.g., Imitation of Life, Did You Hear about Kitty Karr, and Passing, etc.) is touched on with the relationship between Charlotte and her father. But overall this books is about American's greatest ill - its participation in the transatlantic slave trade. Do we need another book about slavery? Yes, let us continue to tell the stories and learn from history lest we repeat them, especially in today's society when the historical facts are being skewed to pacify those who cannot accept the atrocities that occurred in these United States of America. 

I truly enjoyed reading this story. I think the author did a wonderful job with portraying the horrendous acts of one group of people treating another group of people as property without being overly graphic. Her research into the actual, historical event of the burning of Pennsylvania Hall within days of its grand opening was not only handled well, but was so compelling it enticed me to seek out more about this true event. Lattimore also did a great job of created in-depth characters in Charlotte, Nell, and Evie. She also presented Charlotte's father in such a way that I was truly angry with this fictional character. To me, he was simply a slavemaster of another kind. When a book evokes emotion and provokes action, I tend to label it a good one. 

My only critique was the lack of development of some of the secondary characters and plots - like that of the relationship between Alex and Nell. I would have loved to know more about the Darcel, who befriended Charlotte as well as Irene and Daniel, who she left behind at the plantation and were mentioned by name several times throughout the book but had no fleshed-out back story development. 

Recommendation: This novel had strong themes of justice, grief, and belonging. The ending was a little abrupt, and I feel like there could have been so much more to it. My hope is that Lattimore writes a sequel to All We Were Promised because there are so many promises unfulfilled in this first writing. If she does write a follow-up story, I'll be first in line to get a copy. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

Read More