The Invention of WingsThe Invention of Wings
Score Modern
What it's about
In early 19th-century Charleston, Hetty 'Handful' Grimké, an enslaved girl in a wealthy household, longs for life beyond its walls. On her eleventh birthday, Sarah Grimké, the family's daughter, is given ownership of Handful. Over thirty-five years, both strive for freedom, Sarah as a real-life abolitionist and women's rights pioneer.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and spent 56 weeks on the lists. It's inspired by the real Sarah Grimké.
You'll love it if you liked
The Secret Life of Bees
The Help
The Underground RailroadGood to know
It alternates between Sarah's and Handful's voices.
By the numbers
- Readers55 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller61 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- 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
- #70 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #629 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1189 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Sue Monk Kidd
If you like this, read next
All the Light We Cannot See
The Book Thief
The Nightingale
A Gentleman in Moscow
World Without End
My Brilliant FriendExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is The Invention of Wings worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and spent 56 weeks on the lists. It ranks #1,189 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Invention of Wings about?
In early 19th-century Charleston, Hetty 'Handful' Grimké, an enslaved girl in a wealthy household, longs for life beyond its walls. On her eleventh birthday, Sarah Grimké, the family's daughter, is given ownership of Handful. Over thirty-five years, both strive for freedom, Sarah as a real-life abolitionist and women's rights pioneer.
How long does it take to read The Invention of Wings?
About 10 hours (383 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Invention of Wings?
If you liked it, try The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, The Help by Kathryn Stockett or The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead.