James

"From Percival Everett-a recipient of the NBCC Lifetime Achievement Award and finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Booker Prize, and numerous PEN awards-comes James, a retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and ferociously funny, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view. When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father, recently returned to town. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and too-often-unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond. While many narrative set pieces of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn remain in place (floods and storms, stumbling across both unexpected death and unexpected treasure in the myriad stopping points along the river's banks, encountering the scam artists posing as the Duke and Dauphin...), Jim's agency, intelligence and compassion are shown in a radically new light. Brimming with the electrifying humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a "cult literary icon" (Oprah Daily), and one of the most decorated writers of our lifetime, James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first century American literature"-- Provided by publisher.
Contents: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

This is a great book! submitted by alechart on May 22, 2024, 4:13pm The story of Huckleberry Finn as related by the slave, Jim. Well told, believable, and exciting.

Compelling submitted by mowjac on June 14, 2024, 7:55pm I wasn’t sure about reading this—I don’t remember Huckleberry Finn, and I wasn’t up for a dense read, but I found myself drawn in by James’ self awareness and Everett’s insightful prose. Aside from James’ view of his world, I also enjoyed the nuances of language, and the insight into the games humans play.

The Other Viewpoint submitted by ekjensen on July 6, 2024, 11:47am The Huckleberry Finn novel retold from the perspective and narration of Jim/James, the slave and his dramatic, difficult and violent challenges along the Mississippi River as a runaway and his attempts to find and free his family at the start of the Civil War

Facinating, fast-paced, righteous read! submitted by trender on August 25, 2024, 7:05pm I love this book! It moves like a river, fast-paced and adventuresome. James starts the story as Jim, an enslaved man living with his family in Hannibal, Missouri. He offers “language lessons” to his family, essentially teaching them the art of code switching as a form of protection. When Jim is sold, he flees, figuring he’ll find a way back to rescue his wife and daughter. The escape saga that unfolds alongside his companion Huck Finn is incredible—James rises to the most high-stakes scenarios imaginable and with each new impossible challenge, his outward actions become more true to his internal self. Friends and enemies are made along the way; truths are obscured and revealed; and justice is deliciously delivered. An entirely satisfying book in every way imaginable. You do not have to have read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to enjoy this book. Aside from some dialect that takes some getting used to, it’s absolutely an accessible and cinematic read, rich with clearly described action. The only risk of reading this book is that you’ll likely want to dive into every other Percivall Everett book ever written: clear space on your TBR! :)

Nice submitted by samina on June 7, 2025, 3:01pm nice

An Insightful Perspective submitted by m steve on June 12, 2025, 6:59am This is well worth a read but, if possible, read Huck Finn first. James provides a new viewpoint of society along the Mississippi.

I love the idea of this book and how it came out submitted by alyson702 on June 12, 2025, 5:41pm I agree with this from the NYTimes review: “ Everett flips the perspective on the events in “Huckleberry Finn.” He gives us the story as a coolly electric first-person narrative in the voice of Jim, the novel’s enslaved runaway.”

Stunning, heartbreaking submitted by courtneyhooper on June 13, 2025, 8:16am The “hook” for this story is it’s Huck Finn told from Jim’s perspective—and *it* is that, but far from *only* that. While its narrative starting point is Huck’s, James doesn’t revolve around Huck, making even the plotting an act of recasting, refusal, and reclamation. Even without any tie to the notorious “Huckleberry Finn,” this book is compelling, aching, a powerful act that also happens to make a great story. It is so much more than “Huck Finn from Jim’s perspective.” I was in awe reading it. It’s deserving of every accolade it’s received

Worth a read submitted by kaitlyno on June 15, 2025, 6:56pm I love Mark Twain, and I loved this retelling from Jim's perspective. It is definitely worth picking up!

Sequel Please! submitted by Susan Hopkins on June 16, 2025, 1:36pm I’m sure hoping there’s even more to be told in this story!

Fast and enjoyable submitted by alharman1022 on June 20, 2025, 9:17am Humorous and also enlightening

Winner of the 2024 Pulizer Prize for Literature submitted by swortman on June 22, 2025, 9:29pm This book was an adventure. I was afraid I would have to reread Huckleberry Finn but don't let that stop you if you feel that way. It's a stand-along retelling of Huckleberry Finn but from the point of view of the slave, "Jim." This is a strong, inspiring, edge-of-the-seat story which will become a classic, just like Mark Twain's story did. I loved it!

I expected more submitted by berkleya on June 26, 2025, 7:38am All the hype about this book made me expect more. Don't get me wrong-it was totally gripping and fun to read- but I thought the "lesson" was heavy handed--too on the nose--and that the whole issue of language/code switching is more complicated and interesting than the book made it out to be. Maybe this is because it was supposed to be a sort of exaggerated, broad strokes satire --but if so, I didn't think that meshed well with the rest of the book.

Different feel than I expected, wonderful book submitted by mmarymol on June 27, 2025, 3:13am Because slavery and racism and the worst of our human condition is so heavy I expected this to feel heavy — necessary but a slower or harder read. Everett’s style is gripping and light. I tore through the book and though it contained multitudes, the approach was paced quickly and kept you looking at and through the brutal parts of the content. Plenty of humor and quip from James as a narrator. The code switching, the philosophical debate dreaming, the knowing community with strangers sharing slave context all stood out to me and will stick with me.

Excellent story but uneven writing submitted by 21621031390949 on June 27, 2025, 5:54pm An excellent story and a good read, but I don’t love it quite as much as most folks. I felt the writing was uneven and could have used some editing help. Several chapters ended so abruptly, it felt like mid-sentence. Occasionally it felt like a bit of the action had been edited out, so a character jumped from one physical space to another between sentences. But overall, it’s a creative, serious, important book which I highly recommend.

Worth the hype submitted by VeraSchwankl on June 28, 2025, 9:25am This book won lots of awards, and it deserved them. I took time to read Huck Finn first--you don't need to, and Percival Everett's story stands perfectly well on its own. However, it helped me see all the clever and thoughtful details he weaved into his story.

Thought provoking submitted by sarahflott on June 30, 2025, 8:01pm This is a great read. Tells the story of the Jim character from Huckleberry Finn from Jim (James) perspective. I enjoyed it very much. Gave much insight into code switching.

An instant classic submitted by gtaylor on July 7, 2025, 10:36pm There isn’t much more I can add that hasn’t already been shared. This book was fantastic and had me hooked from the beginning. The audiobook was very well narrated.

Makes you think submitted by JennJenn on July 10, 2025, 12:47am This telling of the story of James, a slave within the story of Huckleberry Finn is engrossing and thought provoking. All the things that a black man had to do to try to be "acceptable" and safe from the white men around him in that time is heart breaking. The story draws you in and brings you along as it weaves many pieces in and out to a stunning conclusion.

Great book club pick submitted by abbyaddison on July 11, 2025, 11:34am Everyone enjoyed it!

Huck Fin Retelling submitted by myriamrico on July 30, 2025, 3:09pm Huck Finn told from the POV of James. Very captivating and it does an amazing job recontextualizing the original book

Surprisingly easy read... submitted by apknapp on August 6, 2025, 1:54pm ...considering the POV character's situation, and despite some truly devastating events recounted and depicted. 5-star concept and solid execution. I didn't love one of the plot twists, but it was handled well.