James by Percival Everett is a powerhouse literary fiction novel. It takes an in-depth look at the character of Jim from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. James surprised me in many ways. This is both Jim from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and James who will do anything for his family. One of my chief complaints about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is that the feeling of urgency remains. This urgency exists because Jim is always heading north. In James escaping slavery is the focus. James’s story is broken down into 3 parts. Part one mainly follows the events of The Adventures of Huckleberry until we meet the King and the Duke. The introduction to the King and Duke is the but advances the plot point of them selling Jim. Part two is almost completely new but has a very memorable Huck and Jim reunion. Part three is completely new and goes to places I could not believe. James has a twist that made my jaw drop. The novel adds much needed tension to what Jim is risking. The novel shows different sides of Jim. Intelligence is a big one. Ruthlessness and perseverance are also highlighted. James reveals that Jim was acting most of the time. This is until the talk Huck and him had about slavery. The pace is rapid for James and an easy book to read in one setting. Everett nailed the language and rhythm of Mark Twain’s writing. The book doesn’t feel like fan fiction it feels like Mark Twain’s missing chapters. The ending is very powerful and perfect. James is going to be a hard book to top this year. James by Percival Everett was published on March 19, 2024.

Plot Summary: Jim finds out he’s going to be sold from Hannibal, Missouri to New Orleans away from his family. He decides to run away to the north in hopes that he can buy his family back. He escapes to Jackson Island. There he finds Huckleberry Finn. Huck has faked his death to get away from Pap. Huck agrees to help Jim reach the north so he can be free. Jim has dreams of the worth of man and slavery. Huck learns about everything Jim is trying to do for his family. This makes him question if slavery is right or wrong.

What I Liked: There’s a huge twist that will change everything about this book. Run away if someone starts discussing this book before you read it. I like that the Civil War starts happening during the book. That was never mentioned in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I liked the way Jim’s character is set up. He is intelligent, but he must hide it from white people at all costs. They do not know how smart they are and that Jim educates himself in private. I like that the slaves have a language all to their own. The new scenes with Jim in the choir are written very well. The boat’s bowels scenes have great tension. I love that Jim uses one of the King and Duke’s schemes to make money. The reunion scene with Huck is very special and the highlight of the book. The ending of the book was written very well. The end scene shows Jim is no longer a slave. It reveals James as a new man.

What I Disliked: The book skips over the scenes where Pap kidnaps Huck and Huck fakes his own death. I wanted Jim’s input on Pap stealing Huck and intending to make him a slave. Pap wanted this because of the money Huck got when finding the treasure. I also thought the money would play a role in the story. Huck could have bought Jim and his family. He could then release them. Or at least get scolded for what he had and the money could buy freedom.

Recommendation: James is a great book, that would been in my top five books of last year. James is special in that it both feels old and new. Everett captures Twain’s style and twists it. James will stick with me for a while. I now want someone to do a book about Injun Joe and humanize him and make him three-dimensional. I read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn late last year so I could know Jim and appreciate James. You do not have to read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to know and understand James. However, doing so will provide insight into what Percival Everett changed or tweaked to fit this new version of Jim.

Rating: James by Percival Everett I rated 4.8 out of 5.