Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

James by Percival Everett

213 reviews

ironcheerio's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I think I would have appreciated it more if I were more familiar with the original adventures of Huckelberry Finn. However, it was still a compelling and emotionally tumultuous story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Violence

Minor: Alcoholism, War

ambermercier's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent

jdgcreates's review against another edition

4.75

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I marveled at this novel - Everett's masterful writing packs a deep emotional and historical punch, and does it at only 300 pages. The tale flows like the Mississippi River that features so prominently within it, and provides an important and very painful portrait of the enslavement of Africans in America that has, shamefully, not loosened its grip hundreds of years later. 

James's refusal to surrender to white supremacy in his life included a few very satisfying turns of personal justice that had me cheering internally. This should become required reading in American schools, on its own if not alongside Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,  but even in 2025, I fear it will more than likely be banned instead as the racist bigots in the ruling class try to suppress and erase this foundational history altogether.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence

Moderate: Child abuse

machenn's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Murder

Minor: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol

mlander's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Violence

Moderate: Death, Physical abuse

Minor: Child abuse

asumbler's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism

tfortilney's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Rape

Minor: Death of parent, War

benjyreads's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous inspiring fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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I really enjoyed James. It was very easy to read and I enjoyed the new perspective on Huckleberry Finn and the secret lives of the slaves, particularly of Jim.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol

wellreadsyd's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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This was a 10-star read. I probably should’ve refreshed my memory on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but even without that, James completely blew me away. Percival Everett shines a bright, unflinching light on slavery in America while still managing to weave in adventure and suspense. It’s heavy, but also somehow unputdownable. 

I loved how he featured the characters pretending to be ignorant around white people; it was clever and heartbreaking at the same time. Being underestimated was their greatest weapon. 

Like The Trees by Percival Everett, this also blends really sharp racial critique with moments of humor and deep character work. It’s short, but it’s packed with action, emotion, and even a twist I didn’t see coming. 

Check your content warnings first if you need to because this isn’t an easy read, but it is 100% worth it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse

jg93's review against another edition

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence

Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, Trafficking, Murder

Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, War