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ruthsturm94's review
challenging
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Perfect, in my opinion. Sure-footed, gut-punching, sometimes funny, approachable but layered.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Rape
okiecozyreader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I think it would be 4.5 stars for me. I didn’t love it like a 5 star book but I think it is such an important look at a classic. I love how he took the pov of Jim from Huck Finn and made him into James, a runaway slave on this adventure, who we see as a full human being. I think if you like Huck Finn, you would love this even more. It has all of the great storytelling and adventure on the river, but with more modern storytelling. It’s interesting reading “classics” and seeing how they stand up to books we read today. Some do better than others.
“The boy was highly excited by the adventure of it all. I admired that, was envious of it, to tell the truth, to be able to feel that in a world without fear of being hanged to death, or worse.” Ch 10
“White people often spent time admiring their survival of one thing or another. I imagined it was because so often they had no need to survive, but only to live.” Ch 4
“IF ONE KNOWS hell as home, as home, then is returning to hell a homecoming? Even in hell, were there such a place, one would know where the fires were just a little cooler, where the rocks just a little less jagged.
And so it was in my hell.” Ch 5
“I wanted to feel the anger. I was befriending my anger, learning not only how to feel it, but perhaps how to use it.” Ch 6
“The boy was highly excited by the adventure of it all. I admired that, was envious of it, to tell the truth, to be able to feel that in a world without fear of being hanged to death, or worse.” Ch 10
“White people often spent time admiring their survival of one thing or another. I imagined it was because so often they had no need to survive, but only to live.” Ch 4
“IF ONE KNOWS hell as home, as home, then is returning to hell a homecoming? Even in hell, were there such a place, one would know where the fires were just a little cooler, where the rocks just a little less jagged.
And so it was in my hell.” Ch 5
“I wanted to feel the anger. I was befriending my anger, learning not only how to feel it, but perhaps how to use it.” Ch 6
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Slavery, and Violence
kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Alcohol, Child abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Torture, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Death, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, and Trafficking
readin_robin19's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Brilliant.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death, Physical abuse, and Rape
the_other_yvonne's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Rape
purplemuskogee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I had read that it would be action packed and funny; I'm not sure it was exactly funny although it had humour at times, but it was definitely action packed and really well-written. I can't remember the original story of Huckleberry Finn and I don't think it mattered too much, I loved following James (Jim) as he escapes and then plots his return to free his wife and daughter, and the characters he meets. I think Percival Everett did something really clever in using historical fiction to weave so many current (sadly) themes in a way that didn't feel forced, and I really enjoyed reading this.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Slavery, Rape, Violence, Murder, and Racism
mph483's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book is excellent and while I think I’m observant to injustices in the world and the horrors of slavery, it has led me to reexamine the way I think about the antebellum period and who I think about, most particularly creating a 3D view of the people of the period. I can’t recommend it enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Racism, Slavery, and Violence
ukponge's review
challenging
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Death, Slavery, Rape, Physical abuse, and Violence
avvamapia's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
Wow. Honestly while I was enjoying the book I would say I wasn't completely blown away by it until the plot twist that happened about 80% in. I have never read the original book by Mark Twain so I can't say how accurate or faithful this retelling/re-imaging is but I was really invested in James story and all the "adventures" he got up to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Racism, Sexual assault, and Slavery
nicolestegall's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
This was a very moving book. I fell in love with the characters and was cheering and crying for them! The audio was fantastic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Racial slurs, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual violence and Gun violence