Andie’s Book Club: ‘James’ by Percival Everett

If you're looking for a book that grabs you from the first page, makes you think deeply, and just might change your perspective, Pulitzer Prize winning James by Percival Everett is it.

Much has been said about James as a “retelling” of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but I have to disagree. James isn’t a retelling; it’s a reimagining. Everett takes the skeleton of Twain’s novel and reshapes it entirely. This is the story Twain didn’t tell. This is what was left unsaid.

When the enslaved Jim learns he’s about to be sold to another owner, he does the only thing he can: he runs. Jim is a husband and a father. He doesn’t have a clear plan, only the certainty that being sold is the worst possible outcome, especially for his family.

While in hiding, Jim encounters Huckleberry Finn, a white boy from town who’s also on the run. Together, they travel down the Mississippi River, meeting con men, landowners, enslaved people, and more. But it’s Jim - his intellect, his intuition - who becomes the driving force behind their journey.

Everett’s use of language is nothing short of brilliant. From the first page, it’s clear this isn’t just a story about a slave; it’s a story told from a perspective rarely explored. Jim, despite his status, is often the most intelligent person in the room.

In one striking scene, he teaches younger enslaved people how to "dumb down" their speech in the presence of white people to meet the expectations of their oppressors.

This contrast between public performance and private truth infuses the novel with power. Jim and others like him are constantly acting, constantly hiding. It’s not romanticized. It’s exhausting. But it’s also empowering. There’s deep wisdom in the way Jim- James - navigates the world, and Everett ensures we feel it in every line.

Everett breathes new life into Jim, portraying him not as a supporting character but as a full, complex human being. He doesn’t shy away from the horrors of slavery. When Jim runs, your heart races. When he’s chained, you feel the cold metal. When he’s whipped, you flinch. And when he becomes James, you feel the triumph.

Courageous and empowering. Tragic and uncomfortable. Significant and unforgettable. James should be required reading.

You might also enjoy this selection from Andie's Book Club: Long Bright River by Liz Moore