2024 National Book Award Winner - James, A Novel

What happens when a literary icon reimagines a classic? You get James: A Novel, a bold retelling of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man. Percival Everett’s masterful novel transforms Jim into James—a man of agency, intellect and resilience—offering a searing exploration of freedom, identity and survival.

The story begins with James fleeing after learning he’ll be sold and separated from his family. On Jackson Island, he meets Huck Finn, who has faked his death to escape his abusive father. Together, they embark on a perilous journey down the Mississippi River. While Twain’s original narrative remains recognizable—with storms, scams and danger lurking at every turn—Everett shifts the focus to James’ humanity. His intelligence, compassion and determination shine as he navigates a world rife with brutality and hypocrisy.

Everett’s prose is both playful and profound, blending humor with harrowing depictions of slavery’s horrors. James’ reflections on race, religion and the human condition elevate the narrative into a powerful meditation on freedom.

James resonates with this month’s Juneteenth themes of liberation and resilience.