James is the reimagined tale from Huckleberry Finn except it is from the slaves point of view.

Huck Finn escapes an abusive father and James escapes because he hears a rumour that he is to on sold to someone else. The two meet up and make a fraught and challenging trip away.

Like the original story, Everett brings the events of the journey to light from James’s point of view. For those familiar with the original story, beware as it deviates just over the half way point, which I think is a good thing.

There are moments of humour, tenderness and sheer brutality which makes for heavy going in parts. Everett has given us an honest portrayal of what it meant to be a slave together with the attitude and treatment by white folk at the time. Kindness is few and far between except amongst slaves themselves.

Huck is tender yet naïve as he grapples with the injustice of a system he has difficulty understanding as a child. The relationship between them both is a highlight. At other times, the story is sheer adventure, running to escape but always landing on their feet despite seemingly impossible odds. Sometimes you needed to take a leap of faith to believe they could survive.

It’s beautifully written and I can see why it was listed for the Booker. For all the brutality, there is enough light and shade which makes you want to turn the page to see if these two will make it.

Check this one out.