James

What it's about

Huckleberry Finn, retold by the man on the raft. It's the 1840s in Missouri, and when Jim learns he's about to be sold down the river, away from his wife and daughter, he slips off to Jackson Island, where he finds Huck hiding from his violent father. What follows is the journey down the Mississippi you may remember, except this Jim is sharp, literate and has spent his whole life playing a slower version of himself for white people. It's an adventure, a satire and a survival story at once.

Why it's worth reading

Everett takes one of the most famous books in American literature and turns it inside out. It's genuinely funny, then suddenly brutal, and Jim's voice, the real one he hides, is unforgettable. It's also short and fast, so it's an easy yes.

You'll love it if you liked

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Underground Railroad or The Nickel Boys

Good to know

You don't need to have read Huck Finn, though it makes the twists land harder. The violence of slavery is shown plainly. Most readers finish it in a few sittings.