I can't recommend this book enough. This take on Jim (James) from Huckleberry Finn is as far away from the original version of Jim as you can get. Without giving away the plot, this story is redemption for the stereotype presented in Huckleberry Finn. The journey is just as exciting and eventful as the book from which it was derived. You will not be disappointed with this book.

Brilliant!

Loves this book. This country sure was and is messed up. White men are the devil! This was an amazingly written and narrated book!

Loved this book!

Fabulous. Loved everything about it

It was ok.

Such a great book! Hearing it come alive was a treat as well.

Not just a story but a real insight into what slaves had to endure.

I enjoyed the narrator - he was wonderful . The book was not as well developed as I had hoped but it did the job of exploring a familiar story of a horrific and shameful history from the perspective of a victim and ultimate hero. It follows much of the story as told by Mark Twain which was very interesting, and gave a very different end to it. worth the listen.

I "read" The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn right before this book. I understand that Mark Twain's storytelling was unique and interesting for his time, but as a white woman in 2025 America, I HATED the original story. In some ways human beings have come so far, but in others ways we haven't moved at all. I loved that James gives a whole different perspective to the "classic." I would definitely recommend reading James. Honestly, I think I would recommend the way I did it, reading Huck Finn first. The story of James can stand on its own, but I liked how this author when through some of the same encounters and character actions while giving us an alternative thought process. Since Huck Finn is public domain, we can all have our own thoughts of how the story would have progressed. After the boat fire, the author of James provided some very different ideas of how the interactions and opportunities may have gone. I personally disagree with some of the revelations and next steps, but that's the joy of fiction when the original author isn't around to continue his own characters. Though I can agree to disagree with the end of the book, Percival Everett did a masterful job (pun intended)!

This book was an absolute joy to listen to; the action kept me captivated and eager for more. Each chapter unfolded with unexpected twists and turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat. The characters were so vividly portrayed that they seemed to leap off the page, each with their own unique charm and complexity.

My first audio book. Wonderful. really enjoyed the narration like listening to a movie. Like feeling Jim’s life. How he became James. Riveting, emotional, great

It was interesting working Huck Finn into the story. Heartbreaking to hear more atrocities to slaves. But I felt it dragged some and I would find myself drifting into other thoughts instead of listening to the book.

An amazing book. Brutal and intelligent.

Enthralling and brilliant.

A gripping story which intersects with Huckleberry Finn. It gives a detailed picture of what it was like to be an enslaved person in the US. It also gives a detailed picture of what it was like to escape to freedom and the courage it took to find and free his family.

I couldn't put this book down. The insights were powerful and the story was thought provoking. The story moved quickly, the buildup to each chapter kept me reading just one chapter more.

I started to read this book, and I ferment nothing about the original. I paused to reread that, and I am so glad I did. This book was so much better with the details of the original fresh in my mind. I was able to clearly understand the different perspectives.

Incredible. Thought-provoking and made me view slavery in a whole new light. The narration was perfect.

It was great. I hated the first 5 minutes of the book and almost stopped listening. I'm glad I stuck with it. Very well written and read. It was a pleasure.

Wonderful accents.

Deserving of all the accolades and awards.

Fantastic narrator! The book would not be the same if read instead of listened to.

I thought this was a great story! full of adventure and loved that James was educated and love to read and write.

Great narration on a very tough time in history.

I loved the connections to Huck Finn in addition to the new storylines. The narrator was excellent.

Refreshing perspective to consider!

Great book!

cold blooded murder was celebrated

I cringed, I cried, I cheered.

This is a great book. It is so important to get a view of life different from our own perspectives, in this case, for me as a white man to learn history and hear a story from a Black person's perspective. Our country (the world) would be a better place if more white people read more, saw more from BIPOC writers and filmmakers, playwrights, etc. The book is beautifully written and narrated. My only complaint about the book is that it was too short. I wanted more.

This book was fantastic. It was powerful and gripping. The writing and the narration were great. I couldn’t put this book down, so I binged it. Fantastic!!!

The narrator brought extra nuance to the story and understanding of use of language in the story and in life.

I wasn’t sure about this book. But one of my book club ladies picked it for this month. It was really good.

Beautiful writing and the narrator made it come alive!

This was a very grim book--almost couldn't finish it but did because it was my credit for the month. Nothing positive in any way. The author made sure we knew that Jim had a horrible life as a slave and brought up every single awful thing that could happen, plus the use of the N word over and over was hard to take. Huck had very little to do with the book.

Interesting book,you get to see the story through the eyes of a slave. I need to read Huckleberry Finn again.

A superb book and narrator. Highly recommend.

Fantastic Book!

A wonderful story. Adds much to understanding the realities of slavery.

what a wonderful and moving story. a must read. Narrator is great!!

Adventure stoties used as a vehicle to talk about slavery and racism before the Civil War.

Imaginative, provocative, moving. Percival Everett is a genius.

James is a lesson in how to be a human being.

This book is delightful and worth the listen --- narrator is excellent too !

It was a wonderfully, thought provoking view of Mark Twain's - Huckleberry Finn from Jim (or James) point of view. The realities of being a slave and the interactions with people of all variety made for some interesting, entertaining, and sad adventures.

Very moving, and read so well. It took me back in time.