Big Jim and the White Boy: An American Classic Reimagined

Gr 8 Up–This reimagining of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn shifts its focus to Jim and becomes a broader examination of enslavement, the American Civil War era, and the power of telling one’s own story. The basic elements of the original are here, but Walker creates a more complex view of Jim and Huck’s relationship. Jim and Huck remained lifelong friends and, at ages 100 and 92 respectively, recount their adventures to Jim’s grandchildren. Jim knows about Twain’s book and wants to correct the misinformation. His life story is passed down through generations, honoring his admonition that “stories don’t tell themselves.” He stresses the importance of telling one’s own story, otherwise others will take it and twist it. In current day, a descendent of Jim’s has written a book capturing his life and humanity, correcting Twain’s version. Walker’s artful handling of the n-word in the narrative shows he understands both the importance and pain of including it. He doesn’t shy away from showing the abuse enslaved people suffered and the overall violence of that era. Historical notes connect facts and fiction for characters and events. Anderson’s art keenly depicts the characters’ humanity as powerfully as the violence they experience. Color and art style complement each other and creatively signal changes in time and point of view.