Copyright Date:
2024
Edition Date:
2024
Release Date:
10/15/24
New Title:
Yes
ISBN:
0-593-83611-1
ISBN 13:
978-0-593-83611-8
Dewey:
Fic
Language:
English
Reviews:
School Library Journal Starred Review
(Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2024)
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. VERDICT Using the story of Jim and Huck as a springboard, this well-researched, well-written book belongs in all library collections.— Carla Riemer
A thrilling graphic novel reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that follows Jim, an enslaved man on a journey towards freedom, and his sidekick, Huck, in the antebellum South—from the team behind the Eisner Award–winning The Black Panther Party.
A BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, School Library Journal, Library Journal
“A brilliant remix of history, politics, satire, and passion filtered through the comics medium by two masters of storytelling.”—John Jennings, Hugo Award–winning comics creator
Commonly regarded as one of the great American novels, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has captured the hearts and imaginations of readers since 1885. But since its publication, critics have rightfully condemned Mark Twain’s troubling portrayal of Black Americans as stereotypes and caricatures, with contemporary fans searching for a modern update to this iconic tale.
Big Jim and the White Boy is a radical retelling of this American classic, centering the experiences of Jim, an enslaved Black man in search of his kidnapped wife and children, along with his cheeky sidekick, Huckleberry Finn. Jim and Huck’s high-stakes adventures take them on an epic voyage across the antebellum South and Midwest, through Confederate war camps and runaway safe houses, into Old West standoffs, and on the road as covert Underground Railroad agents. Intertwined into the story of Jim and Huck are the stories of Jim’s descendants in the 1930s, 1980s, and 2020s, making this a multigenerational family epic as well as an adventure story. Big Jim and the White Boy takes readers on a journey through Jim and Huck’s past, present, and future, delving into their incredible friendship and years of adventures—a bond that transcends the gruesome racism of the Civil War era.
With compelling artwork and riveting storytelling, David F. Walker and Marcus Kwame Anderson push the boundaries of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in this incredible graphic novel, exploring the triumphs and tribulations of Jim and his family, and finally giving his due as a hero of American literature.
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