So you want a recipe for a best seller piece of fan fiction about America? Start with a base of “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, then add one part “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”, one part “12 Years a Slave” and a strong dash of “Django Unchained”. Season with hallucinations to taste. That’s how you end up with this book. 

The story centers on Jim, the supporting character in Huck Finn and the namesake of this book, as he embarks on a journey to achieve his final form. The novel makes a valiant attempt to fill in the gaps of his story but it takes a while to find its groove, only coalescing in the middle before building toward a cinematic conclusion.

One of the more peculiar aspects of the book is that it often feels pieced together. While there are original twists, much of it seems drawn from other works. The novel explores familiar themes—family, freedom, moral relativism, the power of knowledge, and the brutal realities of slavery in America—but at times, a key part of the protagonist’s arc feels more like a reflection of the author’s self-perception rather than a natural progression of Jim’s character. Additionally, sudden hallucinogenic conversations with famous philosophers appear out of nowhere and eventually disappear without explanation… so that’s cool, I guess. The novel is a bit inconsistent with its pacing and while it makes some good points, other major revelations end up glancing off the bullseye.

Attempting to expand upon the work of the legendary Mark Twain is a ballsy endeavor, and Everett gives it a good shot. That said, we all agreed that this book likely wouldn’t get this much notoriety if it wasn’t Huck Finn fanfic or if it wasn’t penned by an already well-known author. It’s a solid novel, but there’s a layer of hype that naturally comes with the territory that is likely inflating its success. It’s worth a read if you’ve got the time but it won’t change your life.

BUY THIS BOOK