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Book Party 2024-2025: James

James by Percival Everett

Reviewed by: Heather Maneiro, High School Librarian

Title: James

Author: Percival Everett

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday

Year: 2024

Good for Grades: 11-Adult

Genre/Type of Book: Historical Fiction

Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: Rape, Slavery, Violence

Recommended for a school library: Yes

Reason(s) for choosing the book: Lauded everywhere I look

If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: 

How would history be represented if the stories told were not those of the "victors".

Review:

Abstract and Mini-Review

Our framework of information literacy from the Association of College and Research Libraries begins with the first frame:  Authority is Constructed and Contextual.  How we view information is prejudiced by our own backgrounds and what we bring to it.  How the information is presented is based on the point of view presented.  We bring this information to children providing them with gems such as Scieszka and Smith’s The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, but obviously many still do not understand this basic framework.

We need books like James which presents to us the story of Huck Finn reimagined from Jim’s point of view.  Did I struggle to receive this story as a white, privileged female – yes.  Am I better for having stuck it out and re-evaluating my privileges – of course.

For those wondering, I did not go back to re-read Huck Finn which I never read myself – rather it was read to me in the third grade – 40 years ago?!?  I will probably try to go back to it as time allows to re-evaluate it and this accompanying text.

Recommendation Justification

A Goodreads Choice award for 2024 and Publishers Weekly Star.

Uses in the Library/Classroom

I don’t know that this title is accessible for a large portion of high school students.  I think it could be a great text to use with Huck Finn in higher level (AP Lit) courses for analysis and comparison.

Appropriateness of Artwork

The stark art will not necessarily draw readers in, it is definitely the reputation of the title that bears the burden.

Number of party hats:

 

You can find more information about this book at the publisher's website.