Big Jim and the white boy : an American classic reimagined / David F. Walker ; [illustrator and letterer] Marcus Kwame Anderson ; color by Isabell Struble.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

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.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Walker and Anderson, the team behind the Eisner Award-winning The Black Panther Party, present a retelling of Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that places Jim at the center of the narrative. Where Twain imagined Jim unthinkingly following young Huck through a series of misadventures along the river, Walker and Anderson depict him as a man whose lifelong battle for survival and dignity in a dehumanizing world has made him deeply sensitive to the plight of others. They reimagine Huckleberry Finn as Jim's unofficial foster son who becomes a sidekick when the pair set out on a mission to rescue Jim's kidnapped wife and children. The duo's journey across the postbellum South and Midwest finds them passing through Civil War camps, assisting in an Underground Railroad mission, and crossing paths with various historical figures. Walker and Anderson shift their storytelling perspective to emphasize the experiences of characters and communities who were relegated to supporting roles or omitted entirely from Twain's original novel, and often from the historical record as well. VERDICT Walker and Anderson craft a thought-provoking, profoundly moving adventure story. Not to be missed.

Publishers Weekly Review

Writer Walker and artist Anderson, winners of the Eisner Award for The Black Panther Party, reunite to upend Mark Twain's caricature-like portrayal of Jim, the enslaved character in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The narrative unfolds across different points in time: 101-year-old Jim talks to his grandchildren, while his granddaughter passes on the story to her own granddaughter, who grows up to become a history professor and tells Jim's story to the world. In 1855, Jim, who has looked after Huck Finn his entire life, confronts the boy's father, Joe Finn, about his sister Eudora Watson selling Jim's wife and children and an altercation breaks out. Huck, trying to save Jim, seemingly kills his father, and the two flee together on a raft down the Mississippi River. They endure run-ins with scavengers and fights with bounty hunters, aid fellow runaways, join in Civil War battles, and take part in cat-and-mouse chases with a diabolical Joe. Interspersed with the adventures are academic discussions of the Civil War, slavery, and race relations. The n-word appears in redacted form throughout, its middle letters crossed out. Walker's quirky characters are rendered in a bold and dynamic art style that emphasizes the harrowing and tender aspects in equal measure. It's a vital reconsideration of an American classic. (Oct.)

School Library Journal Review

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