The James: Retellings & Reimaginings and 19th-Century Black Experiences booklist was developed by the CCBC librarians to complement the 2025-2026 Go Big Read selection, James by Percival Everett, a novel that retells the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, an enslaved man who journeys with Huckleberry Finn. To complement the dual thematic components of James—the retelling of a familiar story and the perspectives on racial identity—the booklist below provides two avenues for exploring similar themes in books for older children and teens.
Percival Everett will deliver the Go Big Read keynote address at 7 pm on Tuesday, November 4, at Varsity Hall in Union South.