Mark Twain is wonderful! Huckleberry Finn is a beautiful story about two boys from very different worlds becoming friends. I have not read James because I'm not sure how much of that story remains in his version. Anything beyond the scope of that friendship is not a retelling, but a completely different book.
It really is a completely different book with familiar characters and style. The over the top scenarios, bad fortune and good fortune that is all present in a very Huck/Sawyer way. It's written from the perspective of an adult so the themes are a more adult. It is not a children's book but if you love the characters, style, Twain comedy and don't mind some trauma and brutality mixed in you might like it.
I think the friendship between Huck and Finn remains at the heart of this book, but it certainly examines the darker parts of the time, and so if Huckleberry Finn holds a special place for you it may be worth giving this one a miss (though it pains me to say that because I loved it a lot!)
I read it and really liked it but not as much as everyone else. I ranked it 4 just because there was something in there near the end that I just hated. ***SPOILER*** ***REALLY DON'T LOOK IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT YET**** I dont like the trope of men "saving" women by murdering other men. I dontblike rape as a reason for male revenge. It makes me crazy and in this case it was 100% unnecessary. There were 1000 Million reasons for his own revenge and the catharsis would have been just as effective. So, a full star knocked for that. Hope I did the "spoiler thing" right. If not remove my comment and know I wont have hurt feelings!
I think that’s fair - I think it was so common in that time though that I found it believable as ‘the straw that broke the camels back’ so to speak. I get why you knocked a star off though. I don’t think anyone can complain about not realising your comment contained spoilers - you gave very fair warning! 😂😂
