The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
By Mark Twain
Fiction
As a sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain is a historical fiction (set around the 1830s) centered around the adventure of a young boy named Huckleberry Finn. The story starts out after the events of Tom Sawyer, where Huckleberry Finn (or Huck for short) and Tom Sawyer are leading relatively satisfactory and civilized lives after obtaining a great sum of wealth from a previous adventure. After Huck’s father returns to take Huck’s fortune away, he kidnaps Huck, takes him to an isolated cabin and keeps him captive. After suffering from his father’s abuse, Huck escapes and ends up meeting Jim, a runaway slave. The two end up traveling together, with Huck deciding to not turn Jim in at the moment. Their journey allows the pair to mature and learn as they meet a variety of people in many unique situations. Huck also begins to change his preconceptions about race and slavery along the way as the bond between the pair begins to strengthen.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a great book to read whether you want to read something deep with many themes and principles, or if you want to read an exciting adventure filled with action, drama, humor, and tragedy. The character development that Huck goes through in this book isn’t the greatest, but it feels realistic and well written. Huck doesn’t go through a complete 180 with his values, but he does make solid steps towards the right path. This book does well in most aspects of story writing, and is worth reading for enjoyment and for contemplation.
Review by Timothy, Orem Teen Library Council
