The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

By Mark Twain (13)

Mark Twain brings his satiric eye to Southern life in the classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884). While young Huck grows weary of the civilized life with Widow Douglas, he falls into even worse trouble when his miserable brute of a father returns to claim him, making Huck’s life impossible. In response, the intrepid boy borrows a boat, and sails downriver where he sets up camp on Jackson’s Island. He encounters Jim, a runaway slave, who fears being turned over to slave traders, and the two gradually become friends, despite their color barrier. When Jim is wrongly suspected of the murder of Pap, Huck’s father, the two decide to escape to free territory, but the plan quickly goes awry. They run into a pair of con men, and are forced to be witness to their numerous swindles, until the cons betray Jim, selling him to a farmer. Huck must formulate a rescue plan that twists and turns to a happy conclusion. The exploits of Huck, and the deeply human relationship he develops with Jim, are narrated with wit and humor. High school students should relish this tale with its insightful social commentary and unforgettable narrator.