The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Score Classic
What it's about
Huck Finn, a poor, uneducated boy in Missouri, fakes his own death to escape his violent, drunken father. On an island in the Mississippi he meets Jim, a man escaping slavery, and together they float downriver on a raft, meeting swindlers, feuding families and mobs. Along the way Huck, taught all his life that helping Jim is a sin, has to decide what he believes.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the best-selling books ever and is on the Bokklubben list of the 100 greatest books. Hemingway said all modern American literature comes from it.
You'll love it if you liked
James
The Good Lord Bird
To Kill a MockingbirdGood to know
It uses the n-word frequently, and it's often challenged in schools. The last section, with Tom Sawyer, divides readers. Percival Everett's James retells it from Jim's side.
By the numbers
- Readers15 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics78 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller60 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
More by Mark Twain
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Life on the MississippiIf you like this, read next
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Black Boy: A Record of Youth and Childhood
The Killer Angels
The HobbitExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the best-selling books ever and is on the Bokklubben list of the 100 greatest books. It ranks #1,354 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn about?
Huck Finn, a poor, uneducated boy in Missouri, fakes his own death to escape his violent, drunken father. On an island in the Mississippi he meets Jim, a man escaping slavery, and together they float downriver on a raft, meeting swindlers, feuding families and mobs. Along the way Huck, taught all his life that helping Jim is a sin, has to decide what he believes.
How long does it take to read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?
About 8 hours (327 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?
If you liked it, try James by Percival Everett, The Good Lord Bird by James McBride or To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.