101 Books to Read Before You Die discussion

Discuss the first half of the book.

This book is also on the "adult" list. It likely requires some guidance as racism is a major theme in the book.

Indeed. I read it years ago and definitely remember some strong racist elements to it, not to mention child abuse, etc.

I just started a re-read, and I think it's probably one that would be good to read say in middle school, or possible late elementary school (American school breakdown... so somewhere around age 12 or older) but I'm not sure it would be good for children younger than that, but it probably depends a great deal on the child. There is a scene where Huck is creating a rather violent scene in faking his death, plus some strong language when his father is going on his rants, and of course the beatings. And the language describing black, both slave and free, is appalling, but I think that's the point.

I'm finding the scene where Huck is feeling convicted over not turning Jim in to be rather interesting. He's been taught that it's wrong to steal someone's property (in this case, a slave) and he feels he's doing wrong by a woman who's taken care of him, because he's helping her slave run away (although that wasn't really his plan). But it doesn't cross his mind that Jim has as much right to freedom as anybody. Still, the thought process is very interesting, since when he has the opportunity to turn him in, he never does, but always inadvertently seems to save him.

But he doesn't have any qualms about the swindling of the townspeople that the "duke" and "king" do, so who knows.