I purchased Everett‘s novel The Trees at Ann Patchett‘s bookstore in Nashville, and I loved it. Last year I went to Patchett‘s book signing for Tom Lake, and she told the audience that they had to watch out for Everett‘s next book, James. I preordered a copy from her bookstore, and I believe this novel will be at the top of my best books of 2024 list. Everett‘s retelling of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of James is a modern classic.