James

This book had me reading it in the street while walking ("must be great!" note people passing). A retelling of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. 'James' needs to be on every school list: it manages to be both powerful, utterly compelling, harrowing and yet filled with warmth, humour and friendship. "At that moment the power of reading made itself clear and real to me...It was a completely private affair and completely free and, therefore, completely subversive."