2025 Pulitzer Prize winner Percival Everett visited the high school Wednesday, Sept. 3 to discuss his novel “James” and answer questions from students.
The event was organized by the Bexley Public Library as part of their author visit series which happens every couple years, high school librarian Mike Nolan said. Students met with Everett in the high school library, while community members had the opportunity to hear him speak Capital University, he added.
In order to attend the school event, students had to complete a specific set of criteria, Nolan said.
“The students who attended the event had to read ‘James’ before Sept. 3,” he explained. “They also had to read a brief summary of ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ and attend the Book Club discussion of ‘James.’”
Junior attendee Ivy Camboni explained students in attendance asked Everett questions about his writing process and his love for reading.
“We all sat in a circle and he answered every question,” Camboni said. “Percival was a really good speaker and his thought process was very interesting.”
Everett said he read “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” 15 times in preparation for writing James.
“I wanted to be sick of it,” he said. “I wanted to know everything in that world but not see any of the language, and it worked.”
Writing “James” took about nine months to complete, Everett said.
“Finding my character was what took time, and also divorcing myself from Twain’s text,” he explained. “I wanted to inhabit that world but not pull any allegiance to the text.”
Although the novel is based on Twain’s text, Everett said he intended for it to be a standalone piece.
“I couldn’t care less if readers read Huck Finn before,” he said. “When readers come to the text, then the art is completed.”
Junior attendee Tallulah Hoch said she liked meeting Everett as well as reading “James.”
“I honestly didn’t think I was going to enjoy the book because I’m not a huge fan of Huck Finn,” she explained. “But once I got into the book, I realized it was actually amazing.”
Camboni said “James” brought new life to “Huckleberry Finn.”
“The characters were more complex than the original story, which I thought was cool,” she said.
Everett ended the event with commentary on book banning and self expression. He added students should always stand up for what they believe in.
“Don’t be quiet,” he said. “Complain how you can’t complain.”
Published and digitized October 2025.
