Jim the Boy is a novel about a ten year old boy coming of age during the great depression. At first, I enjoyed the descriptive language and innocence portrayed by our young protagonist. However, I found the pace of the story moved too slow, there was no suspense in the plot, and the characters had no real depth. 
    The real highlight of the story is the relationship between Jim and his three uncles. There is a true bond between the four characters that is touching and poignant since Jim lost his father before he was born. Jim's world is widening around him after he realizes he is growing up and sees the large world around him; a new school is being built, electricity is being introduced into his small town, and he has begun working on the crops with his uncles. Later in the novel Jim eventually finds out more about his father and there is a moment when he looks down on his hometown of Aliceville and leaves his childhood behind. 
    Although the story does not compare to the classic coming of age story of Huck Finn, it has it's moments of tenderness and endearment.