Huck's Little Adventure by Zack Hawrot | A Short Story Review

Note: I received an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this story from Reedsy Discovery in exchange for my review. Click here to read the original review and to find out more about the author as well as how you can read Huck's Little Adventure by Zack Hawrot yourself!

Follow Little Huck on his evening escapades as he stealthily explores his neighborhood surroundings. Peeking into backyards while observing his neighbors go about their evening rituals, creeping down alleys, dashing across streets, watching children play, surviving an attack, and spying on teens doing what teens do, are some of the exciting moments from Little Huck’s evening. 

Hawrot weaves in massive amounts of literary devices into this super short story. The imagery in the story is like a breath of fresh air. You can feel the love between Ellie and her mother when her mother offers Ellie more dessert and the freedom Huck feels when he is finally alone. Hawrot uses juxtaposition when he compares Ellie's movements to a thunderstorm, but Huck's movements are as gentle as if he were on a secret mission. Metaphors, a great choice of words, and the overall tone and flow of the story make this tale pleasant to read aloud. The way Hawrot stitches the words together makes them roll off the tongue rather nicely.

My favorite quote from the story is simple, yet it defines a character in a single sentence.

"Mr. Knox...paid his water bill in person..."

That small bit of information about the man says so much about him, which I love. While Mr. Knox doesn't play a huge role in the story; that single sentence gives the reader a better idea of what kind of neighborhood Little Huck lives in and what his neighbors are like.

If you are looking for an enjoyable quick read, you will find that in this story. Huck's Little Adventure comes in at only eight pages of text which makes this a nice story to read aloud to the children in your life. This story would be a great way to introduce children to short stories if you are looking to transition them from picture books to stories that require a bit more of their attention. 

Overall, this is a wholesome tale with a fun twist at the end that the entire family is sure to enjoy.