What is Huck's relationship with the river? Is this normal behavior for someone his age?

For Huck and Jim, the Mississippi River is the ultimate symbol of freedom. Alone on their raft, they do not have to answer to anyone. The river carries them toward freedom: for Jim, toward the free states; for Huck, away from his abusive father. Huck is not a conformist. Unlike most boys of his age, he looks for complete escape from the shackles of society. The river represents this to him.