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adventurous funny informative lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

It’s definitely a book of its time. I enjoyed it a lot more than The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but it’s still not something I would seek out if it wasn’t a “classic” (or, more honestly, if Nick Offerman wasn’t narrating this audiobook). 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted

Great read, very light-hearted with deep connotations!
adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
adventurous dark funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous funny hopeful fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Loveable characters: Yes
adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

Audio book read by Grover Gardner

Tom Sawyer is a “boy’s boy.” He spends his days exploring his environs – a small Missouri town on the Mississippi River. A born leader, he organizes his friends into secret societies and elaborate role-playing games – pirates and Robin Hood being particular favorites. He uses his wits to get his friends to perform his own chores (like whitewashing the fence), but he is so charming that no one minds. He also charms the lovely Becky Thatcher, though he can’t charm his teacher and is frequently subject to scolding. But his greatest escapade comes from his friendship with Huck Finn and what they overhear while exploring a “haunted house.”

This is a classic adventure story. I’ve read parts of it over the years and have seen several different movie treatments, but I had never read the entire book before. I love the way Twain writes these characters. Tom is intelligent, inventive, adventurous and also innocent, in that he doesn’t always recognize the ramifications of his schemes. He’s a good boy but gets into plenty of mischief. Tom is honest, loyal and fair in his dealings with others. He’s also tender and loving, though he doesn’t want any of his friends to know this. And of course, the book introduces us to Huckleberry Finn who will star in his own book.

Grover Gardner does a fine job of the narration, bringing the many characters to life. It’s a great read for children and adults, alike.
adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

3 stars because it’s part of my childhood and it reminds me of my grandpa. As a kid a loved reading this book for the first time. It really never left me :)