The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer introduces the world to two of Mark Twain’s most famous characters: an orphaned Missouri boy named Tom Sawyer, and his troublemaking friend Huckleberry Finn. Told in the third person, the book is a collection of scenes more than a fully-realized novel, but the scenes are vivid, funny, and memorable. Even those who haven’t read the book are familiar with Tom’s use of reverse psychology to persuade his friends to whitewash the fence, or the moment when Tom and Huck attend their own funeral. Unfortunately the book’s pleasures are immediate and surface-level, and as a result it is less impressive on subsequent rereadings. And the ending, when Tom and Huck discover buried treasure, is contrived and saccharine. Nonetheless, the book is an enjoyable read and it effectively captures the thrill of childhood exploration.