Famous Kid’s Books: The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer

Tom Sawyer is one of the very few literary classics that qualify as a complete ‘masala’ book – and delicious masala at that. Tom is what every young boy wants to be – free-spirited, adventurous, moral and street-smart. Packed with adventure, humor, fun, crime, love, social commentary and values, this entertaining and endearing story has won readers’ hearts for over a century.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876)

Author: Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens)

The Plot:

Set in the South American town of Missouri by the river Mississippi, the story describes the adventures of twelve-year-old orphan Tom Sawyer and his roguish friends, Huckleberry Finn and Joe Harper. Tom is driven by curiosity and manages to land in messes even when he does not intend to. Mischievous, helpful, troublesome and kind all at once, Tom lives with Aunt Polly – who is frustrated by his wild ways and makes futile attempts to tame him.

His lack of interest in school contrasts starkly with his extraordinary intelligence, love of reading and a talent for mouthing dialogues from plays. He also falls in love with a beautiful new girl in his class – Becky Thatcher (typically, he gifts her a doorknob as a token of his affection and has a tiff with her soon after.)

The story takes a dramatic turn when during one of their midnight escapades, Tom and Huck witness Injun Joe murdering a certain Doctor Robinson. The scared boys give the town folks to believe that they are dead and run away to hide on a secluded island. However, guilt, boredom and hunger soon bring them back. After a series of amazing events, Tom and Becky to get lost in a maze of caves and come face-to-face with a surprise.

Will Tom win back his lady-love? Will he find the courage to expose the real murderer? What lurks in those caves? The fast-paced and exciting plot makes ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ absolutely enthralling for young readers.

Tom Sawyer represents what every young boy wants to be

Why Your Kids Will Love It:

Kids can easily identify with Tom, who hates school, church and Mondays and prefers fishing and collecting frogs to a boring math class. Along with deliciously tense events like murder and crime, the book abounds with hilarious situations. The narrative is racy and dramatic, and the characters are delightful.

Explanatory notes reveal the historical significance of some scenes and define words and phrases that are no longer in use. The book is best understood and enjoyed by teens and young adults. Parental guidance is advised to sensitize young readers to the history of slavery and racial discrimination.

Why You Will Love It:

Reading ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ reminds us of our own childhood’s secret longing for adventure and heroism, as well as the excitement and folly of youth. There truly is a ‘Tom’ in each of us. Though touted as children’s literature, the themes and language in this book are anything but.

The situations and settings are by far the best portrayal of life as it was in the early nineteenth century. The fact that the novel is part of academic curricula ranging from the fifth standard to the postgraduate level is ample proof of its literary value. While you are at it, try grabbing a copy of the 1938 movie by the same title.

Also In The Series:

If you liked Mark Twain’s ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’, you will surely love the sequel ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’.

Copyright © Shuchi Kalra

Shuchi Kalra is a freelance writer based in India. Her works have been published several online and print publications- both in India and abroad. She also writes content for websites, businesses and portals. She is currently working on a short-story anthology.

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