The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Magnetic
Clever
Heartwarming

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Mark Twain2006
The classic adventure story of boyhood escapades on the shores of the Mississippi chronicles the exploits of the mischievous Tom Sawyer and his friends. Reissue.
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Reviews

Photo of Dimitris Papastergiou
Dimitris Papastergiou@s4murai
2 stars
Jul 1, 2023

It was ok. A little bit specific-era written, a little bit racist, a little bit awkward, a little bit meh, and a little bit, I'd rather read something that doesn't have to do with a whole story that has ONE bad guy and the bad guy is the ONLY indian in the whole fucking book. Other than things like that happening in it that grinds my gears, it was an ok story about kids getting into trouble.

Photo of Dimitris Papastergiou
Dimitris Papastergiou@s4murai
2 stars
Jul 1, 2023

Let me start by saying this, I love the 1800s, I'm a sucker for old west, I grew up reading historical books, watching movies/shows from that era and I even love country music since I was a kid. So it's not about the theme. You could say, the simplistic writing is making it dull to read but, that's not it, even more so that makes me angry that KIDS have to read this "classic". Overall, it's an ok story that has to do with a kid that doesn't wanna go to school and wants to cause trouble or just gets in trouble and whatnot. Now let's go to my problems, I GET that it's a specific era, and a specific time and all of that, I GET THAT, I know what it was like, and I've read more than just Frederick Douglas' autobiography to know what it was like to be a slave back then, and/or a minority, of course there were slaves in Twain's books, and of course he would make people call them names and make them do things, and even though some things that happen in the book are just plain dumb, and make me angry as to depict black people as dumb as fuck, I can accept this only because their masters didn't let them read or educate themselves as to believe when a fucking teenage boy tells a grown ass man for example "you're bewitched and listening to voices, run go spit on a green snake to take the curse off you" or some shit. And the man runs scared. Yeah. No. Fuck. That. That shit tells me 2 things. You're either racist as fuck and you simply don't give a shit and you're part of the problem, so you write racist shit, or you simply grew up in a time where slavery was legal and I'm supposed to accept that, and say that your writings are fucking masterpieces because hey, black men back then were stupid and didn't know any better because they were forcefully brought in the country to just work get raped and get killed. So, am I to accept that that was the way of life back then and judge it just as a book? Or am I going to judge the way Twain writes too? I'm going to do both, as I said as a story was ok. Even a little bit boring and of course simple, given the times. But as a writer Mark Twain, so far for as many books of his I've read, he was a fucking racist, and no excuses that it was made to be "funny" and whatnot, as I was wondering with what I was reading and I was like this is a classic? Really? And went and searched articles and whatnot, thankfully finding out what I was already thinking, but also authors and others defending it as a comedy angle or some shit. But no, at the end of the day, it's clear that he was a racist, as much as Aristotles was sexist. And to top it all of, a whole book, that has ONE fucking bad guy, and THAT guy is the ONLY indian guy in the whole book. Really Mark? Really now?! Talk about propaganda in them 1880s. Dunno how and why this shit was made classic in America, I would never give this to my kid to read as classic. I guess it was the times. *Sigh*

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Akash A@ecoholic
3 stars
Feb 25, 2023

Felt like I had aphantasia while reading this. Visual imagery is close to nil in this one. Disappointed.

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Jeannette Ordas@kickpleat
3 stars
Jan 5, 2023

This was one of my husband's favorite books growing up and so we decided to read this together before bed. It's a classic story, it was a fun read, what more can I say?

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Mariana @marianaa730
5 stars
Sep 23, 2022

The first time I read this book I was 7 years old. Back then I didn't know how to appreciate it and thought it was the most boring thing ever. A couple of days ago I decided to re read it (I am now 15) and I must say this is one of the best books ever. As I read I felt certain nostalgia from the days I was in between 10-12 years old in which I used to fantasize about doing something great and making all the girls my age jealous, just like Tom. This book relates the adventures of a kid back in a completely different time, and I loved it. It was like a movie playing inside my head, I could see everything Tom did. Each moment gave me memories back from three or four years ago. I honestly loved it this time. Besides, everything going on with Dr. Robinson's murder is simply amazing. The fact that my favorite books right now are thrillers made me love this book even more this time. Mark Twain actually acknowledges the reader through the novel and mentions certain facts that make evident that Tom Sawyer might have existed in real life or that he was inspired in a real person, which makes me even more curious and interested in this book even though I have already finished it. Mark Twain is a genius everyone should read this book!

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Tracie McMurray@mrs_mcmurray
4 stars
Aug 18, 2022

One thing I love about this book is how the superstitions of children are encapsulated in this text. Tom Sawyer is sure that there is treasure buried all over the place and his inability to find it has to do with not being there at the correct time to catch the midnight moon shadow. Very entertaining!

Photo of Liana
Liana@liana
5 stars
Jun 26, 2022

Though no stranger to the story, I found joy in finally reading Twain's complete words. His conversational prose intrigues throughout, especially during the iconic cave scene. Already knowing the plot makes Twain's mastery of folksy storytelling all the more impressive and enjoyable.

Photo of Burcu Şakır
Burcu Şakır@burcusakir
4 stars
Mar 1, 2022

Robin Hood’culuk, korsancılık, define avı, sirkcilik, perili evler ve içinde kaybolunan mağaralar....Tüm çocukluğunuz, çocukken hayalini kurduğunuz herşey bu kitapta. Hala hepimizin içinde biraz Huckberry Finn yok mu acaba?

Photo of Catalina
Catalina@catalinx
3 stars
Jan 7, 2022

3.5⭐ Mi mamá me recomendó este libro, pero no le tenía mucha fé por ser un clásico. Pero la verdad me re metí en la historia. Hasta me pareció tierna

Photo of Isa s
Isa s@purzel
4 stars
Dec 14, 2021

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is nothing more and nothing less than the story of a young boy’s childhood/youth. It doesn’t have a large plot (although there are some elements in the story that span from the beginning to the end). Instead it details the everyday life of Tom Sawyer, his little woes and pleasures and what pranks he played. As with the previous Mark Twain books I read, I thoroughly enjoyed The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. His way of telling a story makes even the most everyday occurrences to something special and the book repeatedly made me smile. I listened again to the narration by John Greenman (which is available for free at LibriVox.org) and found that this wonderful story was improved by such a great narrator.

Photo of Natalie Sypeck
Natalie Sypeck @natcatreads
2 stars
Dec 8, 2021

Another book for my children’s literature class. Boyhood adventure stories still aren’t my jam.

Photo of Emma Tickner
Emma Tickner@etickreads
3 stars
Nov 17, 2021

3.5 This book had parts that were darker then I expected from a book made for young people. But I still liked it and found it enjoyable.

Photo of Rafaela Sousa
Rafaela Sousa@rafaelaqsousa
4 stars
Nov 8, 2021

Amazing book. It's easy to read and the story is so fun and entertaining. Definitely exceeded my expectations <3

+3
Photo of Wren Hardwick
Wren Hardwick@fablesandwren
3 stars
Aug 31, 2021

Mark Twain is probably one of the most well-known authors out there. He is famous for his characters Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn and their wild imaginations. In the first book, it starts out with Sawyer being punished by white-washin’ a really high fence. Now, Sawyer is probably one of the smartest kids you will ever hear about because he already knows the secret to men: they want what is hard to get. He makes the boys of the neighborhood believe that this isn't a chore or a punishment, but something Sawyer really enjoys. Only he can do it right. So naturally, the boys all want to do it and trade things for a chance! Things that are traded include, but are not limited to: orange peels, one-eyed cat, six firecrackers, a piece of red chalk and a piece of blue bottle glass. For a young boy, that is like finding a buried treasure! Speaking of buried treasure… Sawyer and Finn are on a hunt to find buried treasure this summer, and come across more danger than they anticipated. Murder? Death to three boys? Death to a doctor? A damsel in distress? Pirates? Outlaws? Murderers? This book is a fun-loving books for the adventure at heart. It is easy to read and is good for a young reader. Twain captures the thoughts and dramatic thoughts of a young boy and girl and will keep you laughing till the end of the book.

Photo of Erin
Erin @pagesofmilkandhoney
3 stars
Aug 29, 2021

I'm starting to second guess whether or not I've actually read this in my youth or if I just know the story so well that I think I have. I had a children's version once but I think that might have been a digest version.

Photo of Sonia Flores
Sonia Flores@soniareads
5 stars
Aug 29, 2021

Hallé mucha inocencia en las cualidades de Tom Sawyer y sus amigos. En sus temores, supersticiones, travesuras e incluso en sus momentos introspectivos. Creo que me gustó mucho ese matiz entre la manera de narrar de Twain, tal vez nada infantil, su humor y lo movido de las aventuras de este chico y de quienes le acompañaban. Lo disfruté al máximo porque exploraba no solo los actos de un niño sino sus motivaciones y sus maneras de ver las cosas. En las escenas más divertidas (entre las que destaca, por supuesto, la de la valla) vislumbramos a un muchacho a veces egoísta pero muy listo y creativo, y pese a que en la vida real no me habría agradado uno de esa naturaleza, en esta lectura me entretuvo y me gustó bastante. Siempre lamento no haber podido leer estos libros más temprano, pero me alegra haberlo hecho ahora, es un clásico del que sin duda no me arrepiento y que me dio algo muy diferente a lo que esperaba. Le tomé mucho cariño.

Photo of Raya
Raya @raya
4 stars
Aug 27, 2021

Tom Sawyer and his friend Huckleberry Finn are ever ready to hunt for an adventure. One fateful night, they witness a gruesome murder in the graveyard. The boys vow to never disclose the secret they now share and eventually run away to be pirates in search of hidden treasure. But soon Tom finds himself in gravest danger he's ever had to face. What follows creates one of the best works of adventure fiction the world has to see. The book parallely highlights the heavy themes of the adult world, murder, revenge, superstition, starvation and slavery.

Photo of alghi
alghi@phantasmagorical
3.5 stars
Jan 25, 2025
Photo of Marina McLain
Marina McLain @marinavm
5 stars
Jul 21, 2024
+16
Photo of Frank Huang
Frank Huang@frankhme
2 stars
Apr 4, 2024
Photo of Celeste
Celeste@cele27
1 star
Sep 4, 2023
+2
Photo of L
L@llopes
2 stars
Dec 22, 2022
Photo of KKK
KKK@kandid
4 stars
Sep 7, 2022
Photo of Amrei
Amrei @theeeameee
5 stars
Jul 12, 2022

Highlights

Photo of Rafaela Sousa
Rafaela Sousa@rafaelaqsousa

"There comes a time in the life of every normal boy when he is filled with a desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure."

Page 82
Photo of Rafaela Sousa
Rafaela Sousa@rafaelaqsousa

"Tom had struggled with his pride for a few days, and tried to forget her, but failed."

Page 36
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Rafaela Sousa@rafaelaqsousa

"Like the rest of the respectable boys, Tom envied Huckleberry his gay life of freedom and had been given strict orders not to play with him. So he played with him every time he got a chance."

Page 16

Kinda fruity if you ask me

Photo of Rafaela Sousa
Rafaela Sousa@rafaelaqsousa

"It makes me feel queer to hear you"

Page 14

Okay, I guess...

Photo of Rafaela Sousa
Rafaela Sousa@rafaelaqsousa

"Monday morning always found him so, because it began another week's slow suffering in school."

Page 13
Photo of Rafaela Sousa
Rafaela Sousa@rafaelaqsousa

"All through supper he was so gay that his aunt wondered why."

Page 10

I thought for some minutes "How the hell did he turn fruity out of nowhere?"

Photo of Rafaela Sousa
Rafaela Sousa@rafaelaqsousa

"He worshipped this new angel till he saw that she had discovered him."

Page 10
Photo of Rafaela Sousa
Rafaela Sousa@rafaelaqsousa

"He had discovered, without knowing it, this great law of human action: in order to make a man or a boy desire a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing dificult to obtain."

Page 9
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Rafaela Sousa
Rafaela Sousa@rafaelaqsousa

"Every time I hit him my old heart almost breaks, and every time I forgive him my conscience blames me."

Page 2
This highlight contains a spoiler

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