The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Another lasso thrown, another one reeled in.  My misspent youth included Huckleberry Finn but it did not include Tom Sawyer.  Oh, I had heard of him, knew he was a proverbial trickster; however, I never actually got around to experiencing him first hand.  That's changed now.

I don't think Mark Twain would have got away with this book today: a story about a truanting child who tells brazen-faced lies, learns how to smoke, gets caught up with thieves and murderers, and  ends up independently wealthy as a result.  Can you imagine a commissioning editor coming at that one?

Still, Tom Sawyer has been a cherished children's book for over a century.  There is a very good reason for that: Mark Twain knows how to tell a tale, and he gives us one about a naughty but resourceful and imaginative boy who "slays the dragon and gets the treasure".  Kids can read this tale and be thrilled without being in any real danger.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is an entertaining story, told by a personable narrator. Tom himself is a memorable and lovable rogue.  The action rolls along with a few brief pauses so the reader can catch breath before it takes off again.  And, of course, the modern reader and can compare and contrast the lifestyles and attitudes of the characters with their own.

I bought the Penguin edition which contains an informative introductory essay.