Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, reviewed by Shallyn

Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Reviewed by
Name: Shallyn
School: Father Agnel School New Delhi

Mark Twain is one of the most popular American writers of the nineteenth century. He left school at the age of thirteen to work as a printer. At the age of twenty he began to work on a boat which sailed up and down the Mississippi River. It was here that he met his characters he describes in his book.

Tom Sawyer exemplifies the boy every child wants to be; free, adventuresome, and intelligent. Aunt Polly is raising Tom, his half-brother, Sid, and Mary. Sid and Mary are good children. Tom, on the other hand, is always in trouble, even when he doesn't do something wrong. Tom is a boy distrustful of routine, spirited, and possessing a strong sense of right and wrong. When the weather is good, he skips school and goes swimming. He goes out and plays Robin Hood with his friend Joe Harper when he should be studying. He sneaks out at midnight to meet Huck Finn at the graveyard with a dead cat. Aunt Polly keeps trying to get Tom to behave. Tom knows how to exchange treasures for his own gain. The foray into the cemetery brought extra trouble for Tom and Huck. They witnessed a murder. They were afraid of their own lives so swore to keep quiet. He is an entrepreneur of first rank. Tom is unforgettable and squirms right into a person's imagination and heart. I was laughing out loud at his exploits throughout the book. I could identify with the young romance with Becky Thatcher. The book shows the joy of childhood as well as the acceptance of change. The story just grips you and you can’t stop yourself from turning the pages to read on. This lovely and lively tale is a must-read for all Twain fans. It brings back the excitement and folly of youth and best yet reminds us of our own curiosity-filled youths. All of us have a little Tom Sawyer in us!