- a mischievous boy constantly adds drama to the lives around him with his recklessness and zeal for adventure
- digging for pirate treasure, sacrificing for friends, getting lost in caves, endless irresponsibility, surviving off the land after running away and more!
- convo: cynicism meant for adults (especially about Christianity), witches & spirits mentioned, drinking alcohol mentioned, several [somewhat comical] superstitions, a murder is described, spankings (whip or switch) mentioned, children smoke pipes, various instances of lying, violence toward a widow is threatened & described (but not carried out), orgies mentioned (but the boys speaking don’t know what they are)
- convo: romance between children (talks of love, getting engaged, two kisses–at least one on the lips, embracing)
- language: see list below
Type: chapter book
Ages: 10+
Author: Mark Twain
“There comes a time in every rightly constructed boy’s life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure.”
Mark Twain, in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Twain really hits all the angles of boyhood with this perennial tale. It’s filled with page-turning adventures that most boys (and men, in my anecdotal statistics) get a big kick out of. Tom is always resisting conformity and order, yet somehow keeps winning the hearts around him.
I decided to list the language component down here as the bullet points above were getting lengthy already. Here are words that parents might want to be prepared for:
- geeminy (x2)
- negro (x2)
- by jingo or jingoes or jings (x6)
- honest injun
- shucks (x6)
- dern (x7)
- n*gg*r (x9)
- L*rd or L*rdy as a curse/exclamation (x13)
- half-breed (x2)
- damn
- Dad fetch it
- (a few mild name-calls like “numscull”)
- shut up
- By G*d
- ass (not a donkey)
As Christians (since that is the worldview through which I read all books), we can discuss a plethora of components of Tom Sawyer’s story–from the easier topics (like what the Bible has to say about foul language or the depravity of men) to more difficult ones (like hypocrisy in the church or obedience to authorities).
I might add more to this review as I mull it over some more but wanted to post at least these details for parents seeking info. Twain has superb writing skills–readers have a total immersion into the culture of small town Missouri in the 1840s. If you can, make this a read-aloud for your family and see what sort of conversations blossom from it.
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