The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: A Kaplan Vocabulary-Building Classic for Young Readers

Book Description

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is about a boy who is always in trouble. Growing up along the Mississippi River in the 1800s, Tom and his bestfriend Huck play hooky, pull pranks, and even run away to become pirates. Tom Sawyer is one of the best stories ever about friendship. But did you know this tale is also filled with hundreds of challenging vocabulary words?

Now Kaplan makes it easy to master new vocabulary words whilereading a timeless classic. The abridged story appears on the right-hand pages. On the left-hand pages are definitions of the difficult vocabulary words in the text. You'll get:

• Over 400 vocabulary words and definitions
• Synonyms and pronunciation for each word

Plus:

• Questions for reading group and classroom discussion that enhance reading comprehension and critical thinking skills
• Tips for writing a great book report

Book Description

Few books capture both the simplicity and complexities of American life quite like these enduring "boyhood" classics by Mark Twain.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Take a lighthearted, nostalgic trip to a simpler time, seen through the eyes of a special boy named Tom Sawyer. It is a summertime world of hooky and adventure, pranks and punishment, villains and young love.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
He has no mother, his father is a drunkard, and he sleeps in a barrel. He's Huck Finn-liar, sometime thief, and rebel against respectability. But when Huck meets a runaway slave named Jim, his life changes forever. And on a raft floating down the Mississippi, the boy nobody wanted matures into a young man of courage and conviction.

Now includes a new introduction.

Customer Reviews:

Nietzsche's choice.......2006-08-03

In a letter to his friend Franz Overbeck dated 14, November, 1879, Nietzsche says, "If you do not know the latest book by Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, it would be a pleasure for me to make you a little present of it."

Both novels define the picturesque masterpiece and are the twin highpoints in American prose.

Tom and Huck.......2004-07-24

I LOvED this Book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I loved the adventure, the excitment, and the comedy!!!!!!!!!

Average customer rating:

Not bad with one exception
this is wonder

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: The Audio Partners
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1572703075

Book Description

Tom Sawyer remains one of the most beloved characters in the history of fiction, and this best-selling reading gives Tom and his adventures new life. All the memorable characters and scenes are here in this unabridged version: Aunt Polly with her Bible-based morality, independent Huck Finn, the famous fence-painting scene, the night on Jackson's Island. The book is no saccharine tale of childhood; Tom and Huck also witness grave-robbing and murder one night at the graveyard where they've gone seeking adventure and a cure for warts. Twain's themes of adult hypocrisy and the importance of character remain resonant with today's readers - and now, listeners in this virtuoso performance of one of the greatest American classics.

Customer Reviews:

Not bad with one exception.......2007-05-02

The narration is not bad, with one glaring exception. I do not conceive of Huck as sounding like Bill Clinton when he is whining.

this is wonder.......2007-03-02

This books is great, and the narrator is great, too. You'll never regret buying this book.
It's about boyhood and adventures that Tom Sawyer, a playful boy, makes up as he goes along.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Kingfisher Classics)

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Best Book On Boyhood Of All-Time?
DVD review
You will LOVE this book!
Great Twain work
Twain's Classic Boy Adventure

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Kingfisher Classics)
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: Kingfisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0753454785

Book Description

Tom Sawyer has an eye for adventure and is always getting into scrapes with his friends and partners in crime, Huck Finn and Joe Harper. His escapades often lead him into dangerous and desperate situations, but he always turns these to his advantage.

Customer Reviews:

Best Book On Boyhood Of All-Time?.......2007-10-01

Ever since my dad first read this timeless classic to my sister & me as kids, while camping in our trailer during the summer, it has left its indelible impression upon my imagination. How I too wanted to shove off from shore on my "skiff" and have my own adventures down the Mississippi! I know of no other book that so wonderfully captures the essence and joy of carefree boyhood.

When I say "carefree", however, I am not forgetting the grim and serious elements of the novel. But these work just as well as the sunnier and funnier parts. In fact, just when the narrative needs it, a murder comes along which boosts the plot most effectively, giving it a shot in the arm. And speaking of the darker aspects, does not Injun Joe have to rank highly on the list of greatest villains in the history of literature? I can assure you that as a boy listening to the cave chapters, his menace was palpable and unforgettable.

Unfortunately, literary snobs have often found it fashionable to belittle Tom Sawyer as inconsequential and a 'lightweight' seen against the towering greatness of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". I couldn't disagree more. (I love Huckleberry Finn dearly and plan to review it soon as well). I read a quote in a foreword that I thought was very insightful: "Huckleberry Finn is a greater book, but not a better one." I think this is exactly so. Extol the greatness of HF by all means, but don't make the mistake of downgrading Twain's other masterpiece, just because its theme is not so weighty and grave. In fact, the episodic nature of the telling of Tom Sawyer fit Twain's particular brand of genius perfectly (whereas there were some sub par stretches in Huck Finn).

Loved it as a boy, love it no less as a man. Thank you, dad, for imparting such an enduring gift.

DVD review.......2007-09-04

This is an exciting coverge of something some of us lived through and puzzled over for years. As the movie indicates someone may feel sure that the Zodiac is dead from a heart attack but the rest of us have been left in wonder.

You will LOVE this book!.......2007-07-16

Invaluable for teachers and for students who need more than just plain text. The sidebars offer endless historical factoids and pictures that walked my students through the story because they could visualize the characters, household and farming tools, and places during Tom Sawyer's life. For teachers, it empowered me with so much extra and interesting information to heighten the interest of my students. Sadly, I do not think this book is still in print. PLEASE put this book back into print!

Great Twain work.......2007-07-15

This a great story about three of the most recognizable characters and one of the best American authors. There maybe a lack of `adventures' but a glimpse into the daily life of Tom is a well written, entertaining work which is necessary for any classical literature list. Great introduction to Twain's prose makes the reader want to immediately start the Huck version.

Twain's Classic Boy Adventure.......2007-06-29

"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" was Twain's somewhat serious tale of a boy coming of age on the Mississippi River. It was also a wonderful social commentary of the times in which it takes place. "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," on the other hand, gives us a fun glimpse into the life of one young boy in a fictitious town on the Mississippi River in Missouri. It's definitely the funnier of the two novels, even though it deals with the very real dangers of running off alone, thieves, murderers, and even slacking off on memorizing Sunday school verses. Tom gets into trouble without even thinking about it. He, Huck Finn and a wonderful cast of characters spend their days cutting class, playing pirates, pretending to be Robin Hood, get lost in a cave and even hunt for treasure. It's a grand tale told on a grand scale and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys adventure in the Americana vein.

**Potential Spoiler**
One character that I'd like to single out is the murderous Injun Joe. As loving and protective as Jim is in "Huck Finn," Joe is completely the opposite. He strikes fear into Tom and all of his friends and is the primary catalyst for much of the second half of the book. He's one of the best villains around and his fate (as far as children's books are concerned) is one of the most upsetting. It's amazing how Twain could find a perfect fit for such a wicked character in such a fun book.
**End Spoiler**

I'm sure that an intellectual could digest this book in greater style than I and reveal countless points on morality, religion, ethics, etc., but for most readers (young and old), this is simply a great adventure. Whether you're fourteen or forty, you'll love this book. Highly recommended.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Unabridged Classics)

Average customer rating:

The Greatest American of All?
ok read
Danielle's "Pick..."
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
A True American Classic

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Unabridged Classics)
Mark J. Twain
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1402714602

Book Description

Who could forget the pranks, the adventures, the sheer fun of Tom Sawyer? It’s something every child should experience and every child will love. From Tom’s sly trickery with the whitewashed fence—when he cleverly manipulates everyone so they happily do his work for him—to his and Becky Thatcher’s calamities in Bat Cave, the enjoyment just never ends.

The illustrations for this series were created by Scott McKowen, who, with his wife Christina Poddubiuk, operates Punch & Judy Inc., a company specializing in design and illustration for theater and performing arts. Their projects often involve research into the visual aspects of historical settings and characters. Christina is a theater set and costume designer and contributed advice on the period clothing for the illustrations.

Scott created these drawings in scratchboard an engraving medium which evokes the look of popular art from the period of these stories. Scratchboard is an illustration board with a specifically prepared surface of hard white chalk. A thin layer of black ink is rolled over the surface, and lines are drawn by hand with a sharp knife by scraping through the ink layer to expose the white surface underneath. The finished drawings are then scanned and the color is added digitally.

Customer Reviews:

The Greatest American of All?.......2007-07-04

It being the Fourth of July, or Small Explosives Day as I call it (training kids early to think bombs are fun can pay off with trillions of tax dollars, no questions asked), I am reminded of my favorite American, Mr. Sam Clemens.
I remember it was a hot July day, I was five or six and happily wandering the local library, and I saw an old copy of Tom Sawyer on a shelf. I'd heard of it, saw the cover of a kid with a slingshot in his back pocket, and said, "This is for me!"
I have never looked back.
Huck Finn is a deeper book, no doubt, dealing with deeper issues, while TS is all about the joys and pains of being a kid, and especially the joys of being a smart little rebel. No other book ever made America seem more appealing to me.
Twain understands what this country was meant to be, could be, should be, might be. He knows what kids are about, and how much smarter than adults they can be. From Tom Sawyer to Letters From The Earth rises and falls an arc that few artists of any nation can touch. Twain knows that this is the best and the worst country on earth, full of truly good-hearted if misinformed people who would love to trust their leaders if they could.
Above all, Twain lets us laugh at ourselves while seeing our foibles in the light of day.
There's a game where you pick three figures in history you'd like to have dinner with. I always used to choose Christ, Buddha, and Shakespeare. Thinking about it now, I might have to go with Twain at the head of the table.
Alas, to be betwixt Twain and Shakespeare...o, to lean back and listen. And laugh.
Thank you, Mr. Clemens. You will always be the real Uncle Sam.

ok read.......2006-06-14

This book is an okay book to read. It starts off kinda slow but begins to get better as you read it. Mark Twain is a very good author and knows how to write a book, but this isn't one of his best books. I really liked his other book Huckleberry Fin. that was a fun book to read, cause i could picture really well what was going on with the two boys. But this book is still a good book to read if you are bored or if you need a book to read over the summer, but it would not be a book that I would choose to read again.

Danielle's "Pick...".......2006-04-03

I think this book was the best book for reading counts because the characters are funny and some of them get into alot of trouble. I like the way the author writes the story. He makes the characters sound interesting and the situations that they are in don't sound boring. I think if people don't like to read as mush as other people do, they will enjoy this book. In this story, there is a boy named Tom Sawyer , who gets really gullable people to do his work for him. He also gets himself into alot of trouble. For example, Tom and his friends went to an island and they decided not to return home. Their family was getting worried and they were searching for them all over the town. Soon they asumed that they were dead. On the day of the funeral they returned, and of course, they got into alot of trouble. I reccomend this book because it is exciting and adventerous. You will really like this book!

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.......2006-03-04

Excellent adventure story for readers of all ages. Mark Twain hits it right on the head of what child experiences as he matures into his teenage years.

A True American Classic.......2005-12-21

This is simply one of the most mystifying tales that I have laid eyes upon, making the long story worthy of its five star rating. This historical fiction has everything I'd look for in a book and so much more. Mark Twain has included action, mystery, romance, and even comedy. "Tom Sawyer" is on par with the work of Homer's Iliad and the Odyssey, and deserves it place in history. The vivid descriptions in the story make the characters seem real, and makes the back hills of Missouri come alive. The plot never gets dull, and it even gets more exciting as the story goes on. The book is told through the eyes of a child, increasing the interest of the book. Everything seems filled with danger, and every odd and end is a treasure to behold. If you want a story that will enchant your every emotion, and makes you feel like you were just a child, pick up "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain. You won't be disappointed.
-Jason

Mark Twain: Selected Works, Deluxe Edition (Burlesque Autobiography/the Prince)

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Collection

Mark Twain: Selected Works, Deluxe Edition (Burlesque Autobiography/the Prince)
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: Gramercy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0517053578
Release Date: 1990-10-02

Book Description

It was from his experience on the Mississippi that Samuel Clemens took his nom de plume — Mark Twain, the call used by riverboat pilots when taking soundings of the river. The nom de plume was especially appropriate for Clemens, reflecting both his love of the Mississippi and his wry sense of humor. This Library of Literary Classics edition contains his best works including: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Prince and the Pauper, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.
This deluxe edition is bound in padded leather with luxurious gold-stamping on the front and spine, satin ribbon marker and gilded edges. Other titles in this series include: Charlotte & Emily Bronte: The Complete Novels; Edgar Allan Poe: Selected Works; William Shakespeare: The Complete Works; Charles Dickens: Four Complete Novels; Lewis Carroll: The Complete, Fully Illustrated Works; and Jane Austen: The Complete Novels.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Collection.......2006-12-14

This is a wonderful book, all the classic stories in a beautiful leather book. Explore the world with Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, enjoy the short stories that Mark Twain wrote, by yourself or share them with your children. I know that I will enjoy it for many generations to come.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Mark Twain Library)

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A Must Read
A boy's life
Tom Sawyer
One of the funniest books ever written
Great Tales of Youth and Adventure

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Mark Twain Library)
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0520235754

Book Description

This is Mark Twain's first novel about Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, and it has become one of the world's best-loved books. It is a fond reminiscence of life in Hannibal, Missouri, an evocation of Mark Twain's own boyhood along the banks of the Mississippi during the 1840s. "Most of the adventures recorded in this book really occurred," he tells us. This is a book one never forgets: Tom whitewashing Aunt Polly's fence, Tom and Huck's dreadful oath, their cure for warts ("spunk water" and dead cats), Tom's puppy love for Becky Thatcher, the boys playing "pirate" on Jackson's Island.
This Mark Twain Library text is the only edition since the first (1876) to be based directly on the author's manuscript and to include all of the "200 rattling pictures" Mark Twain commissioned from one of his favorite illustrators, True W. Williams.

Customer Reviews:

A Must Read.......2007-09-10

This book is a must read for every age. I am 34 years old and could not put the book down. I went to visit Hannibal, MO the next weekend and felt very connected to the town and the characters.

A boy's life.......2007-08-01

Mark Twain's story of a boy's life in a small town on the Mississippi River is worth reading for many reasons. First of all, it is just plain fun. Tom has many amusing adventures, such as the famous white-washing incident. The imaginations of the children are fully engaged; in a world without even picture shows, radio, or recorded music, much less TV or video games, the boys and girls of St. Petersburg do not lack activities to keep themselves entertained. There is also a dark side to this world, as exemplified by the murderer Injun Joe (here some of the unfortunate racism of the period sneaks into the narrative) and the many superstitions of the children.

Another reason to enjoy this novel is for its anthropological qualities. Twain took care to replicate the speech of that place and time as much as he could, and he claims that the beliefs and activities of the children (though not the specific plot developments of the novel) are accurate, which provides a fascinating window into life in the early 1800s. Yet another strong aspect of the book is Twain's portrayal of the psychology of boys. We can follow Tom's developing moral sense over the course of the story. In the beginning, he is largely amoral, his sense of ethics confined to feeling guilty over something he has already done through selfishness or impulsiveness. The murder in the cemetery and his awareness that an innocent man is going to be hanged presents him with a genuine moral dilemma, and the path he travels on his way to doing the right thing is believable and compelling.

This book is rightfully regarded as a classic of American literature.

Tom Sawyer.......2007-05-02

A boy who is just like a present day Dennis the Mennis. Tom sawyer is a fun and mischeivious kid who hasn't a care in the world. This book i would recommend for the middle schoolers because of the dialect of the writing. Elementary kids would have a hard time grasping the style and completely understanding it. Tom Sawyer has a great storyline with it switching from point-of-views every once in a while. It is definitly a page turner and keeps you on the edge of your seat. This book is a very good shows of Mark Twain's passion and love of writing.

One of the funniest books ever written.......2007-04-19

Anyone who's ever had to spend Saturday morning doing chores, or spent Sunday morning fidgeting through a boring church service, or chafed at the unfairness of having to spend a beautiful spring day in a stuffy classroom, can relate to Tom Sawyer.

And who has ever seen the humorous side of boyhood and small town life better than Mark Twain? Remember Tom trading his treasures for enough memory verse tickets to gain the coveted Sunday-school Bible? Every time I read that chapter I crack up! Or how about the great School Exhibition when all the young ladies read their truly awful compositions, and after which the schoolmaster's wig is snatched off to reveal...

Great Tales of Youth and Adventure.......2007-02-25

Author Mark Twain (1835-1910) captures the essence of childhood with this beloved tale of Missouri youngsters growing up along the banks of the Mississippi River in the 1840's. Tom Sawyer is a clever youngster and prankster, a bit lazy, and on the prowl to impress girls, use imagination, and seek adventure. His antics include getting others to paint a fence for him, occasionally avoiding school, and leading other kids as imaginary pirates and robbers. His aunt Polly represents adult stability, which perhaps explains Sawyer's attraction to another young rebellious sort named Huck Finn. I felt the best part of the book was when Tom and Becky Thatcher were trapped in a cave and sought to escape without encountering a desperate killer named Injun Joe. But other readers may be more attracted to sections of the book that describe Tom's daily activities and antics.

This story should be of equal interest to children and adults alike. It has timeless elements such as childhood fantasy, coming of age, young crushes, excitement and danger. This book was first published in 1876, yet children then and today share more characteristics than one might assume.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Tom Sawyer's Companion) - Easton Press Collector's Edition

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Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Tom Sawyer's Companion) - Easton Press Collector's Edition
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: The Easton Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
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ASIN: B000BWYLEI

Product Description

Magnificently illustrated and meticulously bound in BROWN genuine premium leather, features a hubbed spine accented with 22kt gold, lustrous moiré fabric (brown) endsheets, acid-neutral paper, gilded page ends, and a permanently bound-in satin ribbon page marker (golden yellow). (Dimensions: 6.5x9.5x1.5 inches)

Mark Twain Classics: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

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Mark Twain Classics: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: DH Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Cliffs Notes)

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Good resource

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Cliffs Notes)
James L. Roberts
Manufacturer: Cliffs Notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764586793

Book Description

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format.

In CliffsNotes on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, you experience the exciting adventures of a typical boy during the mid-nineteenth century. The characters — Tom himself, Becky Thatcher, Huck Finn, Injun Joe, and Aunt Polly — have become part of American heritage.

Use this study guide to help you discover all of Tom’s dreams and fears — and perhaps a few of your own! You'll also gain insight into the man behind this American classic — Mark Twain, a.k.a. Samuel Clemens. Other features that help you study include

Character analyses of major players
A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
Critical essays
A review section that tests your knowledge
A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Internet sites

Classic literature or modern modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Download Description

This novel is a partly autobiographical account of a boy's life along the Mississippi of the 19th century. Twain fills the story with mischief and hilarity, with the aim of entertaining children and reminding adults of their own childhoods.

Customer Reviews:

Good resource.......2004-01-27

I think this gives more of a summary than anything else. Students may find it useful for that, but the study topics and other info pales in comparison as to what is out there on the web regarding this topic

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