I think I had only read 'Adventures of Tom Sawyer' once before, despite having read its sequel three or four times at this point. I obtained an immaculate copy of this book from Easton Press, illustrated by Norman Rockwell.
This is a really light-hearted book about childhood. Some serious things happen in the book, but the overall tone is one of kids playing and trying to stay out of trouble. It's beautifully written, as well. The book is considerably less dark than its sequel - not having read 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' in awhile, I suspected it would be much like 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.' It has a very different feel, though. I'm not sure which book I like better.
Tom always seems to be almost in situations over his head. At the same time, though, he is resilient and clever and has a way of making the best out of the hand he has been dealt even when it is a difficult one. I wondered at the time whether that hopefulness was emanating from his innocence and youth or whether it is deeper than that.
At one point early in the book, Tom Sawyer gets his friends to help him paint his aunt's fence by acting super-interested in it and privileged to have the opportunity to do it. It was important. It was fun. He ends up getting various trinkets as payment from his friends and handily gets the fence painted (with multiple coats) in a brief period of time.
Tom later trades the trinkets for tickets issued in Sunday school class for memorizing Bible verses. Once one gets enough tickets, they can be traded for a Bible as well as the bragging rights that go along with having completed a significant achievement. Tom successfully and proudly obtains his Bible. When asked who the first two disciples were, though, he has no idea and hilariously responds: "David and Goliath!" It's just too adorable.
Although 'Adventures of Tom Sawyer' deals with children being children, it is suited for either the young or the old to read. I am more in the latter camp. I enjoyed it tremendously and memories of it will stay with me fondly for awhile after my completion of it.