The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Jim Weiss is a wonderful storyteller, expansive and droll, with a gentle, ironic voice and a fine sense of timing. He also excels at character sketches, and listeners will be amused by his Tom, Aunt Polly, Becky, and Huck, among others. This production is a "storyteller's version" of the children's classic, though, so listeners should expect to move quickly from whitewashing the fence, to meeting Huck Finn and Becky Thatcher, to the graveyard scene. Weiss chooses only the highlights in this hour-long version. Though such brevity could distress loyal readers of the original, in the capable hands of Weiss, it may be a good way to tempt young listeners to read the book on their own. J.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine


Narrator Rebecca K. Reynolds energetically conveys the spirit of this abridged classic, which is intended for young listeners. Reynolds's Tom is memorable when he slyly "invites" his buddies to paint Aunt Polly's fence. Twain's humor and sarcasm are deftly rendered, along with his story's sometimes funny superstitions, nostalgia, and old-time words, such as "confound it." To add further charm, Reynolds occasionally seems entertained by her own delivery. Listeners will accompany--and be just as scared--as Tom and Becky Thatcher when they are lost in the cave, and Injun Joe is frightening in his many guises. Most winning are Tom and Huck's private conversations, while their hunt for treasure is surprisingly fun and timeless. Although this is intended for young people, older listeners can also enjoy this treat. S.G.B. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine