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

If Mark Twain were to do a recording of TOM SAWYER, it would probably sound much like Thomas Becker's reading for Commuters Library. Becker gives his narration a wise and wizened air as Tom and Huck run away to an island, play practical jokes, and witness a murder. There is pure innocence to the romance of Tom and Becky--and excitement as they wind through dark and endless caves, pursued by a killer. Becker manages to portray the dialogue in a way that is genuine, without any pretension or condescension. Stories for young readers--or adults, for that matter--seldom approach the adventure and the honesty of Twain's novel. Thomas Becker's performance is an ideal match. S.E.S. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

Twain's classic tale of high jinx on the banks of the Mississippi has it all: mischievous boys, robbers, buried treasure, and a graveyard at midnight. Not to mention the irresistible title character and his adventurous sidekick, Huckleberry Finn. The novel's many melodramatic scenes give Mike McShane the chance to showcase his considerable ability to switch from jolly voices, for the likes of Tom and Huck, to menacing voices, for characters like Injun Joe. The more melodramatic the scene, the more McShane shines, as his voice conveys lurking danger or hilarious hysterics with equal ease. P.B.J. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

In an expressive voice reminiscent of Hal Holbrook, Dick Hill alternately whispers, shouts and otherwise tells the familiar tales of one of America's favorite young heroes. Tom's escapades are brought to life by Hill's vocally differentiated characters and his ability to heighten interest through pauses and exaggeration. The echoey special effects in the cave sequences add spooky realism. The attractive, eye-catching cover depicts the fence-painting episode in color. A wise selection for the library needing a new Mark Twain classic. C.J.M. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

[Editor's Note: The following is a combined review with THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN.]--Recorded over a decade ago, these volumes suffer from a few bad edits and sound quality inferior to today's standards. Tim Behrens does a spirited job performing both, fully voicing the characters and keeping his touch light. But he adds an inappropriately mincing quality to the children and women he impersonates and emphasizes the low humor. These are definitely not the most profound interpretations of these classics but are amusing enough for the casual listener. Y.R. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

Among the many versions of Twain's novels and stories, this two-cassette abridgment stands out for Garrick Hagon's appealing storytelling. Hagon lays out a well selected sequence of scenes and familiar episodes in an intimate performance. His narrative rhythm is exceptional, creating a style that draws listeners in and holds their attention. Characters are given good vocal color, but never overdone. Aunt Polly, Tom, Huck, and all the characters become part of a wonderful whole. A great choice to introduce Twain and enjoy a particularly fine performance. R.F.W. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

Over nearly sixty years, this reviewer has come across myriad film, TV, stage, and dumbed-down print versions of this classic paean to childhood. Nonetheless, listening to this reading, I am struck by how fresh, how clever, how true it sounds. As narrator, Patrick Fraley has many virtues: a gift for voices and dialect, incredible and seemingly inexhaustible energy, an obvious and infectious delight in his material. He is too broad, too cartoony, too manic to represent the author's tone satisfactorily. But he is never dull. Y.R. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are delightful companions for any audiobook listener. Tom Parker's spirited narration conveys Twain's childlike wonder in this classic tale for the young and young at heart. Adventure, humor, social commentary and superstition are skillfully blended through picaresque language in a work that is naturally suited to the audio format. Tom and Huck must sweat and toil to find their treasure, but we have only to relax and listen. This is an outstanding performance for the whole family. B.L.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Multi-voiced productions can go either way; fortunately The St. Charles Players do an outstanding job with this classic. The presentation offers listeners a completely new experience. Those who don't like or are uncertain about the novel will probably be won over after listening to this gem. Because Twain is such a colorful writer, his work is perfect for this all-encompassing production. Injun Joe, the kids, snoring, birds chirping in the background and the Twain-like narrator are all splendid. Reading or a single-voice narration is nothing compared to the variety, spirit, charm and sheer fun to be found here. Everyone will love it. S.G.B. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

TOM SAWYER is a daunting challenge to any narrator, and Will Wheaton does not comfortably articulate the required Midwestern accents. This fine actor is not at home here. The production shows signs of haste; Cairo (Illinois) is regularly mispronounced, for example. However, the abridgment is well done, catching the proper highlights, and Wheaton is expressive if not convincing. My younger children (5 and 7) enjoyed listening; the older ones (10 and 13) were more critical, but they've read the full text. D.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Grover Gardner slips inside the humor and drama of this classic, casting a spell that vividly creates Twain's nineteenth-century setting for listeners. Whether dramatizing the exchange between two boys about to fight or that of clever Tom outwitting goodhearted Aunt Polly, Gardner highlights all the virtues of Twain's prose: that sly sense of humor, those deep insights into the human heart, whether glimpsed at a church funeral, a schoolyard, or a picnic gone wrong. As narrator, Gardner excels at pacing Twain's story to deliver maximum drama, while creating memorable characters through accent and tone. Gardner's ability to capture a specific sense of time and place while also conveying Twain's timeless insights about human nature make this production one the author himself could happily approve. J.C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

Garrick Hagon's delivery of this classic by Mark Twain captures the listener early on with his portrayal of the excitable Aunt Polly. He adjusts his tones smoothly from the role of the narrator of the story to performing the characters' dialogue in a robust manner. Hagon shows all sides of Tom--the clever way he gets other boys to do his chores, his nervousness when he attempts to woo Becky Thatcher, and his bravery when he takes charge of a lost youth in a dangerous cave. Although commonly regarded as a children's story, this classic has themes of race relations and social commentary that will stand out for mature listeners. K.M.D. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Tom's adventures continue to be engaging, funny, innocent, and insightful all at the same time, and are full of great characters living their nineteenth-century lives with all of America's confidence and wide-open possibilities. I wish I could report to you that William Dufris, usually a very reliable narrator, is up to the task, but alas, I cannot. Dufris adopts a homey, meandering voice that mostly sounds tentative and doesn't match Twain's energy. He tries to liven up a bit during dialogue scenes, but the character voices he uses for Tom and Huck don't have much depth. This is a serviceable version of the book, and if you haven't read it in a while, it's worth a listen. But it's not the classic version it could be. R.I.G. (c) AudioFile 2009, 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