Think of an adventure that Tom Sawyer cannot have. He can even turn the boring errand of whitewashing a fence into an adventure. He has a penchant for mischief. Besides, he is well-read. He knows how to fight a battle, hunt for treasure, plan his own funeral, carry out a pirate attack... He is a hero for his friends. His closest comrade Huck thinks that Tom can do anything. Half real, half make-believe, they have their own carefree world. But will it ever be the same when they witness a murder one night?

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was first published in 1876. Favored by generations of young readers, it remains to date one of the best coming-of-age adventure stories.