THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER

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. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2009]