Monday, November 1, 2010

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Huckleberry Finn, previously introduced in the novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, is a rebellious and independent boy. Readers find out that Tom and Huck received $6,000 apiece from the previous book. Then, Widow Douglas adopts Huck to "civilize" him. Huckleberry is required to go to school and even pray before meals despite his prior laid-back life on the streets. Huck is also forced to have spelling lessons with Widow Douglas' sister, Miss Watson. That evening, while everyone is asleep, Huck hears a "me-yow! me-yow!" Huck climbs out of his window into the ground and sees Tom Sawyer. While tiptoeing along a path, Huck trips over a root and Miss Watson's slave, Jim, hears them. Eventually, Tom and Huck make a quiet get away and meet some boys to form a gang, "Tom Sawyer's Gang." As Tom is adjusting to his new life-style, he sees footprints in the snow. He identifies that the footprints belong to his father. Huck sells his six thousands dollars to Judge Thatcher for a dollar. Pap, Huck's drunken father, and Huck meet up and go to Jackson Island. To escape Pap, Huck sets up a murder scene so everyone thinks he is dead. While roaming Jackson Island for a few days, Huck runs into Jim, Miss Watson's slave. they plan to run away together. What will become of Jim and Huck?
I really enjoyed this novel because I was able to get more familiar with the character Huckleberry Finn despite his brief introduction in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. I was impressed how Huck tried to go with his new life style regardless of his image in the past. This book is bery exciting and full of adventure.
-Reviewed by Michelle, grade 9.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is about a young boy who seeks out for adventures but ends up causing trouble. Miss Watson and Widow Douglas attempt to keep Huck away from trouble. However, when Pap returns to town, he demands Huck to give him money, and kidnaps him. Then, Huck fakes his death, and escapes from Pap, leaving to Jackson Island. Huck then meets Jim, and trys to protect him from some slavecatchers. Eventually, Jim ends up athe the Phelps farm. Tom and Huck try to save Jim, when Tom gets shot in the leg.

I personally enjoyed this book because it was very suspenseful and mystifying. Huck was a very outgoing character and didn't really give anything away early in the book. The reader wouldn't be able to detect what was coming next in the book which made it very exciting and adventurous. Overall, I believe that this book should be recommended to any reader with a sense of humor and open mind.

Teen Speak said...

Huckleberry Finn revolves around Huckleberry Finn who is being taken care of by Widow Douglas and her sister Miss Watson. Widow Douglas's slave Jim later escapes with Finn. Finn's father, "Pap" Finn, is a drunk, thief, and cruel man who somehow always finds Finn. Mr. Twain's novel tells the story of how Huckleberry Finn and Jim leave Widow Douglas and on their journey do many adventurous and amazing things.

The book is very long and the dialect might be a bit difficult to understand, but it is the greatest book I have ever read. No book is as good as this, you learn so many life lessons from it and you will never be bored. The beginning is a bit boring, but do not stop reading it, you will regret it. Mark Twain i an amazing author and in my opinion this is by far the creates book or novel he has every written.

Reviewed by AJ, Grade 10
Grandview Library

Teen Speak said...

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain follows Huck Finn, a clever young teenage boy in his escape from his father. Huck fakes his own death and runs away from home to flee from his violent druken father. He is later accompanied by his slave friend Jim, who is a runaway slave who hopes to make it to Cairo, where he can be free and eventually reunite his family. You join Huck and Jim in their nighttime adventures and the strange and dangerous situations that they keep getting themselves into.

I started this book expecting it to be very boring and confusing and I don't think I could have ever made a more incorrect assumption. Wow, I enjoyed reading this book from beginning to end because the title is not misleading in the slightest, every page is a new adventure for Huck. I love how when you're reading what other characters are saying, the dialect is very accurate and southern, like you can imagine the characters voice and accent, but it does make it a little difficult to understand exactly what the characters are saying. Overall, the book made me realize just how much things have changed in America, like society, acceptance and equality, language, etc. I think those who enjoyed The Adventures of Tom Sawyer would also enjoy this book.

Reviewed by Nayri T., Grade 11
Casa Verdugo Library

Teen Speak said...

From what I was able to grasp, so far, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been about a boy named Huckleberry Finn who, after a sudden accumulation of wealth ( a result from its prequel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer) tries to get accustomed to the unfamiliarity of orderly living conditions. He holds on to parts of his old life by joining his friend’s (Tom’s) “gang,” where they dream of becoming just like the robbers and gangs they read about in stories.

Although, from previous knowledge, I know that this novel is a wonderful story capturing racism and slavery in America placed in the late 1800s, the language and slang used by the author seemed like a foreign language to me. I found myself getting confused easily and having to search up different terms every couple of sentences. I think this book is one that should be discussed in a classroom setting versus reading it individually, because class discussions would help one better grasp the meaning behind the text.

Reviewed by R.O., Grade 10
Casa Verdugo Library

Teen Speak said...

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is about a boy named Tom that causes a lot of mischief throughtout the town. Tom and Huck are at a graveyard and witness the murder of Dr. Robinson. Muff Potter is accused of the murder, however he was not the murderer, Injun Joe was. Later on, Tom and Huck overhear Injun Joe planning to kill Widow Douglas. Injun Joe found out that Tom and Huck overheard him, so he is now trying to kill them. Then, Tom is with Becky, the girl he likes, and Injun Joe finds then in a cave. Eventually escaping, Tom and Becky trap Injun Joe.

I personally really enjoyed the story. It had a thrilling plot full of twists and turns that grab the reader's attention over and over again. It displayed great foreshadowing that is hard to catch. It also had amazing visual detail. I was picturing every scene, full captivated. The book covers everything a book could have: romance, humor, adventure, mystery, and horror. It is great for any type of reader. It is also easy enough of a book for younger readers while a strong enough plot line for older readers, great for any age. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a great book that I would recommend to many readers.

Anonymous

Teen Speak said...

This book is about Tom Sawyer's life and all his conflicts. One day at midnight, Tom and his friend Huckleberry Finn witnessed a murder. The murderer Injun Joe puts his murder into someone else's hands. The boys are too afraid that Injun Joe will also kill them if they were to tell who the true murderer was. Tom and his friend Huck later do heroic deeds that help the whole town. Tom overcomes his fears and acts as a witness for the trial, and Huck Finn ends up saving a widow from getting slaughtered by Injun Joe.

In addition, there is a sweet but complicated relationship story between Becky and Tom. The reason is because of all their childish acts. However, as the book advances, so do they. They act more maturely. In the beginning of the book, Tom always starts something bad and she does something in return. For example, Tom pretends to talk to Amy Lawrence. For revenge, she pretends to read a book with some other random guy. She also invites people to a picnic, but once again he pretends to ignore her. This habitually continues. As for the mature acts, Tom takes beatings for what Becky has done wrong. Also, they get along with each other and support one another when they're trapped in a cave.

The novel has presented me with numerous amounts of information about society during the time period in which this book takes place. The book mentions that $12,000 is the most money anyone has seen in the time period. There are slaves back then like Jim, who worked for Aunt Polly. Huck Finn who is a social outcast and has no food to eat still is sure that he is higher in rank than African Americans just because his skin is white. When the boys and girls go to the carnival, the boys are given three pins while girls are given only two.

Back then, they didn't care much for religion. The kids memorized lines from the Bible just to get these tickets the teachers gave out. They were able to redeem them with a Bible later. When the "revival" comes, everybody is religious for just that time period. Right after, they return back to normal. This is a cool book that will help you connect with kids today.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was, in my opinon, a fair book. I liked how I learned more about society back then. Overall, I enjoyed many different parts from the book. Of course I laughed while watching the "white-washing the fence" scene. I think starting the book out with this scene introduced Tom well and expressed that he was no ordinary boy. I thought the conflict of Dr. Robinson's murder was engaging and I often wondered what I would have done if I was to be in Tom and Huck Finn's situation. Furthermore, I thought it was pretty impressive when Tom took beatings for Becky. This takes actual courage to admit something you didn't do. I love how Tom took the lead in finding the exit out of the cave when Becky was so afraid. I thought it showed strong leadership.

This book shows the innocence of children back then. It makes me compare the kids today to the kids back then. Not saying the kids back then were better, but they certainly had a different style of playing and entertaining themselves. This book has an intricate plotline and it is very well written.

-Reviewed by Anonymous, grade 8.

Teen Speak said...

I also wrote a poem describing Tom:

I AM TOM SAWYER

I am a crafty boy, who has a different scheme for Aunt Polly for every single get-away.

I wonder if warts really do fall off the way Huckleberry Finn said they would fall off.

I hear the mourning of the whole town because of Joe and my absence.

I see Sid and Aunt Polly always glimpsing at me as if something is suspicious.

I want the real murderer of Dr. Robinson to be caught so Muff Potter is freed.

I am, along with the rest of the boys in town, a great admirer of my friend Huck Finn.

I pretend that I have a really bad toe pain when I actually have a loose tooth.

I feel ingenious for obtaining free items for letting others paint three coats of a fence that is thirty yards long and nine feet high.

I touch the Bible I received, and mused on how many items I traded for tickets.

I worry that Becky will never accept me again when she returned the brass andiron knob I gave her.

I cry when I see Aunt Polly shed tears about how much she wished I was alive.

I am the ultimate entertainer of Sunday school, just because I brought a pinch bug with me.

I understand that by signing my name in blood, I had agreed to keep silence about the murder of Dr. Robinson.

I say to my family that I dreamt of the murder when I actually witneseed it.

I dream that someday, I am Tom Sawyer the pirate! - the Black Avenger of the Spanish Main.

I try to show off and get Becky Thatcher's attention, but she never seems to notice me.

"I hope Tom's better off where he is," said Sid, "but if he'd been better in some ways_"

I am exceedingly disobedient and I often have a thirst for adventure, but my Aunt Polly still loves me.


-By Anonymous, grade 8.

Teen Speak said...

In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, Tom, a mischievous young boy goes on a whole lot of adventures. Tom lives with his half brother Sid and his Aunt Polly. He gets into a lot of trouble. One time, he got a friend to whitewash a fence for him. He falls under the stress of society and decides to run away. He stays on an island because he witnessed a murder. He comes back homesick and decides to testify in court. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a book filled with adventure. Tom's mischievous actions make you think back into your childhood and reminisce about the good days. You never get tired of reading about the trouble he gets into. This book is wonderful to read for people of all ages.

-Reviewed by B.K., grade 9

Teen Speak said...

This book is about a boy named Tom who lives with his aunt Polly. Tom by far is very troublesome, from tricking his friends into helping him with chores, to loving a girl named becky yet liking another girl. Tom and Huckleberry go to a graveyard and take front line seats in front of a murder committed by their friend Joe. They then continue to leave out of town having Tom return numerous times decidedly on his funeral.Tom then takes a blame for a damaged book that Becky owned. She was converted to her good side. Tom and Becky get lost for a couple of days in McDougal's cave. In the cabe they spot Joe so they run out.

I enjoyed this book. It started off calmly having me picture a child that just bends rules left and right.But this book takes a twisted turn towards some darkness. This reminds me of Edgar Alan poe's Books with murder. When Tom find a girl he likes it bring joy to me but after finding out he likes another it made me sad.Overall in all honesty I would definitely recommend this book only to those who enjoy adventures or plotting books. In my mind I have the song thriller playing because I feel it suits the theme.

Reviewed by Eduard N, Grade 8
Casa Verdugo Library