This novel takes place in the small town of St. Tom Sawyer is the main character of the book. He is a young boy who always seems to be getting into trouble.
The story starts off as Tom climbs in his window after a long night of troublemaking with his friends. Soon after that, he meets his new friend, Huckleberry Fin, who is a local outcast of the town and lives by his own terms. He was the son of the town drunk and had no one to tell him what to do. Tom and Huck become good friends. .
One night the two boys go to the graveyard in hopes to use a dead cat to get rid of some warts. While they are there, they witness the murder of the town doctor, Mr. Robinson. The boys watched as Injun Joe kills the doctor and frames a drunk by the name of Muff Potter who just happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. The boys swear never to speak of this again. Soon after this, Tom falls in love with his new neighbor, Becky Thatcher. Eventually the two become engaged but the engagement falls through when Tom accidentally mentions his former love to Amy Lawrence while talking with Becky. The two get in a fight and end up not speaking.
Meanwhile, the whole town is gossiping of the murder of Dr. Robinson and the trial of Muff Potter. The trial quickly takes place and Muff is put on the stand. Tom knows he can not let the innocent Muff go to jail so as the trial comes to a close Tom testifies, proving Injun Joe guilty.
After the trial ends, the search for Injun Joe begins. Tom is treated like a hero, but feels bad knowing that he broke Huck's oath. Becky and Tom soon become friends again after Tom takes Becky's punishment at school for being careless with the teacher's things. Injun Joe is still at large and Tom and Huck are searching for treasure. While searching near an old ghost house one night, the two boys over hear Injun Joe talking about some gold that he hid. The boys are determined to find it. .
As an end of the year celebration, Tom's whole class goes on a picnic and on a cave exploration near the wood outside of town.
