In the first chapter, Tom Sawyer's loving but exasperated caretaker, Aunt Polly, catches Tom playing hooky from school. Tom meets a new boy in town and is vexed by the boy's nice clothing and citified manner. Tom and the new boy fight, and Tom prevails and chases the boy home. Aunt Polly catches Tom sneaking in his window late and vows Tom will spend his Saturday working as punishment.
Aunt Polly attempts to punish Tom Sawyer for playing hooky from school by having him whitewash the fence on a Saturday. Tom hoodwinks the other boys passing by into giving him their toys and other treasures in exchange for doing all of his whitewashing work for him.
After commanding his kid army forces to victory, General Tom Sawyer spots a lovely blonde girl. Tom immediately transfers his adorations from his current girl interest, Amy Lawrence, to the new little girl. When the new girl spots him, Tom pretends not to notice her, attempting to win her over with with antics and gymnastics. The little girl throws a pansy over the fence and disappears inside. Careful not to be noticed, Tom grabs the pansy and hides it in his jacket. At supper, when Sid breaks the sugar bowl, Aunt Polly punishes Tom for it. Tom takes off in a sulk, first visiting the river and then the little blonde girl's house. While Tom lingers there, a maid douses him with water and he returns back home.
Tom Sawyer's cousin, Mary, tries to help him learn his assigned Bible verse before Sunday school, but Tom proves a poor student. At Sunday school, Tom trades the loot he earned from his whitewashing scheme for Bible memorization tickets. During Sunday school, the little blonde girl arrives with her highly respected father, Judge Thatcher. Tom moons over her, and Amy Lawrence is devastated to realize the new girl has won Tom's heart. Superintendent Walters asks any child with enough memorization tickets to come forward for their Doré Bible prize and is shocked when Tom strides up with his fraudulently acquired tickets. Judge Thatcher praises Tom, and asks him the names of the first two Disciples of Jesus in the Bible. Of course, Tom has no idea and humorously blurts out, "David and Goliath."
After Sunday school, Tom Sawyer attends church service and listens to the sermon. He spots many of the town inhabitants, including the Model Boy, Willie Mufferson. Tom is restless during the long sermon. First a fly torments him, and when he catches it, his aunt makes him release it again. Tom's tedium is somewhat relieved when his pinchbug nips his finger, and he reflexively flicks it into the aisle. The situation becomes even more entertaining when a poodle dog tangles with the beetle and loses. Tom leaves church cheerful from the spectacle, but a little resentful of the poodle dog for stealing his pinchbug.
Hoping to play hooky from school, Tom Sawyer pretends his toe is infected. His aunt sees through the lie, and Tom confesses a loose tooth is what really ails him. His aunt pulls the tooth, and Tom starts off toward school, impressing the other boys with his ability to spit through his new tooth gap. Tom meets town pariah Huckleberry Fin, and after discussing wart cures, they exchange Tom's tooth for Huckelberry's woodtick. Tom arrives late to school, angering the schoolmaster. Tom is surprised to see his crush, Becky Thatcher, in class. To impress Becky, Tom confesses he's late to school from tarrying to talk to Huckleberry, stunning the schoolmaster with his uncharacteristic honesty. The schoolmaster takes the switch to Tom and forces him to sit with the girls. Of course, sitting with the girls is not a punishment for Tom. Tom sits by Becky, charming her by giving her a peach, drawing her a picture on his slate, and writing 'I love you.'
Tom Sawyer and Joe Harper begin playing with Huck's woodtick during school, and each get whacked by the schoolmaster for their inattention. At lunch, Becky Thatcher and Tom sneak off to be alone. Becky agrees to be engaged with Tom. Each confesses their feelings of love, and they share a kiss. When Tom lets it slip he was previously engaged to Amy Lawrence, Becky feels hurt and betrayed. Tom tries to make amends by giving her a brass knob. When Becky refuses the gift, Tom marches away. Becky reconsiders and tries to call Tom back, but he's already too far away to hear her.
Tom sneaks off into the woods on the summit of Cardiff Hill, feeling very sorry for himself. He sits and imagines dying, disappearing mysteriously from town, or becoming a clown, a soldier, an American Indian, and a pirate. He attempts to cast a spell to summon all of his lost marbles and is stunned when it fails. He consults with a doodle-bug, but when it refuses to talk to him, concludes a witch interfered with his marble magic. Finally, he comes across his bosom buddy, Joe Harper, and they play Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest.
Tom Sawyer sneaks out in the middle of the night to meet Huckleberry Finn, who carries a dead cat. Tom and Huck visit the old graveyard, where they witness Injun Joe murdering young Doctor Robinson. Injun Joe convinces old Muff Potter that Muff is the murderer, unaware that Tom and Huck know the truth.
Frightened of retribution from Injun Joe, Tom and Huck hide in a tannery and take a blood oath not to divulge Injun Joe's guilt. They hear a stay dog howl and fear its a harbinger of one of their deaths. They also hear the sound of someone snoring, investigate, and find Muff Potter sleeping. The stray dog howls at Muff Potter, and the boys figure the dog has come to take Muff. Sid sees Tom sneaking back inside the house, and Sid tells Aunt Polly. Aunt Polly weeps over Tom and says she's giving up on him. Tom begs Aunt Polly's forgiveness, but receives only a partial reprieve. Things aren't much better for Tom back at school. Tom is flogged for playing hooky and finds the brass andiron-knob that Becky refused to take from him.
The town is abuzz with news of the murder of young Doctor Robinson. A gory knife supposedly belonging to Muff Potter was found, and Muff Potter has reportedly vanished. A crowd gathers at the graveyard to see the doctor's body, and a distraught Muff Potter appears and is apprehended by the Sheriff. Injun Joe testifies against Muff, and Muff is distraught. Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn don't speak up with the truth, convinced Injun Joe has sold his own soul to the devil. Tom is haunted by what he knows, suffering from nightmares and slipping comfort items to Muff Potter in jail.
Tom is distracted from his guilt over Muff Potter when Becky Thatcher falls ill and is absent from school. Tom spends his nights lurking outside Becky's house and grows depressed. Aunt Polly becomes concerned and tries all sorts of quackery on Tom without any luck. Tom grows tired of her ministrations, and makes a nuisance of himself by asking for Pain-killer until she backs off. To keep up the ruse, Tom disposes of the medicine in a crack. One day, the cat shows an interest in the Pain-killer, so Tom gives him a dose. The cat zooms around a hurtles out the window, shocking Aunt Polly. Aunt Polly punishes Tom for his mischief, but later feels guilty. Tom is thrilled when Becky returns to school, but crushed when she rejects him again.
Scolded by Aunt Polly and Becky Thatcher and mired in self-pity, Tom decides to run away. He meets Joe Harper, a like soul, and they decide to join forces and become pirates. They abscond to Jackson's Island in the midst of the Mississippi River and are joined by Huckleberry Finn. The boys sneak off to steal expensive provisions and spread gossip about their whereabouts. The boys spend the night on the island, feeling free and discussing their future exploits. In the silence of the night, the boys begin to regret their thefts and decide to stop stealing expensive items.
Tom awakens to the mesmerizing sounds and sights of nature on the Mississippi River island. The other boys awaken and are delighted that their raft floated away during the night, distancing them further from civilization. After catching fish for breakfast, they have a great day exploring their island and swimming. However, later that afternoon, they all begin to feel the first pangs of homesickness. The boys hear a repeated booming sound and follow the sounds to a steamboat and skiffs searching the water for their drowned bodies. The boys are thrilled by this, knowing they've been missed. However, the boys remain hidden on their island. During the night, Tom writes messages on two sycamore scrolls, leaving one in Joe's hat, and sneaks off to the sandbar with the other.
Tom Sawyer sneaks back to his house, where he overhears Aunt Polly and Joe's mother crying over the boys, who they believe are drowned. Tom is touched. He begins to leave a sycamore scroll for Aunt Polly, but then reconsiders. He returns to the island with Huck and Joe.
The next day, the three boys have a turtle egg feast and frolic in the water and on the sand. Despite the fun, the boys still feel homesick. Joe calls it quit first and starts to leave. Huck joins Joe to head for home, and Tom reveals a secret to convince them to stay. Joe and Tom try smoking a pipe for the first time and become very ill. A severe thunderstorm strikes and the miserable boys huddle in their tent. When the storm passes, the boys rally, building a fire, enjoying a feast, and staying up all night talking. That day, Tom keeps their spirits bolstered by reminding the others of the mysterious secret.
Becky mopes around the schoolhouse yard, longing for Tom and his brass andiron-knob. The other boys and girls tell stories about the boys in remembrance. That Sunday, the whole town gathers at the church for the boys' funeral. There's not a dry eye in the church, when the door creaks open and the boys appear at their own funeral, carrying out their secret plan. The townspeople rejoice and sing at the return of the boys.
Incorrigible Tom Sawyer recounts his sneaky visit to his Aunt Polly as a dream. Poor, gullible Aunt Polly believes the spirit is on Tom, giving him the power of prophecy. Only Sid suspects that Tom was really there. At school, Tom and Joe are received like heroes. Becky Thatcher tries to catch Tom's attention, but he ignores her in favor of Amy Lawrence. Feeling hurt, Becky cries, but spends time with Alfred Temple to make Tom jealous. When Alfred realizes Becky is using him to irk Tom, he retaliates by pouring ink on Tom's spelling book. Both Tom and Becky end up miserable and alone and leave school.
Aunt Polly realizes she's been hoodwinked regarding Tom Sawyer's prophesying and is furious with him. Once again, Tom convinces Aunt Polly to forgive him. Aunt Polly loves Tom all the more when she discovers the note Tom wrote on the tree bark.
Tom Sawyer begs for Becky Thatcher's forgiveness, but she snubs him again. Becky unlocks a drawer and sneaks a peak at the schoolmaster's anatomy book. When Tom catches her, she accidentally tears a page. When Tom is punished for his ink-covered spelling book, Becky doesn't turn Alfred Temple in. When the schoolmaster takes out his anatomy book, Tom realizes Becky will be caught and takes the punishment for her crime. Tom is happy to take the flogging and detention, for in return he's reconciled with Becky. Shamed by Tom's noble action, Becky reveals to Tom that Alfred spilled the ink on his spelling book.
With Examination Evening coming, the schoolmaster gleefully administers extra lashings to the younger boys for every shortcoming. The boys hatch a plan to get revenge on Examination Evening. When its Tom's turn to perform for the parents and dignitaries, he suffers stage fright in the middle of his speech and cannot continue. Later on, as the schoolmaster attempts to draw a map upon the board, someone lowers a cat on a string from the attic above. The cat snatches off the schoolmaster's wig, revealing his gold-painted head. The cat is quickly drawn back up into the attic, and the boys successfully obtained their vengeance. School is out, and vacation begins.
Tom's vacation isn't as fun as expected. He joins the Cadets of Temperance in the hopes of marching in full regalia, however, the lure of alcohol and profanity are too much and he quits. Becky is gone on vacation, and then Tom suffers from measles. The people of the town find religion that summer, and even Joe and Huck have turned pious. Tom suffers a measles relapse, but is comforted when he learns that Joe and Huck also relapse back from religion to mischief.
Uneasy due to talk of Muff Potter's upcoming murder trial, Tom and Huck renew their pledge of secrecy. Feeling guilty, they visit Muff Potter in jail. They find Muff resigned to his guilt and the death penalty. Tom and Huck haunt the courtroom during the trial, unable to stay away. During the trial, the defense lawyer strangely fails to cross-examine any of the prosecutor's witnesses. In a twist, the defense lawyer calls Tom Sawyer to the stand, who begins to testify that he saw Injun Joe kill the doctor. Injun Joe jumps out the window and flees the courtroom.
Tom is the town hero, and Muff Potter is forgiven and embraced by all. However, both Tom and Huck suffer from horrible nightmares featuring Injun Joe. No trace of Injun Joe is found despite rewards being offered and a detective from St. Louis assisting with the search.
Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn decide to search for treasure, despite having no map and no concrete ideas of where to look. Tom and Huck discuss what to do with any treasure they find. Huck says he'll spend it all before his father can take it from him. Tom says he'll get married, which bewilders Huck. They dig in a few places with little luck. Undeterred, they decide to dig where the shadow of a tree limb falls at midnight. They strike out again and decide to try searching a haunted house during the daytime.
When Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn return to search the haunted house for treasure, they are interrupted by two men. The boys are shocked to discover that one of the men is Injun Joe in disguise. When the men stumble across a box of gold coins, Tom and Huck can't believe their good luck. However, Injun Joe finds Tom and Huck's digging tools and becomes suspicious. He decides to relocate the treasure to his 'No. 2' hiding spot under a cross. Injun Joe and his comrade take off to stash the treasure and complete one final job of vengeance before fleeing to Texas.
Tom Sawyer dreams of treasure that night, and when he awakens, he thinks the box of gold coins must have been a dream. He visits Huckleberry Finn and is relieved it was real when Huck mentions the money. The boys speculate on where the mysterious No. 2 hideout is located, and believe it may be a tavern room. Huck reluctantly agrees to follow Injun Joe that night to see if he visits the tavern room.
Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer stake out the tavern alley. Tom sneaks in the room, and almost steps on Injun Joe. Luckily, Injun Joe is sleeping with the aid of some alcohol. The boys decide to wait until Injun Joe leaves and then search for the treasure.
Becky Thatcher returns to town and she holds the promised picnic. During the picnic, the children eat and drink, ride a ferryboat, and explore a cave. Tom Sawyer and Becky visit Widow Douglas after the party for ice cream. Meanwhile, Huckleberry Finn trails Injun Joe and his henchman to the Widow Douglas' house. They reveal they are there to enact revenge. The Widow Douglas' husband had Injun Joe horsewhipped in front of the jail. Huck sneaks away and brings back help. When gunfire erupts, Huck flees.
The Welshman questions Huckleberry Finn, and Huck reveals that the Spaniard is actually Injun Joe in disguise. At church, Mrs. Thatcher and Aunt Polly discover that no one has seen Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher since the cave the day before. The cave is searched, but Tom and Becky are not found. Huck falls ill and is cared for by the Widow Douglas.
This chapter returns to the day of the party and the cave, when Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher squeeze behind a waterfall and explore a new passage. They discover many wonders, stalactites, stalagmites, and lakes, before they are chased by bats. They become hopelessly lost in the cavern. They had marked some of the walls with smoke, but not enough to find their way back. Eventually, their candles run out, and they remain by a spring of water, hoping they will be found by the rescuers. They are eventually found by someone, but that someone is Injun Joe! Injun Joe flees, and Tom returns to Becky, not telling her who he saw. Becky is too weak to search anymore, but Tom sets out again with his kite-string.
Tom Sawyer sees a speck of light and rescues himself and Becky Thatcher from the cave. During this time, Injun Joe's 'ragged man' henchman has drowned, his body found in the river. Judge Thatcher tells Tom they've closed the cave with a locked iron door. Tom tells the Judge that Injun Joe is trapped in the cave.
Injun Joe was trapped behind the iron door in the cave and has starved to death. Tom Sawyer pities Injun Joe for suffering such a horrible death, but Tom is also relieved he is no longer in danger. Tom and Huckleberry Finn search the cave and find the treasure under a marked cross. While on their way to stash the treasure, the Welshman accosts Tom and Huck and insists they accompany him to a party thrown by the Widow Douglas.
The Welshman, also known as Mr. Jones, announces that Huckleberry Finn should be honored for saving the widow. The Widow Douglas announces her plan to house and educate Huck, and Tom reveals that Huck is rich. Tom shows the party attendees the gold coins, which amounts to around twelve thousand dollars (around $353,000 in 2020).
Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are admired and lauded. Their money is invested for them, and they earn a sizeable income off of it. Inspired by Tom and Huck, grown men dig up old abandoned houses, searching for treasure. Judge Thatcher takes an interest in Tom's future, saying Tom should attend the National Military Academy and become a lawyer. Huck chafes under the requirements of society. He hates wearing fancy clothes, fancy manners, and attending church. He longs to be free and runs away from the widow. When Tom finds him, Huck tells Tom to take all of the money. Huck values his freedom over the money. Tom manipulates Huck into returning to the widow's by telling him Huck cannot join Tom's robber gang unless Huck is respectable.
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