The Adventures of Tom Sawyer vs The Grapes of Wrath: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Historical Fiction, Fiction
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Mark Twain created the memorable characters Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn drawing from the experiences of boys he grew up with in Missouri. Set by the Mississippi River in the 1840's, it follows these boys as they get…
1 film adaptation
vs
The Grapes of Wrath
Steinbeck’s classic novel of the Great Depression is as vivid now as ever. The story focuses on a family of Oklahoma sharecroppers, farmers who work another man’s land for a share of the crops. Driven from their home by…
1 film adaptationBanned book
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is the quickest read — about 3 hours vs 11 for The Grapes of Wrath.
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer has the widest readership — 1042999 ratings behind its score.
- The Grapes of Wrath runs the darker storyline; The Adventures of Tom Sawyer stays the lighter read.
How to choose
Want a one-evening read?
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
≈ 3h vs 11h for The Grapes of Wrath
New to the genre?
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Moderate vs Challenging for The Grapes of Wrath
In the mood for something dark?
The Grapes of Wrath
a darker storyline than The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Want something lighter?
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
an easier tone than The Grapes of Wrath
Scores by source
| The Adventures of Tom Sawyer | The Grapes of Wrath | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 3.9 (1042999) | 4.0 (1024175) |
| Hardcover | 3.7 (1097) | 5.0 (3) |
| Google Books | 4.0 (6) | — |
| Apple Books | 4.5 (232) | 4.5 (108) |
Reception
| The Adventures of Tom Sawyer | The Grapes of Wrath | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 1042999 | 1024175 |
| Editions | 879 | 321 |
| Film adaptations | 1 | 1 |
| Want to read | 438227 | 844499 |
| Reading it now | 28017 | 30422 |
| Written reviews | 17857 | 32453 |
| Wikipedia attention | 28883 | 56010 |
| Pages | 214 | 642 |