Laconia Reads is a community reading

program designed to promote literacy

and an appreciation for books,

connecting our community through

activities, book clubs, and conversation.

 

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Program Date:

Friday, May 1 – Friday, July 24, 2021

 

Book:

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

By: Mark Twain (American Publishing Company / 1876) 

 

This American classic takes us to the Mississippi River and into a small town where Tom Sawyer lives out the fantasies of every feckless young boy. And the lives of boys naturally include girls. We laugh out loud at Tom’s antics, relive history, become an explorer, fall in love and in the end wish we could discover buried treasure. The story is a composite of three boys Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835 – 1910) aka Mark Twain, knew as a boy and can be considered as memoir.

 

“Although my book is intended mainly for the entertainment of boys and girls, I hope it will not be shunned by men and women, for part of my plan has been to try to pleasantly remind adults of what they once were themselves …." from the Preface. Signed: The Author/Hartford, 1876

 

Activities for the Entire Family:

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Family-oriented programming was shared and promoted on a regular basis with the community throughout the community read, and was brought to you by Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center. 

 

Read Along with Us:

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Free paperback copies were available at the Laconia Public Library as part of their curbside pick-up program. Digital copies of the book were also available through the library - contact them online or by telephone at (603) 524-4775.

 

Weekly notes about the text were included by Elizabeth Howard, columnist, The Laconia Daily Sun.  The notes were available every Friday in Laconia Links, The Laconia Daily Sun, and through the Celebrate Laconia Facebook page.

 

Weekly chapter video readings were posted on the Laconia Reads Facebook group. and they are also posted on the Laconia Reads playlist on the Celebrate Laconia YouTube channel. Each Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday readings from the week’s chapters were read by special guests and posted, giving you a chance to read along and hear from someone else enjoying the adventure.

 

Weekly Reading Breakdown:

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• Week 1: May 1 - May 7 - Chapters 1 - 3

• Week 2: May 8 - May 14 - Chapters 4 - 6 (part 1)

• Week 3: May 15 - May 21 - Chapters 6 (part 2) - 8

• Week 4: May 22 - May 28 - Chapters 9 - 11

• Week 5: May 29 - June 4 - Chapters 12 - 14

• Week 6: June 5 - June 11 - Chapters 15 - 17

• Week 7: June 12 - June 18 - Chapters 18 - 20

• Week 8: June 19 - June 25 - Chapters 21 - 23

• Week 9: June 26 - July 2 - Chapters 24 - 26

• Week 10: July 3 - July 9 - Chapters 27 - 29

• Week 11: July 10 - July 16 - Chapters 30 - 32

• Week 12: July 17 - July 23 - Chapters 33 - 35

• Final Day: July 24 - Conclusion

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For more information or if you have a question, please email connect@celebratelaconia.org.

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Community Partners:

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Business Sponsors:

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Individual Sponsors:

 

Karen C. Prior, Executive Director, Belknap Mill; Mayor Andrew Hosmer; Elizabeth Howard