"Twain wrote: "The harder Tom tried to fasten his mind on his book, the more his ideas wandered." His "heart ached to be free, or else to have something of interest to do to pass the dreary time." That's a text book so-called symptom of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). A teacher today could refer him to a psychiatrist who would dope him with stimulants. Yet like any typical boy, Tom had no trouble focusing attention on something he found interesting - like finding a hidden treasure.

Tom's friend Huckleberry might fare worse. An avowed non-conformist, a psychiatric checklist could tag him with ODD - oppositional defiant disorder. And having run away from an abusive father, Huck would land in the hands of Child Protective Services "