The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)

Bibliography:

Kerley, Barbara. 2010. THE EXTRAORDINARY MARK TWAIN (ACCORDING TO SUSY). Ill. by Fotheringham, Edwin. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780545125086

Plot Summary:

There have been many biographies written about the great American author Mark Twain.  Many of them talk about his literary career and the humor that he brought to his writings. In this serious but cute biography, we get a to know Mr. Twain through the eyes of his daughter, Susy.

Susy has heard how people talk about her father being such a humorous and upbeat man.  She knows that this is partly true but what about the other characteristics of "Papa" that no one is talking about or at least don't know about him.  Susy decides that she is going to write about "Papa" and tell the world what her father is really like; all of his personality quirks and nuances.  Susy during the day would follow her father around; studying his every move: the way he talked, walked, how he would take time to himself.  She wrote these details in a journal that she kept hidden under her pillow. Susy was determined that the world would REALLY KNOW who Mark Twain is.  Each day she would watch "Papa" and then in the evening she would write down her observations in the journal.  One day, Susy's mother found the journal and showed it to her father.  Upon seeing and reading some of Susy's entries, Mr. Twain was, "...touched that Susy had started the biography "secretly and of her own motion and out of love" for him." At this point, Mr. Twain or "Papa", would sometimes go out his way to overemphasize things about himself to ensure that Susy would be able to write a well-rounded account of who he was. Susy would go on to write close 130 pages about her "Papa".  Mr. Twain would 20 years later write his autobiography and include excerpts from Susy's journal in his book.

Critical Analysis:

Barbara Kerley does an excellent job of not only writing a story about Mark Twain but also telling how the details come courtesy of his daughter, Susy.  Ms. Kerley has done careful research about Mr. Twain and when she comes across the writings of Susy: she chooses to use her (Susy) biographical account about her father.  One of the unique way that Ms. Kerley writes this story is by using different fonts, to give the reader the impression that a child wrote the story. The illustrations throughout the book which are created by Edwin Fotheringham lend themselves to a time period of gingham, linen suits, family always together, and enjoying the outdoors.  His color choices are not too bold but soft and subtle; taking care to accentuate  the main character: Mr. Twain. Also, another creative piece is how Susy's journal is a small page showing her handwritten notes about her father.  This is a biography that can be read and enjoyed by children and adults.

Review Excerpt(s):

KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Kerley’s conversational, quotation-rich narration effectively complements Susy’s insights, and the result is an affectionate portrait of Twain as writer and family man."

Connections:

This story is a good introduction for students to Mark Twain  before reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer or Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

This picture biography can be used as a model to how to write a biography.