A. Bibliography Kerley, Barbra. 2010. THE EXTRAORDINARY MARK TWAIN (ACCORDNIG TO SUSY). Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 978-0-545-12508-6
- Summary
According to his daughter Susy, Mark Twain was not the person the general public thought he was. After learning that Twain’s thirteen-year-old daughter had written her own description of him in her diary, Kerley has drawn on that to produce an account of Twain’s life and personality. Excerpts from Susy's actual diary appear inside separate mini-book inserted throughout book. The book includes bibliographical references and index.
- Critical Analysis
Two texts run though this unusual book. The first is Kerley’s account of Samuel Clemens’ 13-year-old daughter, Susy, who decides to write her father’s biography in her journal. The second is a series of excerpts from that actual biography, neatly printed in script-like font with Susy’s misspellings intact. These entries appear on smaller, folded pages, each marked “JOURNAL,” that are tipped into the gutters of this large-format picture book’s double-page spreads.
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. Twain enthusiasts will be especially captivated by its fullness, as he's not revealed as the author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn until mid-book.
Fotheringham's dynamically composed, digitally created full-bled illustrations, both inventive and appealing, effectively recall the 19th-century setting, and big, swirling lines reflect the flourishes of an ink pen. A favorite spread shows the grand Connecticut house as a cross-section, with Twain going about his routine in every room, even taking a bath! This book is a heartwarming tribute to both the writing life in general and the well-loved humorist.
A final bonus is a one page guide to students on “Writing an Extraordinary Biography (According to Barbara Kerley*),” which is available at the author’s website.
- Awards and Review Excerpts
- AWARDS -
Kirkus Best Children’s Books ; 2010
Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books; 2010
School Library Journal Best Books; 2010
Washington Post Best Kid’s Books; 2010
- REVIEW EXCERPTS -
BOOKLIST review: “Kerley manages to bring Susy and her famous father to life using plenty of household anecdotes. With a restrained palette and a fine sense of line, Fotheringham’s stylized, digital illustrations are wonderfully freewheeling, sometimes comical, and as eccentric as Susy’s subject.”
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE review: “Through text and journal inserts (which, we are reminded, Suzy keeps hidden under her pillow), readers get unique glimpses of Mark Twain’s life from his young daughter’s point of view. Susy gives readers both Twain’s good qualities (e.g., her Papa’s and mother’s initial meeting) and others not so good (e.g., Twain’s description of some visitors as “mentally dead”). These juxtapositions illustrate the simplicity and humanity of the often-idolized American canonical author.”
- Connections
Read other books by Kerley such as What to do About Alice? And compare the styles of the biographies.
Have students create an “Extraordinary Biography” about someone they know using Kerley’s guide.
Create a summary about Mark Twain based on the book.
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