Module 4 Book Review #3: The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)

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*This book review was written for a MLS course at SHSU.*

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

PLOT SUMMARY
According to Susy Clemens, Mark Twain, the world-famous author and also her father, was seen quite differently through other people’s eyes than what she saw through hers. In order to capture his true essence, she began to write her own biography about him. She studied most of his internal characteristics and his daily moves regarding his work and other personal life matters, and then she would record them all in her journal. Twain eventually became aware of his daughter’s mission and appreciated how she did not “cover up one’s deficiencies but gave them an equal showing with one’s handsomer qualities”. Susy’s biography became more detailed over time, and when Twain published his autobiography, he made sure to include some of her journal excerpts to celebrate her honest truth.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In this book, not only does Kerley narrate the story of how Susy, Mark Twain’s daughter, wrote about how she personally notices her father, but she also provided excerpts from Susy’s detailed biography. For the story, the author provided many typical literary nonfiction elements, including dialogue, description of characters, and a focused plot. This allows the readers to understand Susy’s purpose for writing and at the same time, recognize how much Twain constantly worked yet also make time for his family. In addition to this, the author added in bolded quotes to help emphasize some of Twain’s actions and beliefs. As for the biography, Kerley provided the selections through little flaps that signify a little journal. There is a flap on the majority of the book’s pages, and when they open, a scripted font is displayed to represent Susy’s handwritten notes on her father.

Edwin Fotheringham’s illustrations appear to be digital and, in a way, similar to those found in a graphic novel. The dark, yet bold colors perfectly represent the story’s setting. Some of the drawings refer to Twain’s humorous qualities and are comical to readers (i.e. when he rode Kiditchin, the donkey and when he pretended to be sick when he was younger). Fotheringham’s work does an excellent job in capturing the characteristics Susy intended for everyone else to notice within her father.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
*School Library JournalReview: “A delightful primer on researching and writing biographies, and a joy to peruse.”
*Publishers Weekly Review: “Author notes about Susy and her father, a time line of Twain’s life, and tips for writing an “extraordinary biography” complete this accessible and inventive vision of an American legend.”
*Kirkus Reviews Review: “Readers need not be Twain devotees to fall in love with this charmer.”

CONNECTIONS
*Barbara Kerley provided a resource sheet so readers can write their own heartfelt biography over a family member or someone else they are close to. In this resource, she referred to the different techniques Susy used when writing about her father and gave suggestions and tips on how readers can also go about finding this type of information.
*Readers can use the provided timeline to help create a project celebrating Mark Twain’s chronological accomplishments.
*Who Was Mark Twain?by April Jones Prince is another enjoyable biography that highlights Twain’s life.

PICTURE SOURCE
https://www.amazon.com/Extraordinary-Mark-Twain-According-Susy/dp/0545125081

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