The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kerley, Barbara. 2010. The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy). Ill. by: Edwin Fotheringham. New York, NY. Scholastic Press. ISBN: 978-0-545-12508-6

PLOT SUMMARY

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) is a biography of Mark Twain, from the perspective of his daughter Susy and includes some biographical information about Susy Celemens, told by Barbara Kerley. It is filled with whimsical musings on Twain, mixed with family stories, thoughts, and feelings shared from Susy’s diary. It provides a candid look into Samuel Clemens, (Mark Twain)’s life, and gives a personal view into the Clemens household. It delves into some funny roles various family members had in Mark Twain’s life and career, along with the heartwarming glimpse into their love for each other.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Kerley writes a biography within a biography as he details the life of Mark Twain through the eyes of his daughter, Susy. Along with his text, Kerley includes excerpts of Susy’s diary into each page, which looks like a miniature book insert. They support Kerley’s information and add an engaging element, as we get a glimpse into his daughter’s thoughts. He utilizes bold font when directly quoting Susy and Mark Twain. His sense of humor is evident as one page shows a poster advertising one of Twain’s lectures. The poster features bold, capitalized headings that appear to be describing Twain, but the text directly contradicts the sub-headings. One line says, “MAGNIFICENT FIREWORKS,” while the text under it states, “Were in contemplation for this occasion, but the idea has been abandoned.” The reader can’t help but laugh at this page!

Kerley’s use of Susy Clemens’ diary and other primary sources such as, letters and biographies, substantiate the accuracy of the quotations. After the book ends, he includes instructions for kids, on how to write biographies of their own. In addition, there is an author’s note about Papa and Susy, which give details about the inspiration for the book and more factual information about Twain’s and Susy’s life. He also provides a detailed timeline of Mark Twain’s life, along with a list a sources used to write the book.

Fotheringham’s cartoon-like illustrations are colorful and brilliant. The pages cleverly support the text and bring the character of Twain to life. He uses bold lines and bold colors to catch the reader’s eye. Each page has a squiggle of lines flowing from Mark Twain and the tales he writes, tying the pages together.   

REVIEW EXCERPT

2010 CYBILS Nonfiction Picture Book Award

*Starred review in the School Library Journal: “Kerley and Fotheringham again craft a masterfully perceptive and largely visual biography, this time about the iconic 19th-century American writer.”

CONNECTIONS

*Invite students to use journal writing to keep track of their day to day experiences.

*Students can write their own biographies about a family member’s life.

*Another children’s biography about Mark Twain:

Prince, April Jones. 2004. Who Was Mark Twain? ISBN 978-0448433196