So You Think You Know Mark Twain.

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)

Written by Barbara Kelley

Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

Scholastic Inc. 2010

38 Pages

Historical Fiction

          This is like no other book you have ever read about Mark Twain. This book is all about Mark Twain from his thirteen year old daughter’s perspective. She did not think that people were getting the facts right about her Papa so she decided to write her own biography of him. Her biography contained his good traits, his bad, and everything in between. She was a great writer to be so young, and Twain cherished the unpublished biography dearly. There are excerpts from her actual journal featured in the book, mistakes and all! This book will make learning about Mark Twain  fun for students of all ages! 

          I love the illustrations in this book! They are like no other book that I have ever read. The illustrations are created digitally and inside the book there are little journals with Susy’s original work inside.  All of the illustrations are double page and feature informal text placement. The font changes throughout the book. I love the quotes of Twain and Susy placed throughout the book, it makes the book feel personal, as if you are reading her actual journal. 

          This book would be perfect to read when studying Mark Twain in English. This book gives a perspective that you will not find in any other book. A teacher could read this book when discussing the genre of biography, and the teacher could have the students write a biography of someone who they know a lot about. Teachers could also use this book to talk about focusing on key details because Susy was always observing for details to add about her papa. This book has not received any awards, but I believe it should!