The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)
by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. 2010. New York: Scholastic Press. (9780545125086).

Author Website: http://www.barbarakerley.com/Site/Welcome.html

Illustrator Website: http://www.edfotheringham.com/

Media: digital media

Awards and Honors: A Junior Library Guild Selection; Kirkus, starred review; School Library Journal, starred review; Publishers Weekly, starred review

Annotation:
Much ink has been spilled writing about Samuel Langhorne Clemens, the man the world knows as Mark Twain, but did you know that his closest biographer was Susy Clemens, his young daughter?

Personal Reaction:
      The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) is an illuminating look at Mark Twain, the husband and father. Written from anecdotes compiled by Susy Clemens, Twain's young daughter, it offers entertaining, personal observations on the man that many thought they understood, but few really knew. Susy, determined to "set the record straight" on her "Papa", wrote a revealing biography of him in her own diary and Kerley uses actual excerpts in the book. These are included as neat journal inserts in flowy handwriting font. Fotheringham's digital illustrations are sometimes flat looking, as digital drawing are often wont to be, but his caricatures of Twain are expressive and spot-on. An author's note at the ends offers more details of Mark Twain, Susy and their close relationship, a timeline of Twain's life and tips on writing an extraordinary biography. 

Curriculum Connection: 
Upper Elementary/Middle School Language Arts and Social Studies

Lesson Plan:

Teacher:               
Diana Garcia

Subject Area:              
Language Arts/Social Studies      

Suggested Grade Level:      
5-7  

Lesson Title:              
Writing Biographies

Overview:              
Students will learn about biographies- what one is, how to create one- and will pair off with a classmate and create a short biography of them.

Time:                  
2-3 hours
Materials/Equipment Required:  
- The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) by Barbara Kerley
- notebooks
- pencils

Objectives:  
Students will learn about the process of writing a biography and will practice by pairing together with a classmate, interviewing and writing a biography about them. Students will learn to research, conduct inquiries, organize and summarize information into well-written mini-biographies.
Suggested Procedure:          
Teacher will read aloud The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) and lead a discussion of Susy and her biography of “Papa”.
Teacher will distribute the handout  “Writing an Extraordinary Biography” (available at www.barbarakerley.com/ teachers.html) to students and they will read it together and discuss how to:
1.    gather information by conducting interviews and taking notes
2.    how to get facts straight about people, places, dates, events, quotes
3.    bring the subject to life by including details, quotations, lots of examples
4.    create a well-rounded portrait of their subject by showing difficulties and successes, good and bad habits, serious and funny sides
Teacher will ask students to pair off and interview each other. Example questions are: 
-    Where were you born?
-    Who are the members of your family
-    Where do you live?
-    Who is your best friend?
-    What do you want to be when you grow up?
-    What is your best quality?
-    What is your worst habit?
-    Tell me a funny story about your family/friends?

Students will takes turns being the interviewer/subject, taking notes, etc.

Students will produce a short 1 to 2 page biography of each other.

Additional Resources:  
Allow students to explore biographies of famous people in the library, or on  biography.com or the Biography Resource Center database (if available)