Huck Finn on Mark Twain's Adventures

But he’s not the only one to know his character. While writer William Faulkner called Twain “the father of American literature,” not too many youngins know about the man behind “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”—except Huck Finn, of course. Huckleberry Finn, perhaps Twain’s most beloved character, knows a thing or two about the author—and who better to tell his life story? “Mr. Mark Twain put pen to paper to tell my story, so it seemed only right fair that I return the favor,” Huck says in the introduction to “The Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn” (Atheneum; $17.99), Huck’s first literary effort. “Now, I ain’t no scholar boy, but I know … Mark Twain. He was a writer, one of America’s finest. He wrote stories about me … and he wrote about my friend Tom Sawyer, and he was famous for sayin’ exactly what was on his mind, which can cause considerable trouble from time to time. Mr. Mark Twain and I sometimes seem as if we were growed out of the same hole.” But being a boy and not a writer, Huck needed some assistance in telling Twain’s story, and he received it from writer Robert Burleigh and illustrator Barry Blitt. Mr. Blitt will be at the Hickory Stick Bookshop in Washington Depot June 11 at 2 p.m. to sign copies of their collaboration, “The Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn.” “It was really fun to do,” Mr. Blitt said from his Washington studio last week. “I had the most fun drawing Mark Twain, who was such an interesting ‘character’ in his own right. There are so many photographs of Mark Twain that were readily available to me, and who wouldn’t have fun drawing Mark Twain’s wild and crazy hair.” What drew Mr. Blitt to “The Adventures of Mark Twain” is that the book cleverly allows readers to get “right acquainted with the man behind the pen” in a conversational manner. The language of the book is 100 percent Huck Finn, complete with Huck’s unique point of view. For instance, Huck notes that Mark Twain was “an interesting character … even if he did sometimes get all gussied up in linen suits and even if he did make it rich and live in a house with so many tiers and gazebos that it looked like a weddin’ cake.” He tells readers flat out: “Mr.

The Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn - Booklist Online

The stage is set, the tone established and the fun begins as Huckleberry Finn himself (with considerable help from Robert Burleigh and Barry Blitt) turns the tables on his famous creator and tells The Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn (S&S/Atheneum 2011).  Huck tells us that it’s time someone told about “Mark Twain, his own self” and he, Huck, “knowed him ’bout as well as anyone.”  And we’re off on a highly colloquial and entertaining journey through Twain’s life.  Blitt’s wonderful caricature-style illustrations are as much fun as the text.  Huck looks in on a large-headed Twain in two-page spreads depicting the many roles and stages of the writer’s life.  Huck’s picturesque language may take some explaining to the youngest readers but they will love Huck’s disregard for “the King’s English.” Our focus group loved this book.  It makes a great read aloud and the illustrations are packed with wonderful details that draw readers back for closer looks.  And along the way, kids will learn a lot!

This is a fun way to introduce Twain and biographies to young readers but it is also ideal to use with older students studying Twain’s famous writings.  Put this on a visual presenter and have fun.

I have to say too that Twain may be my favorite American author so I came to this book with my fingers crossed.  Happily, I left it smiling with pleasure.  Thanks, Huck!

Cindy : I reckon this is  my favorite bioografy this year. Our middle schools are putting on a production of Tom Sawyer this week so there’s extra interest in Twain right now in this neck of the woods. For such a spare book, Huck hits the highlights and does so in a tone and style that adds to the understanding of Twain and his writings. Huck says about The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, “It’s funny, and it slides down pie-easy.”  The same could be said for Huck’s work here. I most highly recommendate this book.

It got me to thinking that it might be fun to have other characters narrate the biography of their creators. The possibilities are endless:

Louisa May Alcott by Jo Marsh

Dr. Seuss by The Grinch

William Shakespeare by Puck

and…. what would you suggest?

Please head to the Jean Little Library blog for this week’s Nonfiction Monday blog round-up.