Mark T-W-A-I-N! (Creative Minds Biography) [Paperback]

David R. Collins (Author), Vicky Carey (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1994 | Age Level: 8 and up | Series: Creative Minds Biography

Covers the life of the famed nineteenth-century author from his childhood in Hannibal, Missouri, through his careers as journalist, riverboat pilot, soldier, prospector, and humorist.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-Similar in content to Robert Quackenbush's Mark Twain? What Kind of Name Is That? (S.&S., 1984), this biography features short chapters and an attractive format. Collins's tone is admiring and familiar, consistently referring to Twain as "Sam." The man's bad habits, financial losses, and personal bitterness in later life are mentioned, but the emphasis is on his successes and trademark sense of humor. The book's anecdotal style will appeal to readers, but the absence of documentation is an unfortunate weakness. Occasional direct quotations and the existence of a bibliography do not suffice, particularly since the author ascribes feelings and motives to Twain's actions. Nevertheless, the text provides an engaging, well-organized account of the writer's life, with stories about his childhood that allude to the autobiographical elements in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Carey's static pencil drawings are more formal in style than Quackenbush's cartoon illustrations. Although generally well written, Collins's title offers nothing substantially new on a subject easily researched elsewhere.
Sandy Kirkpatrick, Benicia Public Library, CA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. Beginning with Clemens' boyhood in Hannibal, Missouri, Collins chronicles the life of the famous nineteenth-century American author and humorist. Collins recounts several childhood escapades (some of which later appeared in Clemens' writings), explains why he hated school (it bored him), and relates how declining family finances reached a crisis stage when Sam's father died. Clemens worked at a variety of jobs (from journalist to riverboat pilot to prospector) with mixed results. While acknowledging Clemens' superb talents as a writer and performer, the author concedes several character flaws that affected his success, including a hot temper, a poor business sense, and a weakness for drink and gambling. Although the intended audience will be too young to have read Clemens' works, this is a lively biography that may well draw readers to them. Illustrated with charcoal drawings and appended with a bibliography and a list of Clemens' writings, this will make an appealing addition to the biography shelf. Kay Weisman --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Lerner Classroom (January 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087614640X
• ISBN-13: 978-0876146408
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,594,512 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A backpack full of information about the great humorist!, April 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mark T-W-A-I-N! (Creative Minds Biography) (Paperback)

Mark T-w-a-i-n was an interesting person with an exciting life! I was a little disappointed with the sad ending though. This book had BIG letters and would be easy for a fourth grader to read, but not too easy. Mark T-w-a-i-n would be good for a biography book report.