In a hotel in Paris one evening in the 1879, Mark Twain sat with his young daughters, who begged their father for a story. Choosing a picture from a magazine to get started, Twain began telling them the tale of Johnny, a poor boy in possession of some magical seeds, who finds himself on a quest to rescue a stolen prince. Later, Twain would jot down some rough notes about the story, but the tale was left unfinished . . . until now.
Plucked from the Mark Twain archives at the University of California, Berkeley, Twainâs notes now form the foundation of a fairy tale picked up over a century later. With only Twainâs fragmentary script and a story that stops partway as his guide, author Philip Stead has written a tale that imagines what might have been if Twain had fully realized this work. This is a story that reaches through time and brings us the debut childrenâs book of Americaâs most legendary writer, envisioned by one of todayâs most important names in childrenâs literature.
Read by Keegan-Michael Key and Philip Stead, with Mark Bramhall as the voice of Mark Twain, Julia Whelan as Susy Clemens, and an Editorâs Note read by Frances Gilbert.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Awards
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Release date
September 26, 2017 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780525498711
- File size: 34082 KB
- Duration: 01:11:00
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Languages
- English
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Levels
- LexileÂź Measure: 740
- Text Difficulty: 3-4
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Reviews
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Publisher's Weekly
Starred review from July 10, 2017
Working from notes Twain made after telling an especially successful bedtime story, Philip C. Stead completes the tale of gentle Johnny, whose heart is pure despite his bleak surroundings and cruel grandfather. A magic flower gives him the power to understand the speech of animals, and a menagerie of kindly creatures helps him win the reward for finding the kingdomâs lost Prince Oleomargarineâan insufferable twit, as it turns out. In postmodern fashion, Johnnyâs odyssey is often interrupted by imagined banter between Twain and Stead, who sit outside an island cabin and argue about how to proceed. Erin Steadâs exquisite woodblock-and-pencil prints give the creamy pages an ethereal feel; her detailed close-up portraits of the main characters create a sense of intimate acquaintance. Even the action spreads have the stately appearance of medieval tapestries, as when Johnny and his animal family appear before the king: the tiny monarch, a tad defensive about his stature, sits on a throne that elevates him almost to the ceiling, putting him face-to-face with the delegationâs giraffe. At the storyâs heart is a plea for honesty and kindness, expressed in its purest form by Johnny, whoâunlike his voluble authorsâdoesnât say much. âThen he opened his mouth and discovered the words that could save mankind from all its silly, ceaseless violence.... He said: âI am glad to know you.âââ Stead stays faithful to Twain with a cast of eccentric characters, celestially fine writing, and a crusade against pomp that doesnât sacrifice humor. Ages 8â12. Agent: (for the Mark Twain House and Museum) Tina Wexler, ICM; (for the Steads) Emily van Beek, Folio Literary Management. -
AudioFile Magazine
Author and narrator Philip Stead created this funny, rollicking story from a set of notes by Mark Twain. Stead capably voices the humorous chapter introductions and author asides, which provide a framework for the fable. Keegan-Michael Key narrates the tale of young Johnny, his pet chicken, and all his other animal friends. Key's combination of verve and gentleness reflects Johnny's sweet nature and willingness to set off on a great adventure. Mark Bramhall delights as the crotchety Twain, who argues with Stead over story details between chapters. With Julia Whelan and Frances Gilbert performing as Susy Clemens and the voice of the Editor's Note, this production creates a unique audio experience and maintains the unusual format of the text without sacrificing clarity. N.M. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
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Formats
- OverDrive Listen audiobook
subjects
Languages
- English
Levels
- LexileÂź Measure:740
- Text Difficulty:3-4
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