Review: Mockingbird in Mark Twain's Hat

"Mockingbird in Mark Twain’s Hat, is an adventure story full of animals that talk. Wynne is a precocious mockingbird born in the rural south in the late 1800s. His whole family are singers, but at four days old, he wants to be a novelist just like his hero, Mark Twain. When crows attack his nest, he’s swept away on an epic adventure along the Mississippi River. Wynne learns to read and write, makes new friends in surprising places, and is mentored by Mark Twain himself. Full of delightful quotes from Mark Twain, this novel for children ages 8-12 shines with important lessons of character, perseverance, love, and the importance of friendship."

As you see in the blurb, this story is a "coming of age" tale with a mockingbird as the main character. You follow Wynne through her adventures and even meeting a famous someone! The story included several quotes that I found the need to highlight in my pdf version (wish I could share them here, but you will have to read for yourself and see if you can guess which ones!)

There is a part of the book that mentions slavery and follows a man who was a slave briefly. I love that this author didn't try to skirt around the problem of slavery that existed in the 1800s. It gives you the opportunity to discuss this issue with your children.

I felt like the end came too quickly and really wanted to read more about Wynne's journey but overall this was a wonderful book. I would have no problems sharing this with my girls.

While I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review, all opinions remain my own.