No doubt, my passion is about promoting literature for teens of color. But, sometimes, I take a divergent path. Like today, I have to mention an important find in my recent travels abroad.

I was able to take a day trip to a little town in Normandy called Rouen. This is the city where you can find la Rouen Cathedrale that was subject of many of Monet’s paintings (it holds the remains of Richard the LionHearted); earthenware faience pottery, the tower where Joan of Arc was held prisoner and the site where she was burned.

Inside the tower, are many artifacts celebrating her existence, including the original manuscipt of “Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, by the Sieur Louis de Conte”. This story first appeared as Harper’s Magazine and was actually penned by Mark Twain. This book is acclaimed to be Twain’s masterpiece. He was deeply moved by her story and spent about 12 years researching in France.

I’ve had students read and enjoy Twain in the past, they may very well enjoy this book as well.