title: Becky: The Life and Loves of Becky Thatcher
author:  Lenore Hart 
description: Hart's latest (after Ordinary Springs) imagines the fictional Becky Thatcherbest known as Tom Sawyer's crybaby girlfriendas a strong heroine whose true story was held back by childhood friend Samuel Clemens, who chose to give the charismatic Tom Sawyer center stage in his writings. Hart's riveting and often moving take intersperses Becky's version of events in the Mark Twain novel with the events of Becky's life as the wife of Tom's cousin Sid during and after the Civil War. In Hart's hands, Becky morphs from sniveling and helpless to woman warrior: dressing as a man to find her husband on Civil War battlefields and trying to hide from Sid and herself her lifelong love for Tom. The narrative finds Becky in Nevada, navigating life in a mining town, and eventually in San Francisco as a wealthy woman. In between, the author conveys the hell of battle and how its effects linger long after the last shot is fired. Mark Twain purists may balk at the idea of Becky fearlessly trekking with Tom's Freebooters, and though the charisma that Tom supposedly radiated doesn't entirely come through, Hart brings her sometimes motley cast to life throughout. Mark Twain is a tough act to follow, but Hart does her heroine justice. <br />Copyright  Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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  ![cover-image](../images/Cover_2.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Go home, Bo, and leave my kid alone.”
  
  
  “Sorry, I can’t do that.”
  
  
  She was halfway through the door and she quickly swung back. “What?”
  
  
  “I promised Luci I would play with her.”
  
  
  “No!” Becky walked out onto the porch, and her blue eyes were doing their
  usual thing, sending daggers his way. “Stay away from my daughter.”
  
  
  “Why does it make you so nervous that I’m talking to Luci?”
  
  
  “It doesn’t.” She brushed a flyaway strand of hair behind her ear, belying
  that statement.
  
  
  “Who’s Luci’s father?”
  
  
  He thought the question would spike her blood pressure, but she was very calm,
  staring at him with cool eyes. “And that concerns you how?”
  
  
  “It doesn’t.”
  
  
  “Good, we’re clear on that. Now please stay away from my daughter.”
  
  
  He strolled across the street and knew he wasn’t going to do as she’d asked.
  His interest was piqued. What was Becky hiding?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Dear Reader,
  
  
  How many times have you said I’m 