Helen Keller: From Tragedy to Triumph (The Childhood of Famous Americans Series) [Paperback]

Katharine Wilkie (Author), Robert Doremus (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 1986 | Age Level: 8 and up | Series: Childhood of Famous Americans

A biography, focusing on the childhood years, of the blind and deaf woman who overcame her handicaps with the help of her teacher, Annie Sullivan.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (October 31, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0020419805
• ISBN-13: 978-0020419808
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,281 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Health > Physical Disabilities
  • #11 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Series > Historical > Childhood of Famous Americans Series
  • #12 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Biographies > Literary

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A GOOD INTERMEDIATE BIOGRAPHY, November 26, 2000

By 

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Helen Keller: From Tragedy to Triumph (The Childhood of Famous Americans Series) (Paperback)

This book covers Helen Keller's life from her precocious babyhood wherein she greeted people with "how d'ye" and "tea, tea, tea" to her impressive adulthood as a crusader for persons who are blind.

Helen became blind and deaf after an extended, unidentified illness she suffered at 1 1/2. Unable to see, hear or speak, Helen communicated by a series of rudimentary signs and showed great precocity in learning to fold clothing and recognizing her own. She was also unruly and given to fits of temper, which was understandable considering her lack of access to ready communication.

When Helen was 3 months off 7, her now famous teacher, Annie Sullivan was hired to work with her. The redoubtable Ms. Sullivan taught Helen the manual alphabet and from her stellar progress at identifying familiar objects, taught her Braille as well. Helen's progress is nothing short of spectacular and she makes an impressive academic showing at the Perkins Institute for the Blind in Boston.

I liked the fact that this book did not dwell on that now tired scene at the water pump when Helen learns after having "water" spelled onto her fingers that "all things have a name." Instead of gasping and losing speed after the now overworked water pump scene, this biography picks up speed and the reader is treated to following Helen's academic progress at Perkins and later as a Radcliffe alumna.

This book glosses over Helen's radical socialism during her adulthood and also glosses over the challenges she and Annie faced as they matured together. It's a nice biography, but you do end up wanting more.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, November 10, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Helen Keller: From Tragedy to Triumph (The Childhood of Famous Americans Series) (Paperback)

I read one of the books about Helen Keller when I was nine years old, and I was hooked, at that age I could not put the book down, I actually memorized, taught myself the hand sign chart in the back of the book. I highly recommend this book. I am purchasing this book for my niece for Christmas, she loves to read. When you think you been short-cutted in life, read this. Then ask your self do you have it that bad?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helen Keller, April 11, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Helen Keller: From Tragedy to Triumph (The Childhood of Famous Americans Series) (Paperback)

...It's about a girl that is blind, deaf, and dumb. (As in can't talk) But later when she got a teacher named Anne Sullivan, she learned to do lots of things. When Helen was ten years old, she learned to talk. But still could not hear. I learned that if you are blind, deaf, or dumb, you could still do lots of things. I think you would like this book too.

I think all different kinds of people would like this book because people whoever likes biographies would like this book too.