[LM_NET] BOOK REVIEW: Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miller

[Shonda Brisco <sbrisco@GMAIL.COM>]

Normally I don't write book reviews and I'm certainly not going to try
to compete with some of the great ones that I've seen on the list, but
I had to share this awesome book!

"Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller" by Sarah Miller is a historical
fiction account of the early life of Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller's
teacher, told from the perspective of Annie as she begins her journey
to Tuscumbia, Alabama to begin teaching young Helen. As a young
graduate of the Perkins School for the Blind, Annie is only 20 years
old when she accepts the job of "Teacher" to the unruly child who
controls the lives and actions of everyone around her.  Through small
glimpses of memories of her own life as an abandoned child living with
her younger brother Jimmie at Tewksbury (the State Almshouse in
Boston, MA), Annie describes her early life and the obstacles that she
faced as a visually impaired, outspoken, head-strong, and often,
obstinant young girl.  It is through this connection of strong-willed
determination, that "Miss Spitfire" breaks open the world of language
and understanding for Helen Keller within only one month of working
with the child.  Her self-less desire to see her student achieve
success in everything that she does and understand the importance of
being able to communicate her thoughts and ideas is not only a
wonderful story for those interested in the lives of Helen Keller and
Annie Sullivan, but also an inspirational read for those teachers who
work with students who are often not considered "worth the effort"
but, rather can see "the child within" and know the success that can
be achieved through consistency and unrelentless determination.  (A
definite "must-read" for any teacher of the blind or visually
impaired!)

The book provides additional information at the end for those
interested in the history of Helen and Annie.  End matter includes
photographs of Helen and Annie, lists of books for additional reading,
videos, plays, and movies made about their lives, and websites for
more information about blindness, Braille, sign language, and
historical information about the work done to advance the education of
the blind and visually impaired.  (This is a definite "must-have" book
for any school library that serves students who are blind or visually
impaired ---and I'm sure it will be in audio, large print, and braille
formats soon...if not already!)  This is also Sarah Miller's debut
novel.
http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=1&pid=535439




~Shonda


-- 
Shonda Brisco, BA Ed., MLIS
Library Media / Technology Specialist
Weatherford, TX 76086

Digital Bookends wiki / blog:
http://digitalbookends.pbwiki.com
http://shonda.edublogs.org/
sbrisco@gmail.com

Resources for Texas School Librarians:
http://txschoollibrarians.ning.com/
http://txschoollibrarians.wikispaces.com/

"Digital Resources" columnist
School Library Journal

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