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Hand in Hand
Inspired by the real-life story of Helen Keller and the servant girl Martha Washington!
How did Helen Keller manage before Annie Sullivan came to teach her language? This fictionalized story of two very different girls in the South, two decades after the Civil War, builds on the mentions of Martha Washington in Keller’s autobiography and reimagines their relationship.
Martha, Helen’s constant companion, is the cook’s daughter — a black girl, just a few years older, and the person who best understood Helen’s attempts at communication. Charged with keeping the unruly younger girl occupied and out of trouble, Martha is sometimes bullied, sometimes a co-conspirator, and often Helen’s rescuer. She is with Helen as Annie teaches her words and language, even on the miraculous day when Helen understands that the water running over one hand, and the word W-A-T-E-R that is being spelled into the other, are connected — the event that freed Helen to communicate with the wider world.
When Jean Little revisited Keller’s The Story of My Life, she became fascinated with the few mentions of Martha and wondered what it might have been like to be in Martha’s place and to be given the difficult task of minding Helen — a girl so different, in a position of privilege and yet dependent on her. Could the two girls forge a friendship? Jean Little’s fascination with that personal dynamic has evolved into a remarkable story of two girls navigating through the world, Hand in Hand.
How did Helen Keller manage before Annie Sullivan came to teach her language? This fictionalized story of two very different girls in the South, two decades after the Civil War, builds on the mentions of Martha Washington in Keller’s autobiography and reimagines their relationship.
Martha, Helen’s constant companion, is the cook’s daughter — a black girl, just a few years older, and the person who best understood Helen’s attempts at communication. Charged with keeping the unruly younger girl occupied and out of trouble, Martha is sometimes bullied, sometimes a co-conspirator, and often Helen’s rescuer. She is with Helen as Annie teaches her words and language, even on the miraculous day when Helen understands that the water running over one hand, and the word W-A-T-E-R that is being spelled into the other, are connected — the event that freed Helen to communicate with the wider world.
When Jean Little revisited Keller’s The Story of My Life, she became fascinated with the few mentions of Martha and wondered what it might have been like to be in Martha’s place and to be given the difficult task of minding Helen — a girl so different, in a position of privilege and yet dependent on her. Could the two girls forge a friendship? Jean Little’s fascination with that personal dynamic has evolved into a remarkable story of two girls navigating through the world, Hand in Hand.
- GenresCanadaHistorical
128 pages, Paperback
Published August 30, 2016
2 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Jean Little
109 books193 followersJean Little is a Canadian author, born in Taiwan. Her work has mainly consisted of children's literature, but she has also written two autobiographies: Little by Little and Stars Come Out Within. Little has been partially blind since birth as a result of scars on her cornea and is frequently accompanied by a guide dog.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 17, 2018
I had just finished my book (see previous post) two days earlier and the following Sunday (today) I would be having my family birthday party and I expected to get some books so I didn’t want to start anything huge. So, I took a look at my bookshelf and grabbed this short book. It’s only 124 pages so I thought it’d be perfect. I think it’s been sitting on my shelf for a while, bought at a school book fair, so I’m glad I finally read it. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much but it was actually pretty good. It’s definitely written for a younger audience, but I still quite enjoyed it. I think I learned a fair bit about Helle Keller and her life, which I didn’t know much about before. It didn’t have much of a plot, but it was still interesting. Overall, a surprisingly good quick read.
May 25, 2017
A Diamond Willow nominee for 2017, this is a book I am sure the girls will like. How can a person be a friend to someone who is blind and deaf? An easy read and keeps you interested.
I know I read the Helen Keller biography , The Story of My Life, years ago. apparently it mentioned Martha Washington the black girl who was the daughter of the cook and became Helen's friend before the teacher came.
I may have to reread that book again.
I know I read the Helen Keller biography , The Story of My Life, years ago. apparently it mentioned Martha Washington the black girl who was the daughter of the cook and became Helen's friend before the teacher came.
I may have to reread that book again.
March 6, 2018
Mediocre.
April 16, 2020
I thought this was a great book, well researched historical fiction about the girl who was Helen Keller's playmate and servant.
December 19, 2024
A wonderfully told tale based on Helen Kellers diaries of life before her learning, from the perspective of her only friend - the cooks daughter. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
December 15, 2023
Quote from the book ...
At long last, they got word that the teacher was on her way. The night before she was to arrive, Martha lay awake, trying to imagine how life would be once Miss Annie Sullivan walked in the door.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK…
1) Ever since I was a girl, I've been fascinated by the story of Helen Keller. When I see a new title I haven't read before, I am instantly drawn to pick up the book. And this book is definitely in that category. It's the story of Helen Keller BEFORE the arrival of Anne Sullivan. (The teacher shows up about half-way through the book.)
2) The narrator is Martha Washington, a young Black servant in the Keller household. According the Jean Little's research, Helen Keller herself mentions the existence of Martha as part of her early life. It was definitely an interesting POV ... Martha does really like Helen all that much (she was extremely spoiled as a young child), and yet she is sent to play with and keep an eye on Helen.
3) I could wait for the teacher, Miss Sullivan, to arrive! Again, we get to see her through Martha's eyes, which is really interesting.
4) I loved Martha's mother! In the story, she's the family's cook. The story opens with her and Martha and the fact that Martha needs to befriend the hard-to-like Helen. I like how the mother pushes her daughter to see that spark in Helen that would eventually come to light.
5) Was Martha present for the famous W-A-T-E-R incident? Maybe, maybe not. But this account puts her right there. Right there where Helen finally has a moment of understanding that will change her life. That part of the story always gets me!
FINAL THOUGHTS
I would definitely recommend for anybody interested in the Helen Keller story. I liked Martha's POV and it was neat to read the familiar story through her eyes.
At long last, they got word that the teacher was on her way. The night before she was to arrive, Martha lay awake, trying to imagine how life would be once Miss Annie Sullivan walked in the door.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK…
1) Ever since I was a girl, I've been fascinated by the story of Helen Keller. When I see a new title I haven't read before, I am instantly drawn to pick up the book. And this book is definitely in that category. It's the story of Helen Keller BEFORE the arrival of Anne Sullivan. (The teacher shows up about half-way through the book.)
2) The narrator is Martha Washington, a young Black servant in the Keller household. According the Jean Little's research, Helen Keller herself mentions the existence of Martha as part of her early life. It was definitely an interesting POV ... Martha does really like Helen all that much (she was extremely spoiled as a young child), and yet she is sent to play with and keep an eye on Helen.
3) I could wait for the teacher, Miss Sullivan, to arrive! Again, we get to see her through Martha's eyes, which is really interesting.
4) I loved Martha's mother! In the story, she's the family's cook. The story opens with her and Martha and the fact that Martha needs to befriend the hard-to-like Helen. I like how the mother pushes her daughter to see that spark in Helen that would eventually come to light.
5) Was Martha present for the famous W-A-T-E-R incident? Maybe, maybe not. But this account puts her right there. Right there where Helen finally has a moment of understanding that will change her life. That part of the story always gets me!
FINAL THOUGHTS
I would definitely recommend for anybody interested in the Helen Keller story. I liked Martha's POV and it was neat to read the familiar story through her eyes.
April 25, 2017
This fictional account of Helen Keller's childhood friend Martha, is a beautiful companion to the biography , novel and play. Martha is often tasked with looking after Helen and the job gets more and more challenging as Helen grows. Middle grade readers today face many of the same difficulties and will easily relate to Martha's frustrations. The story touches not only on the inequality of the relationship between the girls, it demonstrates that adults have not treated each other equally over time either. The message is timeless, that words matter and education is freedom. Must read!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews