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The World At Her Fingertips: The Story Of Helen Keller
In a "clear-sighted and absorbing" narrative, Joan Dash's recounting of Helen Keller's triumphant life is exceptional, truly illuminating - far from a typical biography.
This lively biography goes beyond Helen's youth and learning process and includes many fascinating details of her later life, including her college years and involvement with politics. It's "riveting reading for sudents in need of inspiration, or who're overcoming disability or studying changing expectations for women (Kirkus)."
This lively biography goes beyond Helen's youth and learning process and includes many fascinating details of her later life, including her college years and involvement with politics. It's "riveting reading for sudents in need of inspiration, or who're overcoming disability or studying changing expectations for women (Kirkus)."
240 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2001
About the author
Joan Dash
15 books2 followersJoan Dash is a prizewinning author of biographies for young adults. Her early works, including A Life of One's Own: Three Gifted Women and the Men They Married, Summoned to Jerusalem: The Life of Henrietta Szold, and The Triumph of Discovery: Women Scientists Who Won the Nobel Prize, participate in the growing movement to bring to light the achievements of notable women in history. In The Triumph of Discovery, for example, Dash puts the spotlight on four women who have won the Nobel Prize since 1960; at the time of the book's creation, only ten Nobels had ever been awarded to women, including two to Marie Curie. Dash was praised for clearly elucidating the nature of these scientists' contributions, as well as placing their personal and professional life experiences in the context of their times. Perhaps most importantly, "the author communicates the excitement and satisfaction of a life in science," remarked Zena Sutherland in Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
July 26, 2016
Like many young girls I was fascinated with Helen Keller. It was similar to the awe I had with my best friend at pre-school who had down syndrome. Wouldn’t it be great if people with disabilities were only treated with kindness like the sweet innocence of childhood that I experienced?
I actually was very excited after purchasing two books on HK's life and waiting for them to arrive in my mailbox!
HK did suffer from patches of discrimination, particularly the pure disbelief that she was capable of what she was – high honours at Radcliffe.. She had to prove that her results were her own, translated by ‘Teacher’, the wonderful Anne Sullivan. She struck back by pursuing countless feats and achieving things I wouldn’t have been capable of in the 21st century with full sight and full hearing, and with the aid of technology.
She campaigned politically, she campaigned for a huge grant for braille books, she had full knowledge of the war, what was happening and why. She travelled continents on speaking tours with her beloved Teacher and spoke in a handful of languages. She wrote books, and starred in movies.
This in depth biographical piece covered everything there was to know about HK’s life and Anne Sullivan’s life as well. She also was an interesting character, with her own large backstory here. It was a tad long at some stages, but I am very glad I read it. This mother now holds the same fascination as I did as an eight year old – but now I know her entire story, not just the glorified main points.
Amazing woman, tremendous achievements. This is worth reading if you hold an interest in Helen Keller.
I actually was very excited after purchasing two books on HK's life and waiting for them to arrive in my mailbox!
HK did suffer from patches of discrimination, particularly the pure disbelief that she was capable of what she was – high honours at Radcliffe.. She had to prove that her results were her own, translated by ‘Teacher’, the wonderful Anne Sullivan. She struck back by pursuing countless feats and achieving things I wouldn’t have been capable of in the 21st century with full sight and full hearing, and with the aid of technology.
She campaigned politically, she campaigned for a huge grant for braille books, she had full knowledge of the war, what was happening and why. She travelled continents on speaking tours with her beloved Teacher and spoke in a handful of languages. She wrote books, and starred in movies.
This in depth biographical piece covered everything there was to know about HK’s life and Anne Sullivan’s life as well. She also was an interesting character, with her own large backstory here. It was a tad long at some stages, but I am very glad I read it. This mother now holds the same fascination as I did as an eight year old – but now I know her entire story, not just the glorified main points.
Amazing woman, tremendous achievements. This is worth reading if you hold an interest in Helen Keller.
December 10, 2011
1. Biography
2. The story of Helen Keller’s courageous life.
3. A- The author did an incredible job with this book. The story is well written, and the facts are accurate.
B- I thought it was good that the book included pictures of Helen and her family. Students will appreciate and connect with them. I thought the title was engaging, and different then most biographies. The inspiring story of Helen Keller is positive in itself, however, this book uses great detail and pushes to encourage. I found the book to be a strong resource, and students will benefit from it.
C- One example I really enjoyed was when Helen learns that her english teacher wants her to write more about her, instead of books she has read. Helen was sad about this, but then she writes to him and tells him that he pointed out a weakness that she had not considered. Helen accepted the criticism, and learned from it.
4. This book could be used for social studies, reading, or a writing assignment. Biographies are wonderful tools, and this book should be stocked on teacher’s bookshelves. Students can use it as a resource for any kind of learning.
2. The story of Helen Keller’s courageous life.
3. A- The author did an incredible job with this book. The story is well written, and the facts are accurate.
B- I thought it was good that the book included pictures of Helen and her family. Students will appreciate and connect with them. I thought the title was engaging, and different then most biographies. The inspiring story of Helen Keller is positive in itself, however, this book uses great detail and pushes to encourage. I found the book to be a strong resource, and students will benefit from it.
C- One example I really enjoyed was when Helen learns that her english teacher wants her to write more about her, instead of books she has read. Helen was sad about this, but then she writes to him and tells him that he pointed out a weakness that she had not considered. Helen accepted the criticism, and learned from it.
4. This book could be used for social studies, reading, or a writing assignment. Biographies are wonderful tools, and this book should be stocked on teacher’s bookshelves. Students can use it as a resource for any kind of learning.
January 10, 2019
The World at her Fingertips The Story of Helen Keller by Joan Dash
If adults were really smart they would read biography's written for middle school children published by Scholastic Publishing. Helen Keller began life just like you and me she was a normal healthy baby. But when she was 19 mo. old she suffered from a very high fever that left her both blind and deaf. Woman named Annie Sullivan became not only her teacher but also her friend. Helen became a very strong willed and successful woman . She graduate from Radcliffe College cum lade. Helen went on to live a very successful and adventurous life. A life that she did not live just for herself she also lived it for others. If you would like to know more about this amazing woman pick up this book and be inspired. Helen lived her life to age of 87 and it was a full life.
July 3, 2019
This book continues the story of Helen Keller's extraordinary life story. Many of the details for the first half of the book come from her memoir The Story of My Life and might also be familiar if you have read/seen The Miracle Worker. This book goes into further detail about Helen's college years, her adult life, and her travels with Annie Sullivan. It's a very descriptive book that can seem like a lot of information at once. Also included are photos of Helen's younger and adult years.
May 23, 2023
The beginning was very fascinating and griped your attention easily. The second half was a little more boring. Still interesting I had no idea about any detail of Helen Keller's life. It was a little politically charged, but I'm assuming that's how it was communicated by Helen. I'd like to read some more auto/biography's to compare for fun someday. Definitely a worth while read to develop compassion and understanding for those who have many difficulties to navigate the world.
November 9, 2017
This book had a lot of information. I liked it because it had a lot of information, but it was kind of boring. It was a lot of quoted from other books, not the actual story of Helen Keller's life. I would recommend this book to people who want a lot of information on Helen Keller.
February 27, 2017
February Book Report
The World At Her Fingertips: The Story Of Hellen Keller
Joan Dasher
Hellen Keller was a seven year old girl born in 1880. When she was a baby, about 18 months, she got really sick with a high fever. This caused her to loose her hearing and she couldn't see either. Hellen didn't know how to communicate and her mom and dad didn't know what to do with her. Hellen was able to do anything she wanted. She wandered all over the house and yard and ate off of everybody's plate. They thought of putting her in a insane asylum but instead they had a teacher come live with them. Her name was Anne Sullivan. The parents didn't like how she was teaching but they eventually saw that Anne was beginning to help her. It was a struggle but in the end Anne was able to reach Hellen and show her how to talk and see with her hands. Eventually this helped her to actually go to collage and become admired by people all around the world.
I personally think that the theme of the book, "The World At Her Fingertips", was how difficult life could be but if you keep trying things will begin to happen. It was sad to read that just being sick you could loose so much. It showed how much courage it took to live day by day. Even when Hellen folded the napkin for the first time that was such an accomplishment. It teaches you that a person can almost overcome any tragedy in their life and survive. Just like Hellen did by attending collage. If you try hard and really take the time to work through things you can find yourself happy and live a great life.
The World At Her Fingertips: The Story Of Hellen Keller
Joan Dasher
Hellen Keller was a seven year old girl born in 1880. When she was a baby, about 18 months, she got really sick with a high fever. This caused her to loose her hearing and she couldn't see either. Hellen didn't know how to communicate and her mom and dad didn't know what to do with her. Hellen was able to do anything she wanted. She wandered all over the house and yard and ate off of everybody's plate. They thought of putting her in a insane asylum but instead they had a teacher come live with them. Her name was Anne Sullivan. The parents didn't like how she was teaching but they eventually saw that Anne was beginning to help her. It was a struggle but in the end Anne was able to reach Hellen and show her how to talk and see with her hands. Eventually this helped her to actually go to collage and become admired by people all around the world.
I personally think that the theme of the book, "The World At Her Fingertips", was how difficult life could be but if you keep trying things will begin to happen. It was sad to read that just being sick you could loose so much. It showed how much courage it took to live day by day. Even when Hellen folded the napkin for the first time that was such an accomplishment. It teaches you that a person can almost overcome any tragedy in their life and survive. Just like Hellen did by attending collage. If you try hard and really take the time to work through things you can find yourself happy and live a great life.
March 5, 2014
This book is 221 pages long. This story takes place in Alabama. It is about a girl called Helen Keller. At around 6 months old she was ill which lead to her being blind and deaf at a very young age. She had 2 sisters and 2 step brothers. They weren't rich, they didn't have much money but they worked in the plantation of cotton to earn some money. People mistaken that Helen Keller was born deaf and blind but no, she was born fine until the illness came around 6 months of age and then she had become deaf and blind. This illness is called "brain fever". Her mother started to realise her daughter was deaf and blind when she would put no reaction into anything that would happen like when her mother put her hands in front of her eyes during the shower, Helen didn't blink. Because of this illness, Helen had a very hard time behaving she would kick, scream etc. Her family tried to find her a tutor to help her learn and communicate. They found Anne Sullivan. This woman really helped Helen with everything she could. Helen learned so much from Anne and they both trusted each other a lot that they moved into a small house in the cotton plantation for a bit. Helen was taught very well & did many things in her adult life.
The author, Joan Dash, made this book so inspirational. It's so hard to read about someone who has lost BOTH their site and their hearing at such young age. When the author described the wildness of Helen's behaviours, I could feel them. It touched me because I could imagine how difficult it could be not being able to hear nor see what's going on. Each page I turned while reading this book, made me think of how it would be like to communicate with others and live a happy life. Joan really made me question why Helen was such a good women after her childhood and how she overcame her fears and everything.
I recommend this book to someone who likes to read both a mixture of saddening and happy books. The appropriate age to read this should be above 12-13. This book has both positive and negative. If you aren't into illness's and how they affect many people's lives then I don't think you should read this but if you are interested in acknowledging yourself about how to overcome fears and live your life the best way you can, then this is the book for you to read.
The author, Joan Dash, made this book so inspirational. It's so hard to read about someone who has lost BOTH their site and their hearing at such young age. When the author described the wildness of Helen's behaviours, I could feel them. It touched me because I could imagine how difficult it could be not being able to hear nor see what's going on. Each page I turned while reading this book, made me think of how it would be like to communicate with others and live a happy life. Joan really made me question why Helen was such a good women after her childhood and how she overcame her fears and everything.
I recommend this book to someone who likes to read both a mixture of saddening and happy books. The appropriate age to read this should be above 12-13. This book has both positive and negative. If you aren't into illness's and how they affect many people's lives then I don't think you should read this but if you are interested in acknowledging yourself about how to overcome fears and live your life the best way you can, then this is the book for you to read.
December 8, 2014
Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you did not have all your five senses? The World at Her Fingertips by Joan Dash is about Helen Keller, a woman who lost her ability to see and hear. She knew she had to work hard and be focused to get where she wanted to go. She is a motivation for those who have given up hope. Helen is an incredible lady who didn’t give up on her ambition.
In June of 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama Helen Keller was born. At the age of nineteen months she caught a raging fever and lost her eyesight and hearing abilities. There was nothing the doctors could do to fix them. After not being able to hear or see, she slowly stopped talking. She felt trapped in her own world and would be different from the other kids. The father hired Annie Sullivan to teach Helen. Annie, who lived a hard life when she was little and desperately wanted to go to school, graduated from Perkins Institution in South Boston. It was famous because the founder, Dr. Howe, taught a deaf-blind child to read, write, and speak with her fingers. Helen slowly learned to read, write, and talk by the techniques that Annie used. Keller would put her fingers on people’s lips and in their mouths to understand what they were saying. Ms. Sullivan would write words in the palm of Helen’s hands. One day, she was laughing, and she had Keller put her hands on her cheeks while spelling laugh into the other hand. Helen attended and graduated Radcliffe College with cum laude (honors). She became an author. Later, Helen read books written in Braille (raised dots). According to someone, she died in June 1968 with a smile on her lips. She is a great inspiration to people like her and people who don’t have disabilities because Helen showed determination and confidence to achieve her goal.
Helen had a tragedy, but that didn’t stop her. Helen pushed herself to move forward and conquer her disability. It might not have been curable, but she discovered and made it possible to learn, read, and write with what she had. I personally enjoy documentaries, so I would recommend this book. Helen Keller said, “Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.”
In June of 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama Helen Keller was born. At the age of nineteen months she caught a raging fever and lost her eyesight and hearing abilities. There was nothing the doctors could do to fix them. After not being able to hear or see, she slowly stopped talking. She felt trapped in her own world and would be different from the other kids. The father hired Annie Sullivan to teach Helen. Annie, who lived a hard life when she was little and desperately wanted to go to school, graduated from Perkins Institution in South Boston. It was famous because the founder, Dr. Howe, taught a deaf-blind child to read, write, and speak with her fingers. Helen slowly learned to read, write, and talk by the techniques that Annie used. Keller would put her fingers on people’s lips and in their mouths to understand what they were saying. Ms. Sullivan would write words in the palm of Helen’s hands. One day, she was laughing, and she had Keller put her hands on her cheeks while spelling laugh into the other hand. Helen attended and graduated Radcliffe College with cum laude (honors). She became an author. Later, Helen read books written in Braille (raised dots). According to someone, she died in June 1968 with a smile on her lips. She is a great inspiration to people like her and people who don’t have disabilities because Helen showed determination and confidence to achieve her goal.
Helen had a tragedy, but that didn’t stop her. Helen pushed herself to move forward and conquer her disability. It might not have been curable, but she discovered and made it possible to learn, read, and write with what she had. I personally enjoy documentaries, so I would recommend this book. Helen Keller said, “Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.”
September 19, 2015
"The World At Her Fingertips: The Story Of Helen Keller", by Joan Dash, is a biography about Helen Keller. It starts at the very beginning of her life, and continues until the end. A few pictures are added into this book as well. Joan Dash used multiple "historic" words in the book's vocabulary, which makes this novel more sophisticated and lengthy. Helen Keller's life was thoroughly explained and accurate in this book, and Joan Dash did a splendid job describing Helen Keller and her difficult life.
Born in June of 1880, Helen Keller came down with a fever at nineteen months. First, the doctor found that she was growing blind, and later, deaf. Soon, Helen was both deaf and blind. Her parents were unsure of how to control their helpless and limited daughter, so they hired Annie Sullivan to teach her. At first, the teacher struggled to get Helen's attention, but overtime, their friendship was unconditional. As Helen grew older and smarter, Annie was always by her side, ready to translate anything someone said into her hand. Special signs were made into hand movements, and Annie would tap on the palm of Helen's hand to speak to her. Annie's lessons made a huge impact on Helen, and without her relentless teacher, she may have not been as successful with her life.
I would recommend this well-written biography of Helen Keller to anyone who in interested in learning about Annie and Helen's relationship, and their journey to success.
But, I admit, this book had a very mature type of vocabulary, and when I read specific parts of this novel, I was not exactly sure what Joan was trying to explain. Other than that, this book was very informative.
Born in June of 1880, Helen Keller came down with a fever at nineteen months. First, the doctor found that she was growing blind, and later, deaf. Soon, Helen was both deaf and blind. Her parents were unsure of how to control their helpless and limited daughter, so they hired Annie Sullivan to teach her. At first, the teacher struggled to get Helen's attention, but overtime, their friendship was unconditional. As Helen grew older and smarter, Annie was always by her side, ready to translate anything someone said into her hand. Special signs were made into hand movements, and Annie would tap on the palm of Helen's hand to speak to her. Annie's lessons made a huge impact on Helen, and without her relentless teacher, she may have not been as successful with her life.
I would recommend this well-written biography of Helen Keller to anyone who in interested in learning about Annie and Helen's relationship, and their journey to success.
But, I admit, this book had a very mature type of vocabulary, and when I read specific parts of this novel, I was not exactly sure what Joan was trying to explain. Other than that, this book was very informative.
November 7, 2007
This book is suggested for readers aged 10 and up, although I would argue that it is more appropriate for slightly older readers or readers with superior reading skills. This biography of the remarkable Helen Keller is filled with vocabulary words and socio-political concepts that will be unfamiliar to the majority of 10 year olds. Nevertheless, Helen Keller's story is inspiring and has continuing relevance today. Dash's coverage of Keller's life is unsentimental without being critical. Dash doesn't fail to mention the less popular aspects of the lives of Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan: Keller's unpopular political views are covered in the book, as are the early plagiarism scandal and Annie Sullivan's notorious temper. These aspects of Keller's life are not given more importance than they warrant, however, and Dash never fails to give Keller credit for her remarkable achievements. Keller's incredible life makes this book worth reading, but its advanced vocabulary and references to unfamiliar political events could make this challenging reading in lower grades. This should be considered when suggesting the book.
January 26, 2026
3 stars. To start off, I absolutely LOVE the front cover and spine of this gorgeous book. And the interior formatting!! It was nice to see pictures of Helen and her friends, and interesting to hear of her later life, which I knew very little about. The first few chapters were almost copied-and-pasted from “The Story of My Life,” but after that it became the author’s real writing. I was a little disillusioned by this book, and somewhat nettled by all the criticism of Annie—but obviously she’s not exactly what I thought she was. This book mentions/deals with Annie’s husband’s alcoholism and the disintegration of their marriage; Helen’s almost-marriage prevented by her family; Annie’s darker side; and venial blindness. Although it was written for children, the feeling is somewhat harsh and blunt and I'd recommend it for ages 14+ because of the negative feeling it might give younger children.
September 2, 2014
This book taught me so many different things about Helen Keller that I did not know! I knew that she was a girl that was both blind and deaf and did many great things with her life but I did not know to what extent. I thought that this book was full of detail and portrayed Helen in such a positive way. This would be a great book to use with Junior high or even High school. Or you could choose smaller parts of it to read to younger children and then find picture books to go along so that text to text connections could be made. (nonfiction)
March 7, 2016
I read this partly out of interest but mostly because my daughter is doing a book report on it and I wanted to be familiar with it. This book is written for a grade school audience and it really feels like it. A surprising number of books my daughter reads are actually written well enough for an adult to enjoy them, but this one was very simplified. I learned a lot about Helen Keller--she led a much more interesting life than I previously knew about--but I'm sure there are much better books out there for adults who want to learn about her.
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January 18, 2012I have already finished this book a long time ago,but I just have not been able to go to goodreads sorry.I think that this book is really good to read.I think that way because it tells you so much just in one page.Through out the whole book she changes in the beginning she is sweet and nice and everything but more when you read the book she get mean and violince because she knocks out one of her teacher front teeth.This book is a book that mostly everyone should read.
April 13, 2013
this book was so inspiring!
this is a nonfiction story about helen keller. it starts when she was born, through her life and education, all the way to the time she died.
i loved this book because i love this person and it surprised me because i dont usually enjoy nonfiction books but this one really touched my heart and got deep into detail but not too much to bore you.
i would recommend this book to nonfiction readers and people who are inspired by helen keller or need some inspiration.
this is a nonfiction story about helen keller. it starts when she was born, through her life and education, all the way to the time she died.
i loved this book because i love this person and it surprised me because i dont usually enjoy nonfiction books but this one really touched my heart and got deep into detail but not too much to bore you.
i would recommend this book to nonfiction readers and people who are inspired by helen keller or need some inspiration.
January 10, 2015
I thought this lady was very interesting. She couldn't hear or see yet she survived and learned. She also had an interesting teacher and life. I would recommend this to girls. There were some boring parts in the book but it was still interesting. I think Fanny Crosby was amazing too but she could hear. I was surprised that Helen wanted to learn how to sing and make speeches and learn. It was a fine book.
August 22, 2011
Most of us have seen the movie about Helen's early life - this book continues where the movie left off. Not only did she graduate college with honors, she was friends with Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, Mark Twain and met John F. Kennedy. Her accomplishments despite the handicaps of being blind, deaf and a woman are amazing.
April 2, 2014
This is classified as a biography for young readers, but it's a bit long and detailed for a young reader unless, of course, that reader is passionate about the topic - - Helen Keller. I enjoyed learning some new information that I did not know, especially about her international work on behalf of the blind.
April 23, 2016
here we go again, another one of my "written for kids, read by an adult" book choices. lol as usual this one didn't disappoint. yes, it's written for kids, but i enjoyed it and i'm an adult! very interesting about helen keller. i've always known who she was and basic information about her but this really let me into her life and details about it. worth the read!
December 14, 2009
A very interesting book about the life of Helen Keller and what her daily life was like. Also about where she traveled and who she met. Some parts were difficult to read because of how difficult her life was. It was still a good book altogether and I would highly recommend it.
March 21, 2013
It was interesting to learn more about Miss Keller's life. I knew very little of her beyond her childhood, so it was fun to learn about what she accomplished during her life. I like how she always tried to keep herself busy, too. She was, according to the biographer, rarely idle.
November 30, 2013
I think this website is crap because you can't read the books on the website. everyone delete their user name and password because this website is balls. P.S. i like the world at her fingertips book a lot.
DELETE YOUR USER NAME AND PASSWORD BEFORE THEY SUCK THE LIFE OUT OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DELETE YOUR USER NAME AND PASSWORD BEFORE THEY SUCK THE LIFE OUT OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 3, 2015
It didn't take me 30 days to read this book. I am abandoning it because I honestly don't have enough time to read that book and anyway the print is so small that I will never read a page a minute. Also it was very interesting
June 3, 2016
Excellent recount of a remarkable woman who fought against her disabilities to achieve all her goals and also to spread the word about hearing and visual disabilities as well as ensuring assistance and funding, schools and literary aids were secured for children all over the world.
August 18, 2008
So far i think this is a very interesting book. I find it interesting how Helen Keller learned all kinds of ways to comunicate and have a part in politics and such things.
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January 14, 2009I have just gotten started.
March 25, 2009
It was boring. I had to read this for school, but I didn't like it. But I learned that blind-deaf have real books.
June 3, 2009
i read this when i was only like seven and it was a way to high reading level for me but i wanted so badly to read it. i was always spouting random facts about Helen keller for weeks.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews