Helen Keller

by Dennis Wepman

Describes how a woman left blind and deaf from a childhood illness overcame her handicaps to become a noted writer and humanitarian.

Genres: Womens, Biography

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good beginner's biography, with many interesting photographs and tidbits. I've long been fascinated with Helen Keller's early life, but knew very little about the rest of her life. I was saddened to find out she became a suffragette, socialist, and subscribed to Swedenborgianism. She did apparently read the Bible, so I can only hope her later years taught her the folly of the doctrines of that group (which include salvation through works). However, I still find some inspiration through her life and feel more thankful for and desire to use my abilities more vigorously.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Helen Keller! This book gives a nice overview of her life, and even adds some interesting facts! Who knew that Keller was very concerned with her appearance, to the extent that she had her eyes surgically removed and glass ones put in. (Who says cosmetic surgery is new?) Overall, this is a wonderful reference book for any student researching Helen Keller out of curiosity of for a research project, as it is very readable.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helen Keller has always seemed like such an inspirational woman to me. How could she become so educated and impact so many people with all of her handicaps? The truth is, she accepted help from others and believed in herself. This is exactly what I want for all my students. This is a quick read, and highly informative.

[Teyen B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book about Helen Keller would be a good biography book to read for maybe students in jr. high. It's a good informational book that would be easy to understand yet at the same time, challenging since it's a paperback book.

[Jungsook Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read this thin book even though I read some books about her since every writer's approach will be different. I am glad that I decided to read Dennis Wepman's Humanitarian Helen Keller.

This book starts with Helen Keller's applying for entrance to Radcliffe College in 1899. The dean of the school was reluctant to admit Keller. While waiting to be admitted, Keller received scholarship offers from Cornell and the Univ. of Chicago, but she declined. Helen wanted to override the objection by being stubborn by nature and was admitted at last.

There is a saying it takes a whole village to raise a child. In Helen's case, it is a lot more than that. I didn't know that Annie Sullivan lost her two front teeth, knocked out by Helen in one of her fits of rage. Without the present dental technique, how Sullivan camouflaged those teeth, I wonder, and I am amazed she didn't leave her house at that time.

This book interweaves many episodes of people how Helen Keller we know has been born.
I don't want to make the short story long by displaying all the stories. I will show only the names who got involved in Keller's life.

Annie Sullivan who was born almost only for Hellen. She said at her deathbed, "...Thank God I gave up my life that Helen might live. God help her to live without me when I go."

Laura Bridgman, the first known blind-deaf student of Samuel G. Howe. Sullivan learned the writing on the palm from her at Perkins by being her friend.

Woodrow Wilson

Perkins director, Michael Agagnos

My favorite author Mark Twain who proved very humane in the relationship with Keller and Sullivan. He was the one who recognized Sullivan who had been shadowed. He used the word first, 'a miracle worker' for Sullivan and also said to Keller, "It took the pair of you to make a complete and perfect whole.

Inventor Alexander Graham Bell's advice led Annie Sullivan's appointment as Helen Keller's teacher.

Of course, Louis Braille, even though Braille died before Keller was born.

Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt who became close friends of Keller, Dwight Eisenhower

John Macy, Sullivan's once husband, Andrew Carnegie, Carl Sandburg, Charlie Chapin, John Rockefeller, George Bernard Shaw

Lastly, but the most important person after Sullivan is Polly Thompson. Thomson was an English lady who assisted Keller for 46 years until she died. She was fascinated by Keller's inner beauty when she came up to help. She read Keller's one of the articles, 'How to Appreciate the Beauty of Sunset' and she said, "Now, having met you in person, I will no longer think of you in terms of sunset but sunrise. Keller quickly replied, "How I wish that mankind would take the sunrise for their slogan and leave the shadows of sunset behind them."

If Helen Keller had not been blind-deaf, would she have influenced the world as much as now? Only God knows what is good for all of us and for the world.

[Olivia B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helen Keller at the age of 19 months old she became blind and deaf. At the age of 5 helen started to go an institute for the blind and deaf called Perkins. At her home in Tuscumbia alabama Helen awaited Anne sullivan's arrivell. It was then on March 3,1887 when Helen and Anne met, but Helen wasn't very happy with having someone that was bossy around all the time.
I would more than likely recommend this book to someone who needs to make a project about a biography or to someone that just likes to read about important people in out history.