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Hellen Keller: Rebellious Spirit
Examines the life of the deaf and blind woman who overcame her handicap to take up the battle cry of those less fortunate than herself and make her name known and revered throughout the world.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2001
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About the author
Laurie Lawlor
54 books26 followersLaurie Lawlor grew up in a family enamored with the theater. Along with her five brothers and sisters she spent summers in a summer stock repertory company in a small mountain town in Colorado that was run by their mother (costumer, cook, accountant, and resident psychiatrist) and their father (artistic director).
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 19, 2017
Solidly informative (and as such suitable for children above the age of ten or eleven, but actually recommended for anyone who might want a detailed, but not overly extensive introduction to Helen Keller's life and times), on the whole, I quite enjoyed Laurie Lawlor's Helen Keller: Rebellious Spirit. The author's presented narrative reads easily and is quite engaging for a biographical sojourn (a bit textbook-like perhaps, but so full of interesting information, historical details, names etc. as not to be all that noticeable). And the many black and white accompanying photographs of Helen Keller, Annie Sullivan and others (like Alexander Graham Bell and Mark Twain, for example), as well as the numerous pictures of some of Helen Keller's domiciles are an added bonus. Combined with reproductions of newspaper clippings, these authentic photographs do not only provide a pictorial chronology of Helen Keller's life, they also display the fashions and lifestyles of late 19th and early to middle 20th century America.
Now all that being said, and as much as I have generally enjoyed reading Helen Kelller: Rebellious Spirit, I do have to wonder at the almost constant and palpable negativity of the author towards Helen Keller's teacher, towards Annie Sullivan. I know and realise that Annie Sullivan was supposedly a rather difficult person with a mercurial temperament (and I also am well aware of the fact that she was described as being rather possessive of Helen at times). While I certainly had not expected Laurie Lawlor to portray Annie Sullivan (or even Helen Keller, for that matter) as saintly and inherently good, the fact that so many of the references to Annie Sullivan are both negative and even somewhat nastily judgmental, does leave me wondering whether the author has some kind of a personal negative agenda against Helen Keller's teacher. But be that as it may, I still highly recommend Helen Keller: Rebellious Spirit. It is indeed a wonderful and thorough introductory biography to a courageous and inspirational woman, a remarkable person who is unfortunately all too often only known and remembered for her childhood, and the events portrayed in William Gibson's famous play (or the movies based on The Miracle Worker).
Now all that being said, and as much as I have generally enjoyed reading Helen Kelller: Rebellious Spirit, I do have to wonder at the almost constant and palpable negativity of the author towards Helen Keller's teacher, towards Annie Sullivan. I know and realise that Annie Sullivan was supposedly a rather difficult person with a mercurial temperament (and I also am well aware of the fact that she was described as being rather possessive of Helen at times). While I certainly had not expected Laurie Lawlor to portray Annie Sullivan (or even Helen Keller, for that matter) as saintly and inherently good, the fact that so many of the references to Annie Sullivan are both negative and even somewhat nastily judgmental, does leave me wondering whether the author has some kind of a personal negative agenda against Helen Keller's teacher. But be that as it may, I still highly recommend Helen Keller: Rebellious Spirit. It is indeed a wonderful and thorough introductory biography to a courageous and inspirational woman, a remarkable person who is unfortunately all too often only known and remembered for her childhood, and the events portrayed in William Gibson's famous play (or the movies based on The Miracle Worker).
July 9, 2008
Well-done portrait of both Helen and Annie. I have always admired both women, and after reading this book, I am convinced that they were both geniuses!! What they accomplished is staggering.
November 5, 2008
excellent biography of Helen Keller. Targeted at Middle School kids, it provides a fascinating look at an interesting life and destroys the common stereotypes.
January 11, 2012
an approachable readable biography that contains some analysis (not just facts) and a nice collection of pictures.
February 8, 2016
It was a good book overall. It was a little confusing at first but then it good easier to understand.
July 14, 2012
This YA Biography of Helen Keller has many wonderful photographs of Helen, her family and homestead, Annie Sullivan, and friends and aquaintances through their lifetimes. One of the finest biographies I have read. I love the picture of little Patti Duke meeting Helen Keller and this excerpt:
" Helen walked arm in arm with Duke, following the garden railing and pointing out licac bushes, sweet-scented roses, and budding hawthorn. the two companionable ramblers, separated by sixty-six years of age, must have presented a somewhat curious scene to Winnie Corbally, who followed at a respecful distance. Here was a hearing and sighted child who had studied carefully how to appear deaf and blind. And here was a deaf and blind woman who had studied carefully how to appear hearing and sighted. At one point, Helen paused and told Duke how these strolls in the garden made her feel at one with nature. Then she added in her characteristically disarming way that the other thing she really enjoyed was her evening martini. If the doctor didn't approve, well, that was really too bad. At her age, she told Duke, if she enjoyed a martini, she was going to have one."
" Helen walked arm in arm with Duke, following the garden railing and pointing out licac bushes, sweet-scented roses, and budding hawthorn. the two companionable ramblers, separated by sixty-six years of age, must have presented a somewhat curious scene to Winnie Corbally, who followed at a respecful distance. Here was a hearing and sighted child who had studied carefully how to appear deaf and blind. And here was a deaf and blind woman who had studied carefully how to appear hearing and sighted. At one point, Helen paused and told Duke how these strolls in the garden made her feel at one with nature. Then she added in her characteristically disarming way that the other thing she really enjoyed was her evening martini. If the doctor didn't approve, well, that was really too bad. At her age, she told Duke, if she enjoyed a martini, she was going to have one."
September 3, 2022
This story taught me things I never knew about Helen Keller. I never knew she wrote articles for magazines,or published books. I never knew she had glass eye. She was brave when she tried to elope and get married to a guy none of her caregivers would have approved of. Helen was actually the first blind/deaf person to graduate from a prestigious college. She had several dogs, and advocated for people with disabilities.
I felt so inspired by her story, that it made me think of continuing my writing. She was a traveling public speaker, and a socialist. People went against her. It made me feel that people may criticize my writing, but Helen did not let that stop her career.
I felt so inspired by her story, that it made me think of continuing my writing. She was a traveling public speaker, and a socialist. People went against her. It made me feel that people may criticize my writing, but Helen did not let that stop her career.
May 31, 2023
I call cap
ur telling she couldn't hear or speak
WHATS THE POINT OF LIVING
this girl was walking around with NO idea where she was going
ur telling me she learned to fly a plane??
you let a person with no sight or hearing FLY???? I call cap thusfar
perchance she was faking it
she could see
she could hear
its currently 9:57 pm on a lonely Sunday and I find myself arguing with a Hellen Keller book
SHE DID NOT DO ANY OF THIS
she could see
she could hear
luv you peace out -Jakub
ur telling she couldn't hear or speak
WHATS THE POINT OF LIVING
this girl was walking around with NO idea where she was going
ur telling me she learned to fly a plane??
you let a person with no sight or hearing FLY???? I call cap thusfar
perchance she was faking it
she could see
she could hear
its currently 9:57 pm on a lonely Sunday and I find myself arguing with a Hellen Keller book
SHE DID NOT DO ANY OF THIS
she could see
she could hear
luv you peace out -Jakub
February 20, 2013
Helen Keller: Rebellious Spirit
By Laurie Lawlor
Biography
168 pages
This book is about Helen Keller and how she lived her life while being blind and deaf. Helen was a good girl and she was very smart. Her teacher Annie, taught her everything she knew. Annie taught Helen how to read and write. Annie would make hand symbols into Helen's hand, that is how Helen could communicate with people. If someone would ask Helen a question that's what Annie would do. Helen wasn't always very polite at times. Helen would have tantrums, so she would run around the house crazy, throw things, and just be really mad. Helen got much better with things as she grew older. She want to a good collage and just had a great life.
I thought this book was good. I couldn't believe someone could survive while being deaf and blind. Helen Keller is a good role model. She did what people thought she couldn't do. Helen was a great person and I thought its was cool that when she was little, like the entire country knew who she was, she was famous. I thought the author did a great job of retelling Helen Keller's life. Helen might have not been able to really see or hear but she was a amazing person to be like (just not the crazy parts). I think whoever wants a good nonfiction book to read that they should read this book, because Helen Keller is a great role model and she did many good things.
By Laurie Lawlor
Biography
168 pages
This book is about Helen Keller and how she lived her life while being blind and deaf. Helen was a good girl and she was very smart. Her teacher Annie, taught her everything she knew. Annie taught Helen how to read and write. Annie would make hand symbols into Helen's hand, that is how Helen could communicate with people. If someone would ask Helen a question that's what Annie would do. Helen wasn't always very polite at times. Helen would have tantrums, so she would run around the house crazy, throw things, and just be really mad. Helen got much better with things as she grew older. She want to a good collage and just had a great life.
I thought this book was good. I couldn't believe someone could survive while being deaf and blind. Helen Keller is a good role model. She did what people thought she couldn't do. Helen was a great person and I thought its was cool that when she was little, like the entire country knew who she was, she was famous. I thought the author did a great job of retelling Helen Keller's life. Helen might have not been able to really see or hear but she was a amazing person to be like (just not the crazy parts). I think whoever wants a good nonfiction book to read that they should read this book, because Helen Keller is a great role model and she did many good things.
November 12, 2014
Helen Keller: Rebellious Spirit book is a book for upper elementary and middle school students. It shows a different side to Helen Keller than we are used to." Laurie Lawlor researches Helen's life and shows us Helen's rebellious side and her political views. After writing articles articles about the terrible things happening to women and children she joined the Socialist party in 1909. She also took part in a demonstration with the Women's Peace Party and gave a speech about pacifism and socialism in Carnegie Hall. Who knew she was so political? This book teaches us about Helen Keller trying to achieve justice for working class people, child labor laws woman's right to vote and use birth control, and opposition to segregation and war. It also shows the relationship between Helen, Anne and her family. Helen had lots of difficulties with her family because although she came from the wealthy class, she was constantly trying to help the working class.
Towards the end of the book I learned something very interesting that most people do not know about. Helen goes to Hollywood to film a movie about herself. Although the film did not work out, she and Anne eventually became part of a Vaudville Show to earn money. How interesting! Through photos and words Laurie teaches elementary students about the side of Helen Keller that nobody talks about.
Towards the end of the book I learned something very interesting that most people do not know about. Helen goes to Hollywood to film a movie about herself. Although the film did not work out, she and Anne eventually became part of a Vaudville Show to earn money. How interesting! Through photos and words Laurie teaches elementary students about the side of Helen Keller that nobody talks about.
November 13, 2014
Laurie Lawlor's biography on the life of the iconic Helen Keller is very engaging. Even those who are familiar with Keller's life will likely find new and interesting information about Keller's family and background. Lawlor's focus on the rebellious spirit of Keller presents a facet of Keller's character and personality that is novel to many readers. Indeed, many of the political viewpoints and personal opinions of Keller were not typical of Keller's mainstream contemporaries and her views about issues such as social justice and race were at odds with her own father's viewpoints. In presenting the "rebellious spirit" of Keller Lawlor provides a rich cultural background and family history so as to place this new side of Keller in the proper context.
As always, Keller's life story is remarkable but this biography in particular with be an excellent supplement to an American History course.
As always, Keller's life story is remarkable but this biography in particular with be an excellent supplement to an American History course.
December 7, 2014
A Biography on Helen Keller. A solid and informative biography of Helen Keller (for children above the age of ten, and anyone who might want a thorough, but not overly detailed introduction to Helen Keller's life), I quite enjoyed Helen Keller: Rebellious Spirit. Laurie Lawlor's narrative reads easily and is quite engaging (a bit textbook-like perhaps, but full of interesting information, historical details, names etc.).
The many black and white photographs of Helen Keller, Annie Sullivan and others (like Alexander Graham Bell and Mark Twain, for example), as well as the numerous photographs of some of Helen Keller's domiciles are an added bonus. Combined with reproductions of newspaper clippings, these photographs do not only provide a pictorial chronology of Helen Keller's life, they display the fashions and lifestyles of late 19th and early and middle 20th century America. These photos help the reader understand more about Helen Keller and her life.
The many black and white photographs of Helen Keller, Annie Sullivan and others (like Alexander Graham Bell and Mark Twain, for example), as well as the numerous photographs of some of Helen Keller's domiciles are an added bonus. Combined with reproductions of newspaper clippings, these photographs do not only provide a pictorial chronology of Helen Keller's life, they display the fashions and lifestyles of late 19th and early and middle 20th century America. These photos help the reader understand more about Helen Keller and her life.
March 21, 2015
Hellen Keller is known as a woman with no sense of seeing and hearing. She was sick when she was eleven months old. After that, she loses the abilities to see and hear. Hellen's childhood was very difficult. She grew up in a world without lights and sounds, she knows nothing about the world around her and her existence. But until her teacher (Anne Sullivan) came, her life started to change. Anne taught Hellen how to communicate with sign language and the meaning of the world.
Overall, I like this book. This book taught me how hard being a teacher is. Anne was such a great teacher, spent her whole life to teach someone who's deaf and blind. Also, Hellen was a person, she studied hard to fulfill her life. I recommend people to read this book.
I give this book a 4 stars. Very meaningful, good to learn about some great people and it's worth reading.
Overall, I like this book. This book taught me how hard being a teacher is. Anne was such a great teacher, spent her whole life to teach someone who's deaf and blind. Also, Hellen was a person, she studied hard to fulfill her life. I recommend people to read this book.
I give this book a 4 stars. Very meaningful, good to learn about some great people and it's worth reading.
November 12, 2013
This biography describes Helen Keller's life from birth to death. It portrays the relationship between Helen and her teacher, Annie Sullivan. It explains how Helen learned to speak and went to college. This book also shares some of the lesser known pieces of Helen Keller's life including her involvement in the Socialist Party and her secret engagement and planned elopement.
Laurie Lawlor includes quotes from Helen Keller, Annie Sullivan, and Helen's parents. She also includes pictures from Helen's life. Laurie Lawlor is known for her historical fiction works as well as her nonfiction works, but she writes a wide variety of genres.
Laurie Lawlor includes quotes from Helen Keller, Annie Sullivan, and Helen's parents. She also includes pictures from Helen's life. Laurie Lawlor is known for her historical fiction works as well as her nonfiction works, but she writes a wide variety of genres.
December 9, 2012
I learned about this biography from the Zinn Education Project, which recommended it for its open portrayal of Helen as a socialist and anti-war activist at a time when these views were extremely unpopular. This part of her story is often obscured by the miracle story of her education and rise to fame, but it seems that Helen herself was frustrated by this selective attention. The book also describes the complex relationship between Helen and her famous teacher, Annie Sullivan. Recommended for a more complete picture of an amazing life.
May 28, 2014
Helen Keller, a determined intelligent girl, struggles with her blindness and the fact that she is deaf. She never wanted to see the bad sides in her world. However, there were political bad sides that she knew about which made her angry. As the story proceeds, she starts to give advices to poor workers and would speak for women rights in the government. Furthermore, the story continues to more focus on Helen's life after Annie, her guardian, dies. This book covers major themes like: overcoming obstacles and survival.
April 2, 2008
Pages: 192
For my biography project, I chose Helen Keller because of her great achievement even though she was blind. I went to the library and checked this book out. I found that this book is a great book with pictures and a timeline. Helen Keller had always wished to go to college ever since she had met her inspiration, Anne Sullivan. x
~Serena Collins
For my biography project, I chose Helen Keller because of her great achievement even though she was blind. I went to the library and checked this book out. I found that this book is a great book with pictures and a timeline. Helen Keller had always wished to go to college ever since she had met her inspiration, Anne Sullivan. x
~Serena Collins
May 23, 2012
This book tells about Helen Keller as she really was. She was not a perfect child who had no opinions or never got in arguments. She had a TON of personality! This tells the story of her life, from learning to eat properly to graduating college. It also tells about how her mentor was very stubborn and possessive. It was very interesting.
December 19, 2009
The old black and white photos were charming and really helped Kira keep going - it was a bit much for her. However, Kira is learning finger spelling now so it must have been at least a little interesting to her.
December 8, 2013
This is one of the few biographies of Helen Keller that discusses her political views, of being an advocate not only for the blind, but also for labor unions, women's suffrage and the socialist movement. It is well written, full of interesting photographs and is frank about her life and times.
Read
February 25, 2014Helen Keller is usually recognized as a deaf and blind girl, but should also be admired for her courageous actions because she swam all her life and didn't fear the waves, she inspired many people and she fought for women's rights.
June 2, 2010
I never knew (from only watching the original "The Miracle Worker"), that Annie was so over-protective of Helen.
February 22, 2013
Great Book! Give sequential details of an amazing woman's life.
August 22, 2012
This book taught me a lot about Helen Keller that I didn't know. Basically everything, since I realized I really didn't know squat about HK before reading this biography.
Read
May 2, 2017it might be good
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews