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In Their Own Words
Helen Keller
A biography, told using excerpts from her own writings, of the woman who successfully dealt with her own disabilities while trying to better the lives of other deaf and blind people.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
17 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
About the author
George Sullivan
365 books12 followersGeorge Sullivan is a best-selling nonfiction author with more than 100 books to his credit. He lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 16, 2016
Its the story of Helen Keller and her teacher Annie Sullivan. Annie Sullivan a deaf, mute and blind girl who lost her and family due to her circumstances. She left her homeland Towsbury to attend the Perkins School f the blind and underwent surgery to help her limited vision. Sullivan faced great challenges while at Perkins. She had never been to school before and lacked social graces, which put her at odds with her peers. Humiliated by her own ignorance, Sullivan had a quick temper and liked to challenge the rules, which got her in trouble with her teachers. She was, however, tremendously bright, and she soon advanced academically.
Annie did eventually settle down at the school, but she never felt like she fit in there. She did develop close friendships with some of her teachers, including the school's director Michael Anagnos. Anagnos helped Sullivan find a job after graduation. The Keller family had written him looking for a governess for their daughter Helen, who was deaf, blind, and mute. Sullivan traveled to Tuscumbia, Alabama, to work for the Keller family. Sullivan had studied the instruction methods used with Laura Bridgman, a deaf and blind student she had known at Perkins, before going to Alabama.
At only 21 years of age, Sullivan showed great maturity and ingenuity in teaching Keller. She wanted to help Keller make associations between words and physical objects, and worked hard with her rather stubborn and spoiled pupil. After isolating Keller from her family in order to better educate her, Sullivan began working to teach Keller how to communicate with the outside world. During one lesson, she finger-spelled the word "water" on one of Keller's hands as she ran water over her student's other hand. Keller finally made her first major breakthrough, connecting the concept of sign language with the objects around her.
Sullivan decided that Keller could benefit from the Perkins School's program, and the two spent time there off-and-on throughout Keller's adolescence. They also sought aid for Keller's speech at the Wight-Humason School in New York City. When Keller's family could no longer afford to pay Sullivan or manage Helen's school costs, a number of wealthy benefactors stepped in to help them defray their costs.
Despite the physical strain on her own limited sight, Sullivan helped Keller continue her studies. She spelled the contents of class lectures into Keller's hand, and spent hours conveying information from textbooks to her. As a result, Keller became the first deaf-blind person to graduate from college.
Annie Sullivan was a skilled, dedicated teacher. Because of Anne Sullivan's patience, persistence, and high expectations, Helen learned to speak, read, write -- and sing!
Annie did eventually settle down at the school, but she never felt like she fit in there. She did develop close friendships with some of her teachers, including the school's director Michael Anagnos. Anagnos helped Sullivan find a job after graduation. The Keller family had written him looking for a governess for their daughter Helen, who was deaf, blind, and mute. Sullivan traveled to Tuscumbia, Alabama, to work for the Keller family. Sullivan had studied the instruction methods used with Laura Bridgman, a deaf and blind student she had known at Perkins, before going to Alabama.
At only 21 years of age, Sullivan showed great maturity and ingenuity in teaching Keller. She wanted to help Keller make associations between words and physical objects, and worked hard with her rather stubborn and spoiled pupil. After isolating Keller from her family in order to better educate her, Sullivan began working to teach Keller how to communicate with the outside world. During one lesson, she finger-spelled the word "water" on one of Keller's hands as she ran water over her student's other hand. Keller finally made her first major breakthrough, connecting the concept of sign language with the objects around her.
Sullivan decided that Keller could benefit from the Perkins School's program, and the two spent time there off-and-on throughout Keller's adolescence. They also sought aid for Keller's speech at the Wight-Humason School in New York City. When Keller's family could no longer afford to pay Sullivan or manage Helen's school costs, a number of wealthy benefactors stepped in to help them defray their costs.
Despite the physical strain on her own limited sight, Sullivan helped Keller continue her studies. She spelled the contents of class lectures into Keller's hand, and spent hours conveying information from textbooks to her. As a result, Keller became the first deaf-blind person to graduate from college.
Annie Sullivan was a skilled, dedicated teacher. Because of Anne Sullivan's patience, persistence, and high expectations, Helen learned to speak, read, write -- and sing!
September 1, 2024
PROS: Outstanding chronicle of the life and times of Helen Keller.
CONS: The text is designed for schoolchildren, defining primary sources in the opening chapter, which was of no interest to this reader.
Overall: A remarkably well-written chronological account of Helen Keller’s life, including many of her own revealed thoughts and comments.
Best quote: “I believe that all through these dark and silent years God has been using my life for a purpose I do not know. But one day I shall understand and then I will be satisfied.”
Summary: A must read that inspires one to seek out books written by Helen Keller: The Story of My Life (1903), The World I Live In (1908), Out of the Dark (1913), My Religion (1927), Midstream (1929), Journal (1938), Teacher: Anne Sullivan Macy (1955).
CONS: The text is designed for schoolchildren, defining primary sources in the opening chapter, which was of no interest to this reader.
Overall: A remarkably well-written chronological account of Helen Keller’s life, including many of her own revealed thoughts and comments.
Best quote: “I believe that all through these dark and silent years God has been using my life for a purpose I do not know. But one day I shall understand and then I will be satisfied.”
Summary: A must read that inspires one to seek out books written by Helen Keller: The Story of My Life (1903), The World I Live In (1908), Out of the Dark (1913), My Religion (1927), Midstream (1929), Journal (1938), Teacher: Anne Sullivan Macy (1955).
March 4, 2013
In Their Own Words: Helen Keller by George Sullivan is a nonfictional story about the life of the infamous Helen Keller and her struggle with being both blind and deaf. The text follows Helen from her birth in 1880 to her death in 1968. At seven years old, Helen was introduced to Annie Sullivan, who would be her teacher and helpful companion throughout her life. Annie taught Helen how to use sign language, and even accompanied Helen to Radcliffe College where she would sign out every letter from every lecture or text into Helen’s hand. Throughout Helen’s life she encountered various famous people, including: Alexander Graham Bell, Mark Twain, and Eleanor Roosevelt. Helen also had the pleasure to meet every President from Grover Cleveland to JFK. The text continues to go about everything Helen did in her life from writing several books, working in vaudeville, and traveling across the world. This is a very detailed, but easy reading text that is filled with photographs and illustrations. George Sullivan brings to life the story of Helen Keller, and every struggle she overcame to become the most inspirational life story. I recommend this text to any middle grade children, or just someone interested in the historical story of Helen Keller. The reader will be taken back in time to discover just how strong of an individual Helen was, but also realize that those who cannot speak, and possibly cannot hear have a great deal to say.
December 25, 2014
helen keller's perseverance had inspired me "where there's a will there's a way"
May 20, 2024
What a great informative book on Helen Keller. I learned so many interesting facts about her. She was an astonishing women.
Highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about Helen.
Highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about Helen.
February 5, 2011
I had been chosen to read this book, because I like to read about history and non-fiction. I chose to read this book by myself. But, I wasn’t really interest to read this book. At first, I felt like I am forcing myself to read this book. But, I didn’t quit. I still go on with my book. As I continue, I started to like my book and love to finish it as quickly as I can.
When I think about the main character in my book, I thought she’ll be worse, although, she is not. I liked the book. This book made me become a stronger person. Not afraid of thing that I’ll have to face. I felt like the book pulls me up in hopeless and gave me hope again. I think this book is the best.
The part of the story I like is when Hellen started to have a sense of learning. Then, she abruptly became an eager learner. She learned many new things in minutes. She is smart. But Hellen hated to learn. Since she know what she is doing and understand that she is a learner, she than really excited for the study.
I liked this part of the story because I didn’t think that the girl will grow up with the happiness. She’ll be going on to be mean in the whole of her life. Instead, she is changing in to a bright person, and also humble. She believes in herself and makes thing happen as she plan on since that time, and, the rest of her life.
The part that makes me remember of my own experience is when Hellen go to regular collage after she graduated from deaf-blind school. I remember of my own selves when I was here at the first year. I have to be in a new school with people that are not familiar to me. I felt kind of nervous to be with different people. But when I saw my other friends that are the same race as me doing fine at their school, I felt tougher. I believed in myself that I can do anything as other people can, indeed.
Part of the story that I thought fell short was when Hellen was in loved. She loved the man that have been beside her know her well. And, she promised to marry him. But, Hellen didn’t reach her hope. Hellen had to leave thing she really love and long to have. That made Hellen really irritated and disappointed. But, still she didn’t give up her education.
Hellen got in trouble because of love. When her mom knew about that, she came to her daughter burn with anger. Even though, Hellen was a famous lady, to her was just a silly daughter. She ruined Hellen’s plan and force her daughter to listen to her. She made the man Hellen in loved with to go away from Hellen.
It seemed the same as other book that I had read before. There was a young girl who lived in her parent in-law’s house. Kolly was an unlucky girl. She had married to her husband was because the guy needed money to get healthy. Her mother in-law didn’t let her to do thing for her husband or take care of him. Koly was a good worker and honorable girl. But, Koly never seemed to be a good worker to her mother in-law.
As I like this book, I hope other people who read it may like it too. This is a grate book to read and know about Hellen. She gave hope for those who are hopeless and weak. I really think that whoever read this book will enjoy it and also hope to read more of Hellen’s book. If you read it, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. It is wonderful.
When I think about the main character in my book, I thought she’ll be worse, although, she is not. I liked the book. This book made me become a stronger person. Not afraid of thing that I’ll have to face. I felt like the book pulls me up in hopeless and gave me hope again. I think this book is the best.
The part of the story I like is when Hellen started to have a sense of learning. Then, she abruptly became an eager learner. She learned many new things in minutes. She is smart. But Hellen hated to learn. Since she know what she is doing and understand that she is a learner, she than really excited for the study.
I liked this part of the story because I didn’t think that the girl will grow up with the happiness. She’ll be going on to be mean in the whole of her life. Instead, she is changing in to a bright person, and also humble. She believes in herself and makes thing happen as she plan on since that time, and, the rest of her life.
The part that makes me remember of my own experience is when Hellen go to regular collage after she graduated from deaf-blind school. I remember of my own selves when I was here at the first year. I have to be in a new school with people that are not familiar to me. I felt kind of nervous to be with different people. But when I saw my other friends that are the same race as me doing fine at their school, I felt tougher. I believed in myself that I can do anything as other people can, indeed.
Part of the story that I thought fell short was when Hellen was in loved. She loved the man that have been beside her know her well. And, she promised to marry him. But, Hellen didn’t reach her hope. Hellen had to leave thing she really love and long to have. That made Hellen really irritated and disappointed. But, still she didn’t give up her education.
Hellen got in trouble because of love. When her mom knew about that, she came to her daughter burn with anger. Even though, Hellen was a famous lady, to her was just a silly daughter. She ruined Hellen’s plan and force her daughter to listen to her. She made the man Hellen in loved with to go away from Hellen.
It seemed the same as other book that I had read before. There was a young girl who lived in her parent in-law’s house. Kolly was an unlucky girl. She had married to her husband was because the guy needed money to get healthy. Her mother in-law didn’t let her to do thing for her husband or take care of him. Koly was a good worker and honorable girl. But, Koly never seemed to be a good worker to her mother in-law.
As I like this book, I hope other people who read it may like it too. This is a grate book to read and know about Hellen. She gave hope for those who are hopeless and weak. I really think that whoever read this book will enjoy it and also hope to read more of Hellen’s book. If you read it, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. It is wonderful.
November 24, 2015
The biography of Helen Keller is a truly inspirational, encouraging story that makes me want to accomplish more in life. I recommend this book to everybody, young, or old because I think that it has a true meaning, and it can teach anybody a lesson: anything is possible. George Sullivan (the author of Helen Keller) wrote facts about Helen’s life, but it was strangely not boring at all. Instead, she managed to turn it into an interesting biography of one’s life.
This book is a biography of person called “Helen Keller”. Helen Keller had been born in Tuscumbia, Alabama as a perfectly normal baby girl, but when she was just 19 months old, she had lost her sight and hearing to an illness called the “scarlet fever”. Helen had now lost her senses, so that she did not know what was going on around her until a lady named Anne Sullivan entered her life. Anne Sullivan was an educator that travelled all the way to Helen, and taught her how to communicate and read braille. Anne also had an eye disease, trachoma, that severely damaged her eyesight. This experience let Anne understand and help Helen better by using the challenges that she faced into teaching Helen more easily. One step at a time, Helen began to understand things. When Helen turned 7 years old, she had already started to learn braille. She was learning things at a really fast pace, and even started attending New York’s Wright-Humason School for the deaf. Anne helped Helen break out her dark, silent world. In 1935, Helen got President Roosevelt to sign the the Social Security Act, which helps the disabled children. Helen continued to convince more and more people and places to help the poor, and she was determined to help others first. Helen was inspiring people all over the world, and she was a bright light to everybody. She then had a heart attack in the late May of 1968. Helen Keller went over everybody’s expectations - including her own.
I’ve never actually experienced something as amazing as Helen and Anne has, but I think that I see it from people on the television, people on the streets, in books, etc. I learn from my surroundings. I’ve read a biography of a man that escaped from North Korea. He went through so many hardships and challenges throughout his journey like having to get tortured because of his family’s escape plan without him, but he kept going; just like Helen Keller did. Also, when he managed to escape, he didn’t just live a happy life, but he decided to take a job that helps defectors. He continued to help others, just like Helen.
I personally thought that Helen Keller was fantastic book, and it is book worth reading because you can learn many things from Helen and Anne such as: determination, trust, consistence, and inspiration. I think that after reading this biography, I have changed my way of thinking about perseverance in life. I have chosen to keep going and believe in myself. I think that I have been inspired by Helen Keller, and I now know that there is always a way out of trouble. Helen Keller proved that there is no impossible.
March 1, 2015
This is a good biography for the young reader. I liked how straight forward it was, just as Helen Keller was. There were many quotes from Helen and those around her, the facts were backed up, additional reading materials were recommended, definitions were provided early on for the more complex words or concepts, and of course pictures were provided.
What great women were both Helen and Annie. Such strength of character, selflessness, love of people, and the will to obtain that with which is difficult. These women could never say that they owe anyone but themselves for the accomplishments they achieved over such a long lifetime. May their legacy live always.
What great women were both Helen and Annie. Such strength of character, selflessness, love of people, and the will to obtain that with which is difficult. These women could never say that they owe anyone but themselves for the accomplishments they achieved over such a long lifetime. May their legacy live always.
April 30, 2016
Helen Keller got sick after her first birthday and lost her hearing and sight. She grew up in darkness. She threw tantrums when she didn't get her way. Her parents asked Ann Sullivan to come teach Helen. Annie taught her words, and how to read and write. She stayed with Helen until she died. Helen graduated from Radclife College. She wrote articles for magazines and three books. She lectured and was also a vaudeville actress. She visited many countries and lived to be 80 years old. She touched many lives and inspired others.
November 1, 2011
This is a really great simple biography. It's simple and includes a lot of cool stories and inspiring quotes from Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan. I was really inspired by Helen Keller's determination and selfless service she gave to others. It would have been so easy for her to give up, but she didn't. She's a truly amazing woman in history. I read this book aloud to Taicy. I like to learn while I read.
August 13, 2016
This is a series of nonfiction biographies of famous people. The books are written in a way that is easy to understand and are full of pictures, illustrations, and graphics that are sure to intrigue young readers. The series includes: Helen Keller, Abraham Lincoln, Lewis & Clark, Paul Revere, Pocahontas, The Wright Brothers, and Thomas Edison. These are great books to introduce readers to nonfiction.
October 14, 2010
Title: In their own words Helen Keller
Author: George Sullivan
This book is a biography about Helen Keller, and her life. What job(s) she had done, and what she did with needing sign languge. If, you want to know lots more of Helen Keller, here's what you should do then... Buy a copy, read the book, memorize the book, lastly; do your reveiw.
Author: George Sullivan
This book is a biography about Helen Keller, and her life. What job(s) she had done, and what she did with needing sign languge. If, you want to know lots more of Helen Keller, here's what you should do then... Buy a copy, read the book, memorize the book, lastly; do your reveiw.
Read
March 18, 2011Not truly "in their own words" but a good read nonetheless. I didn't truly understand Helen Keller and her story until after reading this biography. And I admire Annie Sullivan all the more for her sacrifices and devotion, which largely go unnoticed.
April 20, 2012
A nice, quick read to distract me for an hour or so. Actually, it was more like 50 minutes. It is easy reading. I am going to suggest it to my kids. Helen Keller's story is as inspiring as it is interesting. That is, very!
February 25, 2013
I gave it three stars cause it was boring. There were parts I liked, but mostly I didn't like it. She sounded like a cool person. I wish I could of met her. Are her siblings still alive? Did Helen ever stop calling Annie teacher? Why didn't Helen ever get married?
February 1, 2013
I think people should read this because it tells a lot about her life and how she got blind. Annie Sullivan and Hellen Keller were best friends and Annie Sullivan was Hellen's teacher. She wanted to go to a regular school. Find more interesting facts about Hellen in the book!!!!!!!
January 30, 2008
its a wonderful book all though helen's teacher died it's a wonderful storie!!!! It also shows that disabled people can be so amazing in life and so appriciated it great!!!!!
June 3, 2009
i havent read it in ahile but i know it was decent.
April 21, 2010
Very interesting - lots of pictures & I learned alot. Interesting read for mid-elementary school age and up.
May 16, 2010
This book was awesome and inspiring. The photos were extensive and really shed some light on who she met around the world. This makes me want to read more.
February 2, 2011
The book was about helens life and how she raise i think a quater of a million dollars for the blind blind and death
February 18, 2013
One of my inspirations!
May 20, 2015
The writing wasn't anything special, but I did enjoy the way we learned about Helen.
Read
February 4, 2014Great book. It gives insight on Helen's life including her teacher.
December 2, 2014
I love this book my all time favorite
July 23, 2008
wow this was a great book i read it for my VIP project. wow ya you should reallyy read it lol.
March 19, 2014
This is very very good story and I think this is also very helpful for us!
March 19, 2018
Helen Keller by George Sullivan is a biography, intended for children ages 10-14.
This book follows Helen Keller, a woman who triumphed despite being robbed of her hearing and sight as a result of scarlet fever) since she was two years old. Through the help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, she managed to read, write, and learn how to speak. Later she became a public speaker, advocating for the deaf and blind.
I rated this book 4 stars because I was fascinated at how much Helen Keller was able to achieve despite her disabilities of not being able to see nor hear. I believe this book is very inspirational and proves that your disability does not always have to limit your abilities. The book follows Helen's life, beginning with her birth to covering her education under Anne Sullivan and her later life. The language is simple enough for elementary school age children to read, yet still it provides ample amounts of information. Whether they are already interested in Hellen Keller’s life, or are reading this book as a first biography, this book definitely is a good book to have open discussion about on terms of "Do you believe that a person with a disability has and a person without are able to learn the same things?" When working with children, this book could be used to teach them more about Helen's life and her amazing accomplishments despite her limitability. Students could go on to find out more about her life, and as an activity they could try learning the hand signs deaf-blind people use to communicate.
This book follows Helen Keller, a woman who triumphed despite being robbed of her hearing and sight as a result of scarlet fever) since she was two years old. Through the help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, she managed to read, write, and learn how to speak. Later she became a public speaker, advocating for the deaf and blind.
I rated this book 4 stars because I was fascinated at how much Helen Keller was able to achieve despite her disabilities of not being able to see nor hear. I believe this book is very inspirational and proves that your disability does not always have to limit your abilities. The book follows Helen's life, beginning with her birth to covering her education under Anne Sullivan and her later life. The language is simple enough for elementary school age children to read, yet still it provides ample amounts of information. Whether they are already interested in Hellen Keller’s life, or are reading this book as a first biography, this book definitely is a good book to have open discussion about on terms of "Do you believe that a person with a disability has and a person without are able to learn the same things?" When working with children, this book could be used to teach them more about Helen's life and her amazing accomplishments despite her limitability. Students could go on to find out more about her life, and as an activity they could try learning the hand signs deaf-blind people use to communicate.
May 7, 2017
Helen Keller by George Sullivan is a biography, most likely intended for children ages 10-14.
Summary: Soon after Helen Keller was born, she lost both her sight and hearing. Through the help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, she was able to learn to read and write, and later she became a public speaker, advocating for the deaf and blind.
Evaluation: I rated this book 4 stars because it manages to be both informative and fascinating. The book follows Helen's life, beginning with her birth and going on to cover her education under Anne Sullivan and her later life. The language is simple enough for elementary school age children to read, but provides a lot of information in an interesting and easily understandable way. Whether they are already interested in Hellen Keller’s life, or are reading this book as a first biography, I believe that children would enjoy this book because it tells Helen's story in a fascinating way that makes you want to read more. When working with children, this book could be used to teach them more about Helen's life and her amazing accomplishments. Students could go on to find out more about her life, and as an activity they could try learning the hand signs deaf-blind people use to communicate.
Summary: Soon after Helen Keller was born, she lost both her sight and hearing. Through the help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, she was able to learn to read and write, and later she became a public speaker, advocating for the deaf and blind.
Evaluation: I rated this book 4 stars because it manages to be both informative and fascinating. The book follows Helen's life, beginning with her birth and going on to cover her education under Anne Sullivan and her later life. The language is simple enough for elementary school age children to read, but provides a lot of information in an interesting and easily understandable way. Whether they are already interested in Hellen Keller’s life, or are reading this book as a first biography, I believe that children would enjoy this book because it tells Helen's story in a fascinating way that makes you want to read more. When working with children, this book could be used to teach them more about Helen's life and her amazing accomplishments. Students could go on to find out more about her life, and as an activity they could try learning the hand signs deaf-blind people use to communicate.
April 21, 2020
I first got my book when i was told that i needed to go home for quarantine so i did as i was told and i got two books one book that i got that I'm writing this review for is “ In their own words;HELEN KELLER” . I got this book because I have always heard people talking about Helen and i always wanted to know what those people were talking about so I of course grabbed it and read when i had the time. This book taught me about a new person I never really knew about and I'm glad that i got it because i learned a lot about Helen Keller from this book. In my opinion i would've wrote a lot more about her younger life because i wanted to see more of what she did in her younger years but the chapters of her younger years held a lot of information so that opinion of mine doesn't really matter. Other than that I thought that book was great and If you’re thinking of reading this book I am suggesting that you do read this book if you don't really know anything about Helen Keller and its a great opportunity to learn something new.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews