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kristenremenar's review
5.0
Shout out for Michigan author Sarah Miller! What a wonderful book! Lots of books have been written about Helen Keller, and several about Annie Sullivan, but this one, written in first-person present tense, gives a feel of the intensity of working with a child so cut off from communication. Gorgeous language.
amchica's review
4.0
I read this for my daughter's fifth grade Battle of the Books. I knew very little about Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan's story, and this book definitely got me interested in learning more. I watched the Miracle Worker as soon as I finished the book - what I liked about the book is it gave the reader a bit more perspective on Annie's emotional investment in Helen and on her own past.
yabetsy's review
3.0
BBYA
Annie Sullivan needs a change desperately, but she has no idea what she was in for when she agreed to become the teacher to Helen Keller, a deaf and blind, never mind wild and feral 6-year-old whose family is desperate to control her violent tantrums. Miss Spitfire gives us the dramatic relation between the two that establishes the triumph when Helen first makes a breakthrough.
Annie Sullivan needs a change desperately, but she has no idea what she was in for when she agreed to become the teacher to Helen Keller, a deaf and blind, never mind wild and feral 6-year-old whose family is desperate to control her violent tantrums. Miss Spitfire gives us the dramatic relation between the two that establishes the triumph when Helen first makes a breakthrough.
ashkitty93's review
5.0
By rights I should've finished this in a day but, you know, real life. Fantastic book. Excuse me while I go pull The Story of My Life off the shelf, and track down the Helen Keller chapter book I wore out as a kid. This remains one of my favorite stories.
beths0103's review
4.0
This was a wonderful, heartwarming story about Annie Sullivan and how she managed to work her miracles with Helen Keller. I remember watching The Miracle Worker in 4th grade, but I never really retained anything from that movie other than the scene at the water spigot where Annie Sullivan discovers that Helen finally understands what she's been teaching her. I was waiting for that moment in the book, and sure enough, it was written almost just as I remembered the scene from the movie.
I loved the emotion and frustration portrayed in this novel, and I was especially fond of Miller's portrayal of Sullivan's frustrations with the Kellers for allowing Helen to behave the way she did out of pity.
I hope kids enjoy reading this book as much as I did and that they come to understand the significance of such an undertaking at this time in history.
I loved the emotion and frustration portrayed in this novel, and I was especially fond of Miller's portrayal of Sullivan's frustrations with the Kellers for allowing Helen to behave the way she did out of pity.
I hope kids enjoy reading this book as much as I did and that they come to understand the significance of such an undertaking at this time in history.
19paws's review
4.0
I’ve been fascinated by the lives of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan ever since elementary school when a local woman brought a program to my school that used dolls to tell the stories of famous American women. (I think it may have been part of this Dolls of Democracy program: http://www.thejointlibrary.org/archives/TheTimes/1966/1966-04-28/pg_0020.pdf).
Having read so much about both of these women, I didn’t know if this book would add anything of interest to the story for me, especially since it covers the exact same time period—-Anne’s first month with Helen—-as The Miracle Worker. But this is historical fiction, told from Anne Sullivan’s perspective, and this interpretation of the story is rich, fresh, and very well-written. If I could, I'd give it 4 1/2 stars.
Having read so much about both of these women, I didn’t know if this book would add anything of interest to the story for me, especially since it covers the exact same time period—-Anne’s first month with Helen—-as The Miracle Worker. But this is historical fiction, told from Anne Sullivan’s perspective, and this interpretation of the story is rich, fresh, and very well-written. If I could, I'd give it 4 1/2 stars.
musicalchikaan's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
meaganreads's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.5
mychaelann's review
3.0
Listened with the kids. You really come to understand the frustrations and impossibilities Ann Sullivan faced. By the end I was a little annoyed by certain repetitive sentiments and was not as compassionate towards Ann as the author wanted me to be.
adeperi's review
4.0
I was surprised that I liked this so much, as I am not really a history fan (even though this is historical FICTION). However, it was very entertaining and heartwarming to read about the challenges Helen Keller had to overcome before becoming the great leader she was.