She Persisted: Helen Keller

December 1, 2021

Gr 2-6-Two more volumes in the inspirational chapter book "She Persisted" series. Helen Keller, born in 1880, contracted a fever when she was just a year and half, causing irreversible vision and hearing loss. Keller's parents sought the help of Anne Sullivan, a special teacher from the Perkins School for the Blind. Keller learned to read, write, speak, and read lips. Finally able to communicate, she took it upon herself to help those less fortunate, write 14 books, and graduate from Radcliffe College with honors. She changed the way people viewed those with hearing and vision loss. Oprah Winfrey was born with talent, intelligence, and a whole lot of grit. Memorizing scripture, reading and speaking well by age three, and requesting to skip kindergarten by writing her teacher a note stating, "I do not think I belong here" were just some of young Oprah's accomplishments. She endured poverty, sexual abuse by a cousin, and a stillborn child by the time she was just 18 years old. Determined to overcome, she found success by going to college and landing a job as Nashville's first Black television anchor. From there, Oprah's success grew with her ability to speak candidly about her feelings on air. Black-and-white illustrations are peppered throughout both books. VERDICT A must purchase for all libraries.-Tracy Cronce, Stevens Point Pub. Sch. District, WI

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November 1, 2021
This entry in the She Persisted series provides a detailed look at the life of Helen Keller. Helen Keller was born in rural Alabama in 1880. After suffering a severe illness as a toddler, she lost both her sight and hearing, leaving her isolated and unable to communicate with those around her. Her parents secured help for her when she reached the age of 7. Anne Sullivan was sent from the Perkins School for the Blind in Massachusetts to attempt to educate Helen. Sullivan would remain Keller's companion for decades, accompanying her as she campaigned around the world for individuals who were disabled. This short work features Flint's cheerful black-and-white cartoonlike illustrations; unfortunately, they don't always match tonally with moments depicting Keller's early struggles. The few brief paragraphs per spread explain the major details of Keller's life, provide some insight into the difficulties she faced, and highlight the impact she had on the world. Although print is large and there is plenty of white space, some of the vocabulary seems fairly sophisticated for those just transitioning to chapter books. Although Sheinmel's efforts are necessarily constrained by the nature of early chapter books, this one largely succeeds, partly due to the exceptionally inspirational topic. The series will include 12 other female subjects. With the exception of two children on the cover, all characters in this book are depicted as White. An engaging portrait of a fascinating woman. (references, online resources) (Biography. 6-10)

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