Product Description

Helen Keller was the first deaf and blind student to ever attend an American college, but graduating from Radcliffe with honors was only one of her many accomplishments. Her writing and speeches tell the poignant story of a woman who struggles to overcome personal adversity, while working as an advocate for the physically challenged.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2676880 in Books
• Published on: 2002-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 128 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6-These biographies don't quite live up to their billing. At the beginning of each volume, the author discusses the differences between primary and secondary sources and the importance of using primary sources whenever possible. These introductions and the series title imply that the books rely heavily on the actual written and spoken words of the subject. Instead, what readers will find are perhaps a few more quotes than are common in biographies for young people, but the approach is not shatteringly different. The question, however, is whether this matters. These may not be unique biographies, but they are still well written, fast moving, and highly readable, squeezed into a small format that should appeal to many students. Both books feature black-and-white photos and reproductions, a useful index, a short bibliography of primary and secondary sources, and a short list of further readings, along with places to contact for further information. Certainly much has been written about these two figures and many libraries will find their shelves already well stocked. Those needing more materials, however, will find these to be solid choices.
Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Reviewed with Sullivan's Abraham Lincoln.

Gr. 3-5. In Their Own Words biographies focus on famous people who left a record of their own lives. Beginning with an explanation of the difference between primary and secondary sources, Sullivan seamlessly interweaves information about his subjects with excerpts from primary sources. In the case of Helen Keller, Sullivan uses her autobiographical works; for Lincoln, he draws on speeches and letters. Both Keller and Lincoln have been covered in numerous biographies for young people (Sullivan's own Picturing Lincoln was published last fall), but these volumes are still worthwhile. The short chapters, large print, simple vocabulary, straightforward narrative, and attractive illustrations, as well as the addition of the subjects' own words, make them fine choices for early-grade biographies. They fit nicely between David Adler's Picture Book Biography series books and more challenging volumes such as Russell Freedman's classic Lincoln: A Photobiography (1987). Catherine Andronik
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

Awesome!
I re-read this book a few nights ago and although it is not a story-tale fiction book like I ussually read it is still very enjoyable and extremly educational. It teaches you the amazing story of a girl named Helen Keller who lost her ability to see and hear at a very young age. It takes you through her life during which she accomplishes so many spectacular things and conquers challenges that no one thought she could. She stars in a movie, she learns to read and write and she goes through college and becomes an honor student and all along the way she is guided by her loyal friend Anne Sullivan. I ussually dont read biographys but I'm glad I picked this one up! I encourage you to read it because it makes you realize that even though someone like Helen Keller cant see or hear, it makes them no different than other people and they are perfectly capable of accomplishing anything as long as they set their mind to it. This book is very inspiring and it really makes you realize what a remarkable person Helen Keller was.

GREAT ADDITION TO A WONDEFUL SERIES
As with the other books in the series "In Their Own Words," the author has given us another great good and useful book for young women and men. The Keller story is in itself, quite inspirational and Mr Sullivan has been able to capture this spirit quite well. The constant use of quotes allows the reader to feel they are getting the facts right from the source and not from some dry accedemic source. The black and white photos are used quite effectively. The book holds the reader's interest and along with inspiring the reader, he or she actually learns something. Highly recommend this one.

Great reading, fun, and motivating for kids
I have read Helen Keller's The Story of My Life, and I spotted In Their Own Words: Helen Keller on a bookshelf in a middle school class. When I was reading it, I became engrossed to the book and enjoyed it. There is more information in In Their Own Words: Helen Keller not covered in the autobiography plus additional details about Helen Keller in the extended period of her life because The Story of My Life ended when she was 22-23 years old. I thought the details to be interesting and highly informative although it's a book for the kids. In Their Own Words: Helen Keller also provides a good leap from this book to a professional biography of Helen Keller's life. Another best part of the book is that there are many pictures contained, and I liked them. The print is simple, and the pages are short (only 125 pages) and can be read in a few hours. All in all, I recommend In Their Own Words: Helen Keller after finished reading The Story of My Life.