My Thoughts On "Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller"

Source:  Goodreads

Sarah Miller
Source:  Goodreads

From the back cover...

Annie Sullivan was little more than a half blind orphan with a fiery tongue when she arrived at Ivy Green in 1887.  Desperate for work, she'd taken on a seemingly impossible job--teaching a child who was deaf, blind, and as ferocious as any wild animal.  But Helen Keller needed more than a teacher.  She needed someone daring enough to work a miracle.  And if anyone was a match for Helen, it was the girl they used to call Miss Spitfire.

For Annie, reaching Helen's mind meant losing teeth as raging fists flew.  It meant standing up when everyone else had given up.  It meant shedding tears at the frustrations and the triumphs.  By telling the inspiring story from Annie Sullivan's point of view, Sarah Miller's debut novel brings an amazing figure to sharp new life.  Annie's past, her brazen determination, and her connection to the girl who would call her Teacher have never been clearer.

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Oh how I loved this book!

I have always loved the story of Helen Keller and what she was able to overcome in her life, but I knew very little about Annie Sullivan.  So when my daughter bought this book at her last school book fair I knew I'd read it eventually.  I'm so happy I did!

Almost every day, I tell my daughter that she can do anything if she's willing to work hard, and that the most important thing is to never give up no matter how hard it gets, or how may times she fails.  If you just keep trying you will eventually succeed.  This has been true with lots of things in her life...school, softball, basketball, singing, piano...it all takes hard work and perseverance.  I hope this is something she will carry with her throughout the rest of her life, and "Miss Spitfire" is a perfect illustration of this idea.  I think all young girls should read it.

Even though I'm an adult I love to read children's books.  They just make me feel good, and with my recent illness I longed for something to make me feel good and inspire me.  I've been in a reading slump lately, so I wanted something easy to read as well.  "Miss Spitfire" was just what I needed.

In the back of the book there are pictures of Helen Keller, Annie Sullivan, and places mentioned in the book.  There is a timeline and lists of books, online sources, and videos that will give you lots more information about Helen Keller and her beloved Teacher, Annie Sullivan.  One of the books I'm particularly interested in reading is "Teacher" written by Helen Keller about Annie Sullivan.

Source:  Goodreads

Helen Keller
Source:  Wikipedia

Annie Sullivan
Source:  http://www.anniesullivan.org/

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”
― Helen Keller

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.”
― Helen Keller

“For three things I thank God every day of my life: thanks that he has vouchsafed me knowledge of his works; deep thanks that he has set in my darkness the lamp of faith; deep, deepest thanks that I have another life to look forward to--a life joyous with light and flowers and heavenly song.”
― Helen Keller