The Story of Helen Keller

Helen Keller is one of the most famous advocates for equality and people with disabilities. Her life served as a testament and encouragement for those who have blindness and deafness, and her ability to overcome her challenges inspired millions with disabilities to embrace their life opportunities despite their limitations. Her advocacy changed how the world viewed and treated people with disabilities, and her legacy continues to be recognized today. However, Keller’s journey as a humanitarian wasn’t easy, and her life was filled with hardships and obstacles. 

Born on June 27, 1880, Keller grew up in the small town of Tuscumbia, Alabama, during the reconstruction period after the Civil War. When she was just 19 months old, she contracted a mysterious illness that left her deaf and blind; this completely changed her life forever. Without the ability to see or hear, Keller struggled to fit in with other children. However, when Keller’s parents hired Anne Sullivan to tutor Keller, the opportunities in her life, like an education and a career, became possible!  

The Story of Helen Keller tells a biographical story about Helen Keller’s journey as an advocate for people with disabilities. Told from the perspective of an outside narrator, the book follows Keller’s life, beginning with her early childhood struggles and ending with her advocacy to raise awareness about blindness. While other characters appear throughout the story, like Anne Sullivan, Keller’s teacher and best friend, the story primarily focuses on Keller. As a result, Keller is portrayed as an inspirational figure whose perseverance through her hardships can be admirable and influential for readers. Although most readers can’t relate to Keller’s experience as a deaf and blind person, they can relate to the everyday challenges that Keller encountered as she grew up and pursued her dream of being a humanitarian. Because of these realistic circumstances in her life, her story comes across as very authentic and genuine. 

The biography displays a positive outlook on determination, perseverance, and advocating for oneself. Although Keller’s disabilities created obstacles for her education, career, and everyday life, her determination and unwillingness to give up highlights the book’s message about the power of tenacity in trials and tribulations. It challenges readers to identify their own troubles and learn how to overcome them. After all, Keller’s life exemplifies this message and serves “as an inspiration for overcoming challenges and achieving great things.” 

The Story of Helen Keller is part of a series called Story Of: A Biography for New Readers. Thus, the book is educationally oriented and includes supplementary material, like fun facts, discussion questions, a reading quiz, and a glossary. Hand-drawn illustrations are sprinkled in every one to three pages, and the back of the book contains real-life photographs that highlight the important aspects of Keller’s life. Some of the book’s text and vocabulary can be challenging for younger readers too, as most pages feature one to two paragraphs with large words, long proper nouns, and compound sentences. Nonetheless, The Story of Helen Keller presents an unforgettable tale about one of history’s most famous humanitarians. It’s an engaging story that will hook readers, young and old, and inspire them to achieve their dreams despite challenges.  

Sexual Content 

• None 

Violence 

• None 

Drugs and Alcohol 

• None 

Language 

• None 

Supernatural 

• None 

Spiritual Content 

• None