Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller , Sarah Miller, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2007 Grade Level: 6 th -8 th ISBN # and cost: 978-1-41692542-2, 1-4169-2542-2, $16.99 Blanket Permission to Reproduce Book Jackets: Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing |
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Synopsis:
At age twenty, partially-blind, lonely but spirited Annie Sullivan travels from Massachusetts to Alabama to try and teach six-year-old Helen Keller, deaf and blind since age two, self-discipline and communication skills. Includes: historical notes and timeline.
General Review:
This historical fiction novel takes biographical material of famed deaf-blind girl Helen Keller and her teacher Annie Sullivan, and brings it to life with emotion. Though many know the amazing story of how Sullivan broke through to teach Keller language skills, this story is unique in its honest and detailed portrayal of the enormous physical, mental, and emotional effort it took for the two to forge a bond. The author is particularly skillful in revealing how Sullivan's rough childhood and upbringing gave her the tenacity needed to tame a wild and overindulged Helen. Sullivan's dedication to unlocking Helen's mind despite numerous obstacles is miraculous and inspiring. Primary sources in the form of excerpts from Annie's letters add to the book's authenticity. Told from Annie's point of view, this is a new spin on an often-told story that is a candid portrait of a struggle toward the light.
Themes: Blindness; Deafness; Helen Keller; Annie Sullivan; Teachers; Teacher-student relationships; Communication; Perseverance.
Author Information:
• Author Sarah Miller's official website (author information, audio clip, downloadable book jacket,
and downloadable reading guide) http://www.sarahmillerbooks.com/
• Interview with Sarah Miller
http://slayground.livejournal.com/230418.html
• Interview with Sarah Miller from Embracing the Child
http://www.embracingthechild.org/amiller.html
• Sarah Miller's Blog
http://sarahmillerbooks.blogspot.com/
Discussion Questions: (Standard 3, Benchmark 3)
• Compare and contrast Helen Keller with Annie Sullivan. How were they alike? How were they different? How did Helen and Annie's similarities help Annie reach Helen?
• Why was Helen such an undisciplined mess? Do you blame her family? Would you have done things differently if you were part of her family?
• Why did Annie want to take Helen away from her family for a while? Do you agree it was necessary?
• Was Annie unnecessarily cruel to Helen? Why or why not?
• What character traits did Annie have that helped her find success with Helen?
• Imagine that you were going to lose your sight and hearing in one week. What experiences would you want to have between now and then? (places to go, things to see and do)
• If you lost your sight, what would you miss seeing the most? If you lost your hearing, what would you miss hearing the most?
• An excellent Reader Guide , including an author interview, more discussion questions and activity ideas, is available online at: http://www.sarahmillerbooks.com/Reader_Guide___Miss_Spitfire.doc
Activity Suggestions:
• Learn more about Braille, finger spelling, or American Sign Language (ASL). (Standard 3, Benchmark 2)
• Learn more about Helen Keller. This book provides an in-depth look at her initial experience with teacher Annie Sullivan, but what about the rest of her life? What did she go on to accomplish? (Standard 3, Benchmarks 2, 3)
• Imagine that you are creating a proposal for Helen Keller to be honored with a national holiday. Write a proposal that explains why she deserves such an honor. How and when should the day be celebrated? (Standard 3, Benchmarks 1, 2, 3, 4)
• Play games that force you to communicate in unconventional ways and discuss the challenges you face. Play charades (acting things out without talking). Spend a day not speaking, communicating only through writing. Blindfold students and have them identify objects by touch only. (Standard 3, Benchmark 3)
Braille sites:
• Braille Bug – A site from the American Foundation for the Blind to teach sighted kids in grades 3-6 about Braille http://www.afb.org/braillebug/
• Braille: Deciphering the Code http://www.afb.org/braillebug/braille_deciphering.asp
• “You've Got Braille” Braille translator http://pbskids.org/arthur/print/braille/index.html
• Worley, Helen L. “The Dots of Louis Braille.” Children's Digest Jan/Feb 2008: 16-17. (Available through free access to World Book Online through Kan-Ed/Education Desktop.)
ASL sites:
• Surfing the Net with Kids: Sign Language
http://www.surfnetkids.com/signlanguage.htm
• Animated ASL Dictionary
http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm
• Arthur's Sign Design
http://pbskids.org/arthur/print/signdesign/index.html
• Thinkquest: ASL for kids
http://library.thinkquest.org/5875/index.htm
Helen Keller resources:
• Helen Keller Kids Museum Online (includes video clips)
http://www.afb.org/braillebug/hkmuseum.asp
• The Miracle Worker , 1962 movie with Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke (adapted from the book Helen Keller: The Story of My Life )
Follow-Up Books:
If you liked Miss Spitfire , you might also want to try:
• Helen Keller: The Story of My Life by Helen Keller (autobiography)
• Teacher: Anne Sullivan Macy by Helen Keller (biography)
• Helen Keller: Her Life in Pictures by George Sullivan (biography)
