Synopses & Reviews
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 at the triumphs. By telling this 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.
Review
"This moving storyand#8212;for all agesand#8212;is about how Anne an underprivileged young woman awoke Helen Keller, the most famous woman of her time, to life and learning. andlt;iandgt;Miss Spitfireandlt;/iandgt; is high drama about how language unlocks the world.and#8221; andlt;BRandgt; and#8212;Richard Peck, author of the Newbery Medaland#8211;winner andlt;iandgt;A Year Down Yonderandlt;/iandgt;
Review
* "Miller's accomplished debut imagines Annie Sullivan's first experiences with her famous pupil, Helen Kellerand#8230; encouraging readers to think about the small miracles of connection they can accomplish with words every day." andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;iandgt;Booklistandlt;/iandgt;, starred review
Review
"Details drawn from Annie's letters and Helen's autobiography are fleshed out engagingly in the first-person voice of Miller's imagined Annie, the young "spitfire" who overcomes obstacles no matter the power of the adults in her life."andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;iandgt;Kirkus Reviewsandlt;/iandgt;
Review
"Children encountering [Annie and Helen] for the first time will feel an overwhelming sense of wonder and delight when Annie helps Helen make a communication breakthrough. School Library Journal Readers will appreciate Annie's devotion to her pupil and how her tenacity makes a difference in the young girl's life."andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;iandgt;Kliattandlt;/iandgt;
Review
"Miller brings history to life."
--Voya
Review
"Miller brings history to life."andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;Iandgt;Voya andlt;BRandgt; andlt;/Iandgt;
Synopsis
In her debut novel, Miller tells the inspiring story of Annie Sullivan, HelenKeller's teacher, told from Annie's point of view.
Synopsis
Miller tells the inspiring story of Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller's teacher, told from Annie's point of view, in this ALA Best Book for Young Adults.
Synopsis
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, sheand#8217;d taken on a seemingly impossible joband#8212;teaching a child who was deaf, blind, and as ferocious as any wild animal. But if anyone was a match for Helen Keller, it was the girl whoand#8217;d been nicknamed Miss Spitfire. In her efforts to reach Helenand#8217;s mind, Annie lost teeth to the girland#8217;s raging blows, but she never lost faith in her ability to triumph. Told in first person, Annie Sullivanand#8217;s past, her brazen determination, and her connection to the girl who would call her Teacher are vividly depicted in this powerful novel.
About the Author
Sarah Miller first saw The Miracle Worker on stage in 1998.That same night she watched both versions of the film back-to-back, learned the manual alphabet, and began reading Helen Keller's The Story of My Life. She later changed her major from English to linguistics, and learned Braille from a library book so she could read in the dark under the covers. She also took two semesters of American Sign Language, in which she was the undisputed finger-spelling champ. Sarah works at an independent children's bookstore in Rochester, Michigan. This is her first published novel.