book report on helen keller

Books: A true story

Book reviews and some (mostly funny) true stories of my life.

Book Review: The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

October 23, 2014 By Jessica Filed Under: Book Review 35 Comments

The Story of My Life

An American classic rediscovered by each generation,  The Story of My Life  is Helen Keller’s account of her triumph over deafness and blindness. Popularized by the stage play and movie The Miracle Worker, Keller’s story has become a symbol of hope for people all over the world.  This book–published when Keller was only twenty-two–portrays the wild child who is locked in the dark and silent prison of her own body. With an extraordinary immediacy, Keller reveals her frustrations and rage, and takes the reader on the unforgettable journey of her education and breakthroughs into the world of communication. From the moment Keller recognizes the word “water” when her teacher finger-spells the letters, we share her triumph as “that living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free!” An unparalleled chronicle of courage,  The Story of My Life  remains startlingly fresh and vital more than a century after its first publication, a timeless testament to an indomitable will.

The Story of My Life by Helen Keller is a beautiful memoir about the power of love, language, and learning.  It was sad and humbling to hear Helen describe how desperate she was to communicate with people.  Since Helen was deaf and blind, she would go into a rage after being so frustrated that no one could understand her.  That really struck home with me.  In college, I babysat a 5 year old boy who couldn’t talk because he had cerebral palsy.  He could answer yes or no to my questions by shaking or nodding his head.  There were times when I asked every question I could think of and he would break down in tears of frustration – just like Helen Keller described.  It was heartbreaking to see.  When the boy I babysat went to school and learned more complex sign language, he lit up.  I still remember the first time he was able to tell me a story.  He was absolutely glowing with joy.  Helen Keller’s story of learning was very touching to me since it similar to the experience that the boy I knew had.

How she was able to learn language was very interesting to read about since she was old to enough to remember the experience of understanding words for the first time.  Her teacher, Annie Sullivan, used a method of teaching with Helen that had never been done before.   The pedagogy behind how Annie taught language to someone who couldn’t hear or see was fascinating.  She had to break down and really think about how kids normally learn language and translate it into the senses that Helen had access to.  She realized that kids acquire language through imitation and through hearing it all day long every day.  So Annie would spell words into Helen’s hand all day long about everything they were doing even though Helen didn’t know what the words meant yet.  Helen learned that words represented the things that she could touch.  It was a bittersweet moment when Annie tries to teach Helen what love is and Helen can’t understand why her teacher won’t show it to her.

…how happy your little Helen was when her teacher explained to her that the best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen nor even touched, but just felt in the heart. -Helen Keller, in a letter written to Rev. Phillips Brooks, June 8, 1891.

Before reading this, I had never realized how important books would be to Helen Keller.  They were a huge part of how she experienced a world that she couldn’t see or hear.   She talked about books as if they were her friends.

I have not shown how much I have depended on books not only for pleasure and for the wisdom they bring to all who read, but also for that knowledge which comes to others through their eyes and their ears. Indeed, books have meant so much more in my education than in that of others … – Helen Keller, The Story of My Life , Chapter 21

There was a huge list of books that she read.  You know me.  Of course I wrote them all down.

Books Helen Keller Read

• As You Like It By William Shakespeare
• Speech on Conciliation with America by Edmund Burke
•  Life of Samuel Johnson by Thomas Macaulay
• Child’s History of England by Charles Dickens
• The Arabian Nights
• The Swiss Family Robinson
• The Pilgrim’s Progress
• Robinson Crusoe
• Little Women
• Treasure Island
• Jungle Book

Because reading had such an influence on her, she often described things the way that someone could see would.  She would describe trees as green even though she had never seen the color green because that’s what books described them as.  That being said, I noticed that a lot of her descriptions – especially of nature – centered on their scent and feel.   Also, I want to write book reviews the way that Helen Keller does.

The “Iliad” is beautiful with all the truth, and grace and simplicity of a wonderfully childlike people while the “Aeneid” is more stately and reserved. It is like a beautiful maiden, who always lived in a palace, surrounded by a magnificent court; while the “Iliad” is like a splendid youth, who has had the earth for his playground. – Helen Keller, in a letter to Mrs. Laurence Hutton, October 23, 1898

Helen desperately wanted to go to college but practical things made it extremely difficult.  She struggled with being able to even take tests since they had to be dictated to her.  Books weren’t available in braille quickly enough and she would fall behind in classes. Lectures had to be written down in advance for her to follow along.  It makes me appreciate not only my education but the technology today that allows equal access to books for people with disabilities.  I just wanted to travel back in time and make her books because they were so hard to get in braille!  As much as Helen loved books, she hated tests.  Like really, really hated them.  She describes the feeling of forgetting an answer on a test perfectly.

You are sure it is somewhere in your mind near the top—you saw it there the other day when you were looking up the beginnings of the Reformation. But where is it now? You fish out all manner of odds and ends of knowledge—revolutions, schisms, massacres, systems of government; but Huss—where is he? You are amazed at all the things you know which are not on the examination paper. – Helen Keller, The Story of My Life , Chapter 20

She talks about the administration of the school and how they sometimes unintentionally made things even more difficult for her.  But instead of letting it frustrate her, she felt accomplished that not only had she gotten an education but she had overcome the challenges in getting one as well.

Overall, it’s an amazing story of overcoming difficult trials and making the best of what is given to us.

Content Rating : None. Clean read.

This post contains affiliate links and I receive a small percentage of sales made through these links. 

About Helen Keller

Helen Keller would not be bound by conditions. Rendered deaf and blind at 19 months by scarlet fever, she learned to read (in several languages) and even speak, eventually graduating with honors from Radcliffe College in 1904, where as a student she wrote The Story of My Life. That she accomplished all of this in an age when few women attended college and the disabled were often relegated to the background, spoken of only in hushed tones, is remarkable. But Keller's many other achievements are impressive by any standard: she authored 13 books, wrote countless articles, and devoted her life to social reform. An active and effective suffragist, pacifist, and socialist (the latter association earned her an FBI file), she lectured on behalf of disabled people everywhere. She also helped start several foundations that continue to improve the lives of the deaf and blind around the world.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• Classics Club
• eBook Challenge 2014
• TBR Pile 2014

October 23, 2014 at 12:26 pm

I remember stumbling upon this book when I was reading the “www” trilogy by Robert J. Sawyer. The protagonist is blind and Helen Keller is an inspirational figure to her. At the time, I check “The Story of my Life” at the library and read the few first pages. I liked it. I really need to find time to read it all!

October 23, 2014 at 2:14 pm

Wow, what an amazing book. I would also love to write book reviews the way Helen Keller did. So beautiful.

May 1, 2020 at 12:51 am

yes this book change my life one day i am also riting a book about my life thank you helen keller to give this beautyful book to us…….

October 23, 2014 at 5:11 pm

I love this book!

September 25, 2017 at 10:45 pm

I just loved the book , it inspire me to a great extent I will always thank helean keller for inspiring me…..

May 20, 2018 at 2:40 am

October 25, 2014 at 4:48 pm

I love the list of books she read! So awesome! I read this when I was in middle school but it would be fun to read again!

June 5, 2015 at 9:43 am

i luv the way of describing the nature and how helen struggled in her life.the book was jst awsm that i ever read………

June 4, 2016 at 8:30 pm

And I’m read is book for my school project.

June 6, 2015 at 2:18 am

i have read this book this book is very infuensive .helen keller have influnced many like her

June 6, 2015 at 5:54 am

Well! I had an project of english on review of “the story of my life” just before i was thinking oh! Such a boring novel because i was not having an idea but i don’t know how but the way i started reading ,my eyes filled with tears because i have a elder sister who is deaf , i can understand how ridiculous how tough the life is when you are not even able to listen . And so, i so damn love this novel , :)

June 9, 2015 at 6:11 am

I like this book so much…..!!!!!

June 24, 2015 at 2:38 am

I love this book. Its amazing.

June 30, 2015 at 6:42 am

I read this book with pleasure and I have fall in the love of story and its help in English project

August 9, 2015 at 2:07 pm

it is an awesome book!

October 26, 2015 at 9:03 am

My favourite book

January 13, 2016 at 10:51 am

This was such an inspiring novel……it taught me that we need to be optimstic!!

May 28, 2016 at 10:36 pm

I had read this book and I love this book very much

June 4, 2016 at 8:27 pm

This novel was inspiring. This novel was awesome and it is my favorite book.

June 14, 2016 at 6:22 am

THIS BOOK IS VERY INSPIRING. I LOVE THIS BOOK.

June 21, 2016 at 4:53 am

Its too interseting ……i love this book…

June 29, 2016 at 5:44 am

i just love it…..

June 30, 2016 at 7:25 am

Nice book which touch my heart

July 17, 2016 at 6:04 am

Love this book ..

August 16, 2016 at 5:03 am

Good and awesome novel!!!!

August 16, 2016 at 7:35 am

Its one of my fav books

September 8, 2016 at 5:15 am

this is a so beautiful book. i like it.

October 21, 2016 at 7:45 am

This is very best

January 31, 2017 at 9:12 am

awesome…….

June 10, 2017 at 5:41 am

It’s a very nice book

June 11, 2017 at 6:53 am

I love the way of describing the nature and how Helen struggled in her life. The book was just awesome and I can read it every time……

September 23, 2017 at 4:51 am

awsome book for the future generations

May 18, 2018 at 2:36 am

I love this novel

June 20, 2018 at 12:40 am

July 4, 2018 at 3:05 am

I like this book so much….

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

email subscription

The Story of My Life

By helen keller.

• The Story of My Life Summary

Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880 in the small town of Tuscumbia, Alabama. When she was a year old, she was stricken with an illness that left her without sight or hearing. In the early years after her illness, it was difficult for her to communicate, even with her family; she lived her life entirely in the dark, often angry and frustrated with the fact that no one could understand her. Everything changed in March of 1887, when Helen's teacher, Anne Sullivan , came to live with the family in Alabama and turned Helen's world around.

Miss Sullivan taught Helen the names of objects by giving them to her and then spelling out the letters of their name in her hand. Helen learned to spell these words through imitation, without understanding what she was doing, but eventually had a breakthrough and realized that everything had a name, and that Miss Sullivan was teaching them to her. From this point on, Helen acquired language rapidly; she particularly enjoyed learning out in nature, where she and her teacher would take walks and she would ask questions about her surroundings. Soon after this, Helen learned how to read; Miss Sullivan taught her this by giving her strips of cardboard with raised letters on them, and then having her act out the sentence with objects. Soon, Helen could read entire books.

In May 1888, Helen went north to visit Boston with her mother and teacher. She spent some time studying at the Perkins Institute for the Blind, and quickly befriended the other blind girls who were her age. They spent a vacation at Brewster in Cape Cod, where Helen experienced the ocean for the first time. Following this, they spent nearly every winter up north.

Once she had learned to read, Helen was determined next to learn how to speak. Her teacher and many others believed it would be impossible for her to ever speak normally, but she resolved to reach that point. Miss Sullivan took her to the Horace Mann School in 1890 to begin learning with Miss Sarah Fuller , and Helen learned by feeling the position of Miss Fuller's lips and tongue when she spoke. The moment she spoke her first words, "It is warm," was a powerful memory for her: she was thrilled that she might be able to speak to her family and friends at last.

The winter of 1892 was a troubling time for Helen. Seemingly inspired by the beautiful fall foliage around her, she wrote a story called "The Frost King," and sent it up to her teacher at the Perkins Institute as a gift. It soon came out that Helen's story was quite like another in a published book, called "The Frost Fairies." Helen had been read the original story as a child, and the words had remained so ingrained in her mind that she'd unwittingly plagiarized them when she wrote her own story. This tainted Helen's relationship with her Perkins Institute teacher, Mr. Anagnos , and made her distrust her own mind and the originality of her thoughts for a long time.

In 1894 Helen attended the Wright-Humanson School for the Deaf in New York City, and began studying formal subjects like history, Latin, French, German, and arithmetic. In 1896, she began her studies at the Cambridge School for Young Ladies in Massachusetts, which would prepare her to eventually attend Radcliffe College, the women's college affiliated with Harvard University. This was her first time attending school with girls who could see or hear, rather than other students who were also deaf or blind. Though it was a challenge, she persevered; however, her mother eventually withdrew her from the Cambridge School to finish her Radcliffe preparation with a private tutor, because they did not agree with the Cambridge School principal's wish to lighten Helen's course load. She successfully qualified for Radcliffe in 1899, and entered college in the fall of 1900. Though college presented unique obstacles for Helen to overcome, she deeply appreciated her opportunity to attend.

Helen uses the final chapters of her memoir to discuss certain things that are particularly important to her, like her love of books, her favorite pastimes, and the friends she made who shaped her life. Two additional sections of the autobiography include Helen's personal letters written throughout her youth, as well as supplementary commentary by her editor, with a first-hand account by Helen's teacher, Anne Sullivan.

The Story of My Life Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Story of My Life is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Describe the structure used to organize helen's story

The structure is in three parts . The first two, Miss Keller's story and the extracts from her letters, form a complete account of her life as far as she can give it. Her style is called Affectionate Recollection. Despite the hardships Keller...

How many pages is this book?

This really depends on the publication of the book you have. Different publications have different number of pages.

The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

I'm sorry, I do not have access to the prompts your teacher hands out in class.

Study Guide for The Story of My Life

The Story of My Life study guide contains a biography of Helen Keller, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Story of My Life
• Character List

Lesson Plan for The Story of My Life

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Story of My Life
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Story of My Life Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Story of My Life

• Introduction

• Project Gutenberg
• 74,468 free eBooks
• 6 by Helen Keller

The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

Read now or download (free!)

Similar books, about this ebook.

• Privacy policy
• About Project Gutenberg
• Terms of Use
• Contact Information

• Biographies & Memoirs
• Community & Culture

Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Amazon Prime includes:

Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.

• Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
• Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
• Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
• A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
• Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
• Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access

Important:  Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the authors

The Story of My Life: An Autobiography of Helen Keller Paperback – May 28, 2018

Purchase options and add-ons.

• Print length 310 pages
• Language English
• Publication date May 28, 2018
• Dimensions 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
• ISBN-10 172043204X
• ISBN-13 978-1720432043
• See all details

Frequently bought together

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (May 28, 2018)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 310 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 172043204X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1720432043
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.18 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
• #57,920 in Women's Biographies

About the authors

Hellen keller.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Annie Sullivan

Johanna "Anne" Mansfield Sullivan Macy (April 14, 1866 – October 20, 1936), better known as Anne Sullivan, was an American teacher, best known for being the instructor and lifelong companion of Helen Keller. She contracted trachoma, a highly contagious eye disease, when she was eight to ten years old which left her blind and without reading or writing skills. She received her education as a student of the Perkins School for the Blind where upon graduation she became a teacher to Keller when she was 20.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Perkinsarchives (Perkins School for the Blind Archives) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

Roger Shattuck

John Albert Macy

Dorothy Herrmann

Helen Keller

Anjo de Luz

Seja bem-vindo!

Nossa missão é propagar Mensagens de Luz através da publicação de livros com cunho espiritual, Livros de Orações, e livros com mensagens inspiradoras.

Common Classics Dyslexia-Friendly

Common Classics aims to make classic literature accessible for all readers.

Common Classics Dyslexia Friendly books update your favorite classic titles with easy-to-read dyslexia-friendly OpenDyslexic font (11 point). Some titles may also be available in large print dyslexia-friendly font (16 point).

Dyslexia-friendly fonts are specifically designed to increase readability for readers with dyslexia. Unique letter shapes, heavy weighted bottoms, and wider letter spacing may help some symptoms of dyslexia.

Customer reviews

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 57% 22% 13% 4% 4% 57%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 57% 22% 13% 4% 4% 22%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 57% 22% 13% 4% 4% 13%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 57% 22% 13% 4% 4% 4%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 57% 22% 13% 4% 4% 4%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers find the book wonderful, enjoyable, and well-written. They describe the story as inspiring, fascinating, and full of life. Readers praise the writing style as eloquent, descriptive, and rich. They also describe the author as remarkable and amazing. Opinions are mixed on the interest, with some finding it fascinating and enlightening, while others say it's boring and long.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book wonderful, interesting, and enjoyable to read. They describe it as well-written, impressive, and powerful. Readers mention it's good for young readers and well worth finishing.

"...This is a fascinating book . It is very touching to read of how Helen felt and what she thought...." Read more

"...Repatriation happens many times. Worth reading ." Read more

"...My review on this edition: It was nice , but I would swear that there are some very nice parts that have been edited out that I remember..." Read more

"...The first part of the book, her actual autobiography, is wonderful . Reading how she 'did things' is informational...." Read more

Customers find the story inspiring, wonderful, and fascinating. They say it provides insight into Helen Keller's thoughts and experiences. Readers also mention the book inspires them to do more.

"...It is a truly inspiring story especially when you read her own words because she is such a positive person...." Read more

"Helen was a very intelligent child with a deep desire to learn, to talk and to explore her world. She put full effort into learning skills...." Read more

"This is a fascinating account by Helen Keller of her childhood and young adulthood until she reaches college age...." Read more

"...It chronicles her life and provides insight into her thoughts and experiences ...." Read more

Customers find the writing style eloquent, descriptive, and colorful. They appreciate the author's ability to turn a descriptive phrase. Readers also mention the progression of Helen's letters is extraordinary.

"... Beautiful !" Read more

"...Although slow at times, the information being given is colorful and full of life...." Read more

"...At Chapter Six, I find it difficult to continue reading , but feel I must...." Read more

"...Her ability to turn a descriptive phrase , her acquaintance with famous and interesting people, and her love of nature and literature are nicely..." Read more

Customers find the author remarkable and inspiring. They say the book is amazing and wonderful to read about her life from her perspective. Readers also appreciate the great insight into her abilities and intelligence.

"...Both are very amazing women of their time , and still are.Here is my review on this book:..." Read more

"...This was one of the better ones. She is tenacious yet has a very human side " Read more

" Great lady to study " Read more

"This an amazing story about a truly remarkable lady and her gifted and loving teacher...." Read more

Customers find the courage of Helen Keller to be undeniable. They also say she's a strong and inspiring woman.

"Amazing story of love, devotion and courage of a young girl who transformed herself to be known all over the world as being the spokesperson for the..." Read more

"This is a classic for every library and a very courageous human being . A book about overcoming insurmountable obstacles. Rekha Packer" Read more

"Your life will be forever changed after you read of the incredible courage , persistent effort, great intelligence and positive attitude of Helen..." Read more

"...ARE PLEASED THAT THE SELLER WAS EASY TO WORK WITH AND SHIPPED SAFE & SECURE ." Read more

Customers find the book fascinating, enlightening, and wonderful. They say it's interesting to get into Keller's mind and unexpected. However, some readers feel the story is boring and tedious at times.

"... Very fascinating and such a triumphant example of the human spirit!" Read more

"...Learning about her unique process of learning and of studying is fascinating ...." Read more

"...She put full effort into learning skills. It story at times is boring and tedious . Repatriation happens many times. Worth reading." Read more

" This was just amazing . Hellen Keller is my favorite person to read about her story. I taught myself ASL and then I saw her story...." Read more

Reviews with images

Fascinating and touching

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Registry & Gift List
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices