Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller

Lambert, J. (2012). Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller. New York: Hyperion Books. Great Graphic Novels for Teens. The life and times of Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller told through cartoons. It shows the amazing bond between these two ladies, one a teacher and one a student. Annie Sullivan had amazing patience in how she taught Helen Keller. This book shows us, not just tells us, her unwavering commitment to making sure Helen Keller knew everything about the world. I’ve read many books over the years about Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller, but none were quite like this graphic novel. Typically, I am not a fan of graphic novels. It is usually just too busy for me to stay engaged, but this one wasn’t that way. I felt the illustrations switched between Annie’s point of view and Helen’s point of view. The black illustrations reminded us what it must have been like for Helen. This author did an amazing job of drawing the reader into the biography by using the cartoons to present it in a unique way. It didn't just tell the story of Annie Sullivan, but it showed the story of Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller. The author combined two different genres together in a fascinating way.