Helen Keller's Teacher by Margaret Davidson

The relatives who were caring for Annie and Jimmie could no longer manage because of the money, so they were sent to Tewksbury, the only place that would take them. Thomas began drinking heavily, Alice died, and the children were split up. Jimmie had a tubercular hip, but Mary was healthy. Then, Alice developed tuberculosis, and bore two more children. Doctors cost a lot of money, and none could help her. Annie's eyes began to itch and develop granules. The director there learns that their parents, Thomas and Alice, came over from Ireland during the famine.

They are sent to the Massachusetts State Infirmary, or 'poorhouse' as it was called,in Tewksbury. The story begins when Annie Sullivan, as a young girl, is being sent away, along with her younger brother, Jimmie, because her relatives can no longer care for them. Who could accomplish such feats with a child that was blind, deaf, and mute? Annie Sullivan could, that's who. Annie transformed Helen from a spoiled confused child into a college graduate and professional writer. After graduation she was introduced to Helen. Eventually Annie got to go to school but her life was never easy. Tewksbury was a neglected poor house, but it was the home the children knew for many years. Since no one could control her or pay for little Jimmy's treatments, they were sent to the Tewksbury. Finding all this unfair, the only thing little Annie could think to do was rage against everyone. Annie would spend her whole life in various degrees of bad vision. Joanna, Annie's real name, developed Trachoma. Mary, the baby, by all accounts may be normal. Thomas, the father, turned to alcohol to soothe his pains. Alice, the mother, and Jimmy developed tuberculosis. Coming from a poor family that had recently moved to America to get away from the Irish famine took it's toll on all the Sullivans. Other relatives were in charge of her brother Jimmy and her sister Mary.

Little Annie Sullivan grew up on her cousin's tobacco farm because her mother had died and her father couldn't take care of her and her siblings. The book starts off with Annie's background. It was very interesting to look at her through Annie's eyes. I have read anything that I could find on her. I have been a lover of Helen Keller all of my life. Five out of five stars does not do this book justice in my opinion.

Helen Keller's Teacher by Margaret Davidson