Freedman, Russell. Out of Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille. Sandpiper (1999). ISBN-10: 0395968887

Plot Summary

Russell Freedman’s Out of the Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille is short biography that details the life of Louis Braille, a French boy who became blind at the age of three as a result of a horrific knife accident in his father’s saddle and harness shop. Because of his relentless determination and desire, Louis worked for years to create some kind of a system that would allow blind people to be able to read and write. Finally, when he was about fifteen, he developed a system of raised dots on paper. It would be many years before this new system would be truly recognized and appreciated.

Critical Evaluation

Simple black and white illustrations on pages 51 and 52 describe the basic Braille alphabet. This book is a wonderful inspiration for all!

Reader's Annotation

This short biography details the life of Louis Braille, a French boy who became blind at the age of three as a result of a horrific knife accident in his father’s saddle and harness shop.

About the Author

Russell Freedman was born in 1929 in San Francisco, California. Growing up, he experienced books in multiple ways, as his is father was a sales manager of a publishing company, and his mother worked at a bookstore. As a student, Freedman took interest in subjects like history and geography. He attended both San Jose State University (WOW!) and U.C. Berkley, majoring in English Literature.

Prior to writing, Freeman spends a great deal of time researching his topics. Many of his books have earned awards, and his book Lincoln: A Photobiography became a 1988 Newbery Medal Winner, which had not been given to a nonfiction book since 1956.

Genre

Nonfiction: biography

Curriculum Ties

Language Arts, Social Science

Booktalking Ideas

Russell Freedman’s Out of the Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille is the story of Louis Braille, inventor of the Braille alphabet. When he was a boy, he suffered a freak accident while in his father’s saddle and harness shop. The rest is history!

Reading Level/Interest Age

Ages 9-12, Grades 4-8

Reason for Book Selection

This book is less that 100 pages and it is an easy and interesting read. The students seem to like the Braille alphabet.