Genre 4: Nonfiction

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Freedman, Russell. 1997. OUT OF DARKNESS: THE STORY OF LOUIS BRAILLE. Ill. by Kate Kiesler. New York: Clarion Books.
ISBN 0395968887

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Chronicles the life of Louis Braille, inventor of the Braille system of the raised dot alphabet for the blind. Blinded in a freak accident in 1812, young Braille is sent to a boarding school for the blind in Paris. Frustrated by the only current system of reading for the blind, embossing, Braille is determined to come up with a better method. At the age of fifteen, Braille presents his system to his school, which quickly adopts it. Braille's system was not universally adopted though, and he faces difficulties and hardships at the school at which he is now a teacher. Eventually Braille is able to overcome obstacles and see his system adopted worldwide. Ill for years with tuberculosis, Braille died at age forty-three, with the knowledge that his invention was helping blind people worldwide to read and write.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
When considering this book's accuracy, many factors have to be considered. To Russell Freedman's credit, he is a highly respected author, and this title has received both positive reviews and multiple awards. However, there are no notes or bibliographies included in the text. We learn in the book about Louis Braille's thoughts and feelings, but we have no way of knowing where Freedman derived this information. The organization of the book is logical, with chronilogically numbered chapters. There is no table of contents or index, but that isn't missed in a nonfiction biography such as this. The design of the book is attractive, with pencil illustrations by Kate Kiesler. The lack of color in the drawings helps to create the mood of the time period. Illustrations are also in teh book showing the Braille alphabet and the device used for punching dots. Freedman's style of writing is clean, concise, and easy to understand without being condescending.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (STARRED): "An entertaining and fascinating look at a remarkable man."

BOOKLIST: "The handsome design is clear and open."

KIRKUS REVIEWS: "With warmth and care, Freedman deftly delineates a life."

AN ABA "PICK OF THE LISTS"

AN NCTE NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK FOR THE LANGUAGE ARTS

A PARENTING MAGAZINE READING MAGIC AWARD BOOK

5. CONNECTIONS
* Pair this book with other books about Louis Braille and the Braille method:
LOUIS BRAILLE, THE BOY WHO INVENTED BOOKS FOR THE BLIND by Margaret Davidson
ISBN 059044350X
LOUIS BRAILLE: A TOUCH OF GENIUS by C. Michael Mellor
ISBN 0939173700
GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU by Sam McBratney (Children's book translated into Braille-- would be good for students to see a familiar book translated)
ISBN 0976931311

* Visit a school for the blind or invite a blind or visually impaired student to talk or demonstrate Braille.

* Have students blindfold themselves for a period of time to imagine blindness.

* Using the Braille alphabet, practice writing in Braille using the appropriate dots.