Out of Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Freedman, Russell (author) and Keisler, Kate (illustrator). OUT OF DARKNESS: THE STORY OF LOUIS BRAILLE. 1997. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN: 9780395775165.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In OUT OF THE DARKNESS: THE STORY OF LOUIS BRAILLE, Freedman documents the life of the famous Frenchman who invented the revolutionary system that allowed the blind to read. In the book, the struggles Braille endured are discussed, including his tragic childhood accident that led to his blindness and his enrollment at the Royal Institute for the Blind in Paris. When Braille learned of a secret military code involving raised dots and dashes on cardboard strip, he became determined to adapt the dot system for the blind. At the young age of fifteen, Braille “invented a simple code that allowed him to represent any letter of the alphabet within the space of a fingertip.” However, it was not until many years later that the Braille system was accepted. As Freedman writes, “in his short lifetime, Louis Braille had done more than anyone in history to bring blind people into the mainstream of life.”

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Freedman, an award-winning author who has written over forty books, traces the fascinating life story of Louis Braille. Braille’s life as a boy in nineteenth century France is vividly described, as well as his tragic accident at the age of three that led to his blindness. Freedman expertly tells the gripping story of the determined young man who at the young age of fifteen developed a way of reading and communicating with others that surpassed the inferior methods used during that time. Freedman writes: “On some nights, he lost all track of time. He would be sitting on the edge of his bed punching dots, when the rumbling of wagons on the cobblestones outside told him that morning had come.”

Freedman methodically describes Braille’s resolve to improve the inadequate and cumbersome reading system that was available to the blind—embossing, which involved pressing alphabet letters into thick sheets of paper. As each chapter progresses, Freedman skillfully explains the patience and dedication of Braille to perfect his dot punching system. Freedman describes how Braille’s ingenious invention was fraught with resistance from school officials for 20 years. Finally, Joseph Gaudet, an administrator at the school, championed the system and Braille received the credit he deserved.

While the book does not contain specific citations or a bibliography, Freedman acknowledges the help he received from the American Federation for the Blind, the Louis Braille Birthplace Municipal Museum, and the people of Coupvray, France. On occasion, Freedman includes narration and uses literary license to make the story more vivid. For example, conversations Braille had as a young boy with other students and family are not cited. Dialog from later in his life does appear to come from letters and journals.

The book begins with a table of contents and ends with an index of terms to help readers revisit various phases of Braille’s life, people who influenced him, as well as aspects of the Braille system. In addition, the book contains clear and informative examples of the Braille cell and how dot patterns represent characters of the alphabet and Arabic numerals. Throughout the book, black and white illustrations by Kate Kiesler bring the book to life, such as depictions of Braille as a young boy, attending school in Paris, as well as his role as a teacher. This fascinating biography will be an enjoyable read and a compelling story for middle school children.

4. AWARDS WON AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

• School Library Journal (starred review): “An extremely well-written and informative book that tells about Braille's life and the development of his alphabet system for the blind. Freedman's gift for making his subjects both accessible and intriguing comes through wonderfully in this book.”

• Booklist: “Without melodrama, Freedman tells the momentous story in quiet chapters in his best plain style, making the facts immediate and personal.”

• Kirkus Reviews: “Rigidly rendered black-and-white illustrations make the setting of the story real; useful diagrams of Braille's alphabet and the slate and stylus used to write are included. With warmth and care, Freedman deftly delineates a life.”
  

5. CONNECTIONS

• Recommended for children ages 12 and up.

• To learn more about Braille visit a site through the American Federation for the Blind (AFB) that is specifically geared toward children in grades 3 through 6: http://www.afb.org/braillebug/.

• Other examples of books written by Russell Freedman include:
  -Freedman, Russell. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT: A LIFE OF DISCOVERY. 1997. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 9780395845202.
  -Freedman, Russell. GIVE ME LIBERTY: THE STORY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 2000. New York: Holiday House, Inc. ISBN: 9780823414482.
  -Freedman, Russell. LINCOLN: A PHOTOBIOGRAPHY. 1989. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 9780395518489.
  -Freedman, Russell. THE WRIGHT BROTHERS: HOW THEY INVENTED THE AIRPLANE. 1991. New York: Holiday House, Inc. ISBN: 9780823408757.