Miss America of 1995, profoundly deaf since she was a toddler, reveals how she claimed the tiara. Now a motivational speaker, the Alabama-born Whitestone dedicates this book to her ``Heavenly Father,'' with thanks for ``the joys, the trials, and the uphill path.'' Whitestone did have an uphill path. Her deafness came as a result of treatment for a life-threatening illness when she was only 18 months old. As with so many people who push beyond what professionals predict are the limits of their disabilities, Whitestone had caretakers- -in this case, her parents—who believed that she could learn to talk and to function in the ``real'' world. Her parents chose to have Whitestone learn to speak, as opposed to using only sign language and lip-reading to communicate. The long hours of study and practice—over and above schoolwork—were frustrating, but Whitestone found an outlet in learning ballet. That was the talent that carried her through years of pageants, beginning with the Shelby County Junior Miss program, when she was a moody, angry high school senior. As second runner-up, she came home with $1,400 in college scholarship money and rising self-esteem. On track to the Miss America competition, she entered the Miss Alabama contest three times, scoring at last in 1995 and moving on to Atlantic City to walk the famous walk as Miss America. Whitestone describes the year of her reign—an exhausting, enervating, frustrating year, but one also devoted to furthering deaf causes (such as early diagnosis) and encouraging deaf children. Most demoralizing was the reaction of the deaf community to their new queen; some people were proud, but others were publicly indignant that Heather spoke rather than signed. A simple story, simply told, with the emphasis on hard work, concentration, and trust in God. (15 illustrations, not seen) (Author tour)
Pub Date: June 1, 1997
ISBN: 0-385-48675-8
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1997
A thoughtful, engaging history for intermediate students interested in Africa.
Oliver’s debut, about one of West Africa’s most powerful and charismatic leaders, delivers a vibrant mix of history and historical fiction for young adults.
The book introduces the medieval empire of Mali with several short narrative essays on trans-Atlantic exploration, trade and mining and soon narrows its focus to the compelling life story of the emperor Mansa Musa, who ruled Mali in the early 1300s. Oliver shows how Musa gained influence while making a lavish, politically important trip to Mecca, and his deft explanation of how Musa crossed the vast Sahara Desert briefly but skillfully conveys the difficulty of the lengthy voyage. This enjoyable work smoothly blends historical text with memorable anecdotes from primary and secondary sources, photos and sketches of replicas of ancient and medieval African art, and well-drawn maps. The book moves at a fast pace, and the author’s clear, straightforward style is likely to appeal to young adults. He easily switches between topics, discussing history (how Musa gained recognition in Egypt and North Africa), religion (how Islam shaped Musa and his empire), architecture (the methods of construction for Malian mud-brick buildings) and fables (the legend of the Malian “gold plant”). However, Oliver always strives for historical accuracy; even his fictional account of a young sandal maker who travels to Niani’s great market contains period-appropriate language and scenery. The book also includes a lengthy glossary that is amply illustrated with drawings and photographs of West African boats and buildings. The work’s one shortcoming is its abrupt ending after Musa returns home; it lacks a thorough explanation as to how and why the empire of Mali eventually dissolved.
A thoughtful, engaging history for intermediate students interested in Africa.Pub Date: March 26, 2013
ISBN: 978-1468053548
Page Count: 128
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: July 31, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Born in 1880 in a tiny backwater in Alabama, Helen Keller lived a life familiar to many from the play and movie The Miracle Worker, as well as countless biographies. There’s no denying the drama in the story of the deaf and blind child for whom the world of language became possible through a dedicated and fanatically stubborn teacher, Annie Sullivan. But Helen’s life after that is even more remarkable: she went to high school and then to Radcliffe; she was a radical political thinker and a member of the Wobblies; she supported herself by lecture tours and vaudeville excursions as well as through the kindness of many. Dash (The Longitude Prize, p. 1483) does a clear-sighted and absorbing job of examining Annie’s prickly personality and the tender family that she, Helen, and Annie’s husband John Macy formed. She touches on the family pressures that conspired to keep Helen from her own pursuit of love and marriage; she makes vivid not only Helen’s brilliant and vibrant intelligence and personality, but the support of many people who loved her, cared for her, and served her. She also does not shrink from the describing the social and class divisions that kept some from crediting Annie Sullivan and others intent on making Helen into a puppet and no more. Riveting reading for students in need of inspiration, or who’re overcoming disability or studying changing expectations for women. (Biography. 10-14)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-590-90715-8
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2000
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