Out of Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille

Out of Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille

Author: Russell Freedman

ISBN: 0395775167

Publisher: Clarion Books, 1997

Age: 9-12

Genre: Non-fiction

Summary: Louis Braille was born January 4, 1809, and lost his sight at age 4 after disobeying his father and playing with his work tools and slipping and piercing his left eye.  The infection spread to his right eye and soon he was completely blind.  From age 4 to age 10 he lived in a small town east of Paris, and made his way around the village with a cane his father carved for him.  Louis was a very bright and clever child and after attending school to the best of his abilities the schoolmaster heard of a special school for blind boys in Paris.  After much waiting, Louis was accepted, and at age 10 left to attend school.  Louis was an exceptional student, winning commendations every year for excellence.  After hearing a military man named Charles Barbier speak about a system he’d created called “nightwriting” Louis was determined to adapt the system to be used in everyday settings for the blind.  He worked on his system without success for three years, and finally realized it would be easier to ascribe raised dots to letters rather than sounds.  After that modification his system of writing in raised dots was completed within a short amount of time.  His accomplishment was not recognized until 1844, and soon after it began to spread to schools for the blind all over the world.  That young determined boy opened the doors of knowledge to all those who could not see. 

Read A-likes: Louis Braille: The Boy Who Invented Books for the Blind.

Personal Thoughts: This book brought tears to my eyes as I read about the struggles and triumphs of a young blind boy.  Such an incredibly inspiring story!  This is a very good book for use in a school setting to supplement history curriculum.  An easy, quick read for kids and adults alike.