Booklist Magazine
Nancy McCray
Defiant Felix makes DeLana's first day at high school a painful one by snatching the blind student's cane and pushing her into a broom closet. With a beginning similar to those in Quest for Freedom: Harriet Tubman and the Susan B. Anthony Story, this profile of Helen Keller thrusts a modern-day student into the role of a heroic individual. Here, Felix's visit to the library has unexpected results: he becomes blind and faces challenges the sightless regularly encounter. Not surprisingly, the disabled teen is exploited by two rogues; but he is also helped to accept and cope with his condition by none other than Helen Keller thrusts a modern-day student into the role of a heroic individual. Here, Felix's visit to the library has unexpected results: he becomes blind and faces challenges the sightless regularly encounter. Not surprisingly, the disabled teen is exploited by two rogues; but he is also helped to accept and cope with his condition by none other than Helen Keller and her teacher Annie Sullivan. Felix eventually helps Keller and Sullivan thanks to Keller's fine instructions in teaching him to experience the disability of being deaf and blind. Perhaps the lessons learned in this film and conveyed so well by fine young actor Montre Bible will overcome what the video's wise librarian called a "handicap of the heart." This beautifully staged and quite moving program is a true gem.