Reading Rainbow
Below are news link articles on how language and story-telling has affected these writers' self-identities, perspectives on life, and their opportunities to change and express themselves to the world.
The Life of Helen Keller--the power of language
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People usually take the blessings of language for granted, but being blind and deaf at a young age makes the prospect of communicating with others seem highly improbable. Yet, with patience and a wonderful tutor, Helen was able to learn how to read and write (in Braille) and was finally able to feel like she belonged in this world.
"For most people, the concept of names is so obvious as to almost believe it’s knowledge we have at birth. Yet to Helen, the idea that every object had a name was a complete revelation."
Author Jean Kwok: Girl in Translation
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Award-winning author Jean Kwok discusses her moving story of going from working in a sweatshop in China Town to graduating from Harvard University. In the article, she talks about the similarities between her life and her character's life, Kimi, in Girl in Translation, and in the follow up interview she tells readers what inspired her to be a writer.
"When I was seven years old, my brother brought me a special present...A diary with a lock on it...'Anything you write in this will be yours to keep,' he said...That was the beginning of my life as a writer."
"When I was seven years old, my brother brought me a special present...A diary with a lock on it...'Anything you write in this will be yours to keep,' he said...That was the beginning of my life as a writer."
Geroge Dawson: LIfe is so Good
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This inspiring retired-laborer learned how to read at the age of 98. Even though he lived through segregation and discrimination, he stayed positive and shared his precious memoirs in his novel, Life is So Good.
"His father told him to work hard, to do no wrong and always to avoid trouble with white people--advice that was brutally underscored the day he and his father witnessed a white mob lynching a black neighbor."
"His father told him to work hard, to do no wrong and always to avoid trouble with white people--advice that was brutally underscored the day he and his father witnessed a white mob lynching a black neighbor."
Stephen King--Rags to Riches
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Stephen King's story is a true rags to riches tale; from working at a laundry matt to becoming one of the greatest horror writers of all time, Stephen King's brief biography is filled with twists, turns, and plenty of chills.
"He published his earlier work under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. His books have sold more than 350 million copies worldwide and have been adapted into numerous successful films."
"He published his earlier work under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. His books have sold more than 350 million copies worldwide and have been adapted into numerous successful films."