Touching Tomorrow: The Emily Griffith Story

The test of a good local history book is whether it conveys an interesting true story as well as fills a gap in the knowledge of a place's past. Debra Faulkner's 'Touching Tomorrow' does that and more. Her account of the life and tragic death of pioneering educator Emily Griffith not only delivers a highly researched but readable biography, it also puts Griffith in the context of her time and place. And, face it, how often do you finish a local history book and feel like you just read a murder mystery? I recommend this book highly for anyone who wants to know more about the evolution of Denver and the people who made it happen, but it's also an inspiring book that every teacher should read.

After going to a fantastic book reading by the author, I picked up the book because I was interested in hearing more about Faulkner's theory on Emily Griffith's murder. I was not dissapointed in the least at Faulkner's eloquent yet lively interpretation of this amazing woman's life and her murder theories. You will read this book in 2 days. It is well worth the purchase, as Emily's life is testament to lessons applicable to today's educational system.

"Touching Tomorrow" represents a thorough and detailed history of Emily Griffith and Denver's Opportunity School. The transition from prairie schoolmarm to influential innovator is inspiring, entertaining and well documented. Obviously a great admirer of Ms. Griffith, Faulkner still manages to create a mostly unbiased account of the teacher's life. While some details are either glossed over or merely alluded to, this can easily be attributed to the lack of verifiable information. Other specifics tend to be overstated, making the book at times read like a collection of serialized installments. However, the author's ability to create a timely and relevant backdrop helps place Griffith's life in historic perspective and adds to the enjoyment of this biography.