Beautiful Child: The story of a child trapped in silence and the teacher who refused to give up on her
By (Author) Torey Hayden
HarperCollins Publishers
HarperCollins
17th August 2007
United Kingdom
General
Non Fiction
Teaching of students with social, emotional or behavioural difficulties
371.9092
Paperback
464
Width 111mm, Height 178mm, Spine 28mm
250g
A stunning and poignant account of an extraordinary teacher's determination never to abandon a child in need from the internationally bestselling author of One Child and No. 1 bestseller Ghost Girl.
Seven-year-old Venus Fox never spoke, never listened, never even acknowledged the presence of another human being in the room with her. Yet an accidental playground 'bump' would release a rage frightening to behold.
The school year that followed would prove to be one of the most trying, perplexing, and ultimately rewarding of Torey's career, as she struggled to reach a silent child in obvious pain. It would be a strenuous journey beset by seemingly insurmountable obstacles and darkened by truly terrible revelations. Yet encouraged by sometimes small, sometimes dazzling breakthroughs, as a dedicated teacher, Torey remained committed to helping a 'hopeless' girl, and patiently and lovingly leading her toward the light of a new day.
"Torey Hayden deserves the kind of respect I can't give many people. She isn't just valuable, she's incredible. The world needs more like Torey Hayden." Boston Globe "Chilling and affecting." Chicago Tribune "Moving - as lively and surprising as the kids it so deftly portrays." O Magazine
Torey Hayden is an educational psychologist and a special education teacher who, since 1979, has chronicled her struggles in the classroom in a succession of bestselling books. She currently lives and writes in North Wales with her daughter.