Summary: Six-year-old Sheila never spoke, she never cried, and her eyes were filled with hate. Abandoned on a highway by her mother, abused by her alcoholic father, Sheila was placed in a class for the hopelessly retarded after she committed an atrocious act of violence against another child. Everyone said Sheila was lost forever – everyone except Torey Hayden. Torey fought to reach Sheila, to bring the abused child back from her secret nightmare, because beneath the autistic rage, Torey saw in Sheila the spark of genius. And together they embarked on a wondrous journey – a journey gleaming with a child’s joy at discovering a world filled with love and a journey sustained by a young teacher’s inspiring bravery and devotion.
This book was terrible and amazing at the same time. It was terrible because it was so sad and upsetting and sometimes down right disturbing but it was amazing because of what Torey Hayden did for little Sheila and the way she writes about it makes me feel like I’m there.
This book was so striking, I’m not sure what to say about it honestly. Torey is an amazing person to reach a child so far gone.
I recommend this book if you are into case studies of child psychology and child abuse, work with severely disturbed children or just want to read what a loving, dedicated teacher can do.
HOWEVER, I do NOT recommend this book if you are easily upset or were abused yourself.
About Kathleen
