Thursday, September 29, 2011

Throwback Thursday



This week is flying by.....not that it seems to be going very quickly when my alarm goes off, or when I have been up at night with my youngest daughter and her allergy issues. But, here it is Thursday already!

While I was growing up there were many adult books that I read after hearing my mom talk about them. I was interested and amazed by Torey L. Hayden and her work as a special needs teacher. Her book, One Child, was a Readers Digest Condensed Book (my mom would get my grandfather's once he'd finished), and I recall her sharing the general outline of Sheila's story: abused as a young child, Sheila was eventually placed in a BD room with Hayden as her teacher after she tied up a young boy to a tree and started him on fire. I think she was somewhere around the age of six. One Child was instantly gripping to me. I wanted to know more about Sheila, but in the process learned a lot about Hayden and her dedication and devotion to her students. One Child was the first book I read that Hayden authored, but it was not my last. I have long loved these books and still recommend them to teachers and friends looking for a good non-fiction read about special education. Hayden does continue Sheila's story in a later novel, and it is so interesting to see how time has changed Sheila and the relationship she and Hayden once had.

3 comments:

Lisa said...

I read every one of Torey Hayden's books back in college, starting with this one. I don't think I'd still enjoy (that doesn't seem like the right word for it) them now.

Jana said...

I remember this book! I don't know that I read any of her other ones, but I read this one a couple of times.

Shannon said...

I am a huge fan of Torey Hayden. I have read many of her books over the years, though I have yet to read any of her fiction. I must put that on my TBR list!!!