One Child: The True Story of a Tormented Six-Year-Old and the Brilliant Teacher Who Reached Out Paperback - 2016

"It has been a long time since you have read a book with the sheer emotional impact of One Child." --New York Times

The true story of a tormented six-year-old and the brilliant teacher who reached out.

Six-year-old Sheila never spoke, she never cried, and her eyes were filled with hate. Abandoned on a highway by her mother, unwanted by her alcoholic father, Sheila was placed in a special education class for emotionally disturbed children after she committed an atrocious act of violence against another child.

Everyone said Sheila was lost forever, everyone except her teacher, Torey Hayden.

Torey fought to reach Sheila, to bring the abused child back from her secret nightmare, because beneath the 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 unforgettable memoir is more than just a case study--it is a testament to the fierce courage of a child who refused to be broken.

• An Unforgettable Teacher Memoir: Follow special education teacher Torey Hayden as she refuses to give up on a child everyone else had dismissed as a lost cause.
• A Portrait of Child Abuse: Witness the story of Sheila, a six-year-old abandoned on a highway by her mother and unwanted by her father, who locked her trauma behind a wall of silent rage.
• Deep Dive into Child Psychology: Discover the brilliant mind Torey saw hidden beneath Sheila's violent exterior, a testament to the complexities of childhood mental illness.
• A Story of Emotional Impact: Embark on the wondrous journey of healing and discovery as one teacher's devotion helps a little girl find a world filled with love for the first time.