Beautiful Child - by Torey Hayden (Paperback)

About the Book

From the bestselling author of One Child comes this amazing, true story of a mute and withdrawn seven year old girl and the special education teacher determined never to abandon a child in need. 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 be one of the most trying, perplexing, and ultimately rewarding of Torey Hayden 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 remained committed to helping a hopeless girl, and patiently and lovingly leading her toward the light of a new day.

Book Synopsis

From the bestselling author of One Child comes this amazing, true story of a mute and withdrawn seven--year--old girl and the special education teacher determined never to abandon a child in need.

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 be one of the most trying, perplexing, and ultimately rewarding of Torey Hayden'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 remained committed to helping a "hopeless" girl, and patiently and lovingly leading her toward the light of a new day.

From the Back Cover

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 be one of the most trying, perplexing, and ultimately rewarding of Torey Hayden'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 remained committed to helping a "hopeless" girl, and patiently and lovingly leading her toward the light of a new day.

Review Quotes

"Fresh and compelling...[Hayden] spins out the story with gusto and a storyteller's art." -- Chicago Tribune

"Page after page proves again the power of love and the resiliency of life." -- Los Angeles Times

"Torey Hayden gives one hope for the future of public schools, indeed for the future of the human race." -- Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People

"The world needs more like Torey Hayden." -- Boston Globe

"Hayden is a fine storyteller." -- Washington Post

"A rich tapestry of a group of special needs youngsters and the adults who try to help them." -- Publishers Weekly

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