As a former public school teacher, I’m all too familiar with the daily tragedies that exist within society. Torey Hayden made a name for herself decades ago writing about her experiences as a special education teacher. Since then, she moved to England and began volunteering as a therapist at a group home.
It is there that we meet Jessie. Jessie is nine years old and was placed in foster care by her parents due to her uncontrollable behavior. Jessie is a compulsive liar with an explosive temper. Hayden identifies that she has an attachment disorder and begins to build a relationship with the troubled child.
Learning about any kind of child abuse is heartbreaking. Hurting a child is beyond my realm of understanding. Hayden shows an immense amount of patience and caring towards Jessie. There is only so much she can do given the limited amount of time she has with her, but you can tell she is really trying to make a difference in this child’s life.
About Lost Child
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (September 24, 2019)
The first new book from beloved therapist and writer Torey Hayden in almost fifteen years—an inspiring, uplifting tale of a troubled child and the remarkable woman who made a difference.
In a forgotten corner of Wales, a young girl languishes in a home for troubled children. Abandoned by her parents because of her violent streak, Jessie—at the age of ten—is at risk of becoming just another lost soul in the foster system.
Precocious and bold, Jessie is convinced she is possessed by the devil and utterly unprepared for the arrival of therapist Torey Hayden. Armed with patience, compassion, and unconditional love, Hayden begins working with Jessie once a week. But when Jessie makes a stunning accusation against one of Hayden’s colleagues – a man Hayden implicitly trusts – Hayden’s work doubles: now she must not only get to the root of Jessie’s troubles, but also find out if what the girl alleges is true.
A moving, compelling, and inspiring account, Lost Child is a powerful testament once again of Torey Hayden’s extraordinary ability to reach children who many have given up on—and a reminder of how patience and love can ultimately prevail.
Purchase Links
HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
About Torey Hayden
Born in Montana, USA, Torey Hayden has spent most of her adult life working with children in distress. Now living in Great Britain, she divides her time between writing and volunteer work with several British charities. Torey is author of numerous internationally best-selling books about her experiences as a special education teacher and therapist. She has also written two novels and two children’s books.
Find her at www.torey-hayden.com and connect with her on Facebook.
