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Cut: The True Story of an Abandoned, Abused Little Girl Who Was Desperate to Be Part of a Family
by Cathy GlassDawn was the first girl Cathy Glass ever fostered. A sweet and seemingly well balanced girl, Dawn's outward appearance masked a traumatic childhood so awful, that even she could not remember it. During the first night, Cathy awoke to see Dawn looming above Cathy's baby's cot, her eyes staring and blank. She sleepwalks--which Cathy learns is often a manifestation in disturbed children. It becomes a regular and frightening occurrence, and Cathy is horrified to find Dawn lighting a match whilst mumbling "It's not my fault" in her sleep one night. Cathy discovers Dawn is playing truant from school, and struggling to make friends. More worryingly she finds her room empty one night, and her pillow covered in blood. Dawn has been self-harming in order to release the pain of her past. When Dawn attempts suicide, Cathy realises that she needs more help than she can give. Dawn's mother eventually confides in her that Dawn was sent away to relatives in Ireland between the ages of 5 and 9, and came back very disturbed. She also sheds light on the reason for Dawn's fascination with matches and Cathy's baby. *SPOILER ALERT*SPOILER INFO FOLLOWS* Eventually Dawn is placed in a psychiatric home for children, and five years later she gets in touch with Cathy. She has been reconciled with her mother and is now training to become a teacher.
Mummy Told Me Not to Tell: The True Story of a Troubled Boy with a Dark Secret
by Cathy GlassReece is the last of six siblings to be fostered. Having been in care for four months his aggressive and disruptive behaviour has seen him passed from carer to carer. Although only 7, he has been excluded from school, and bites people so often that his mother calls him 'Sharky'. Cathy wants to find the answers for Reece's distressing behaviour, but he has been sworn to secrecy by his mother, and will not tell them anything. As the social worker prepares for the final hearing, he finds five different files on Reece's family, and is incredulous that he had not been removed from them as a baby. When the darkest of family secrets is revealed to Cathy, Reece's behaviour suddenly starts to make sense, and together they can begin to rebuild his life.
Breaking the Silence
by Casey WatsonThis is the sixth title in the series. The Watsons are astonished when they answer their front door to find their case worker with a small boy on the doorstep. Jenson is just nine years old. He was removed from his home thirty minutes earlier when it was discovered his mother had left him at home while she went on holiday with her boyfriend. A couple of weeks later Casey is in for a second shock when she is asked to take a second nine-year-old boy, Georgie. Georgie is autistic and has been in a children’s home since he was a toddler. The home is closing and social services need somewhere temporary for him to stay. With her own grown up son, Kieron, having Asperger’s (a mild form of autism), Casey knows this is one child she cannot say no to. The relationship between Jenson and Georgie is difficult from the outset. Jenson is rebellious and full of attitude and he kicks off at anything, constantly winding Georgie up. Georgie doesn’t cope well with change and is soon in a permanent state of stress. Despite Casey’s best efforts, her innate love for the children is being tested and she begins to question if she can handle Jenson’s cruelty. But overtime it becomes clear that the boys have formed an unlikely bond. Could this be the solution to all of their troubles?
The Girl Without a Voice
by Casey WatsonCasey has been in the post for six months when thirteen-year-old Imogen joins her class. One of six children Casey is teaching, Imogen has selective mutism. She's a bright girl, but her speech problems have been making mainstream lessons difficult. Life at home is also hard for Imogen. Her mum walked out on her a few years earlier and she's never got along with her dad's new girlfriend. She's now living with her grandparents. There's no physical explanation for Imogen's condition, and her family insist she's never had troubles like this before. Everyone thinks Imogen is just playing up - except the member of staff closest to her, her teacher Casey Watson. It is the deadpan expression she constantly has on her face that is most disturbing to Casey. Determined there must be more to it, Casey starts digging and it's not long before she starts to discover a very different side to Imogen's character. A visit to her grandparents' reveals that Imogen is anything but silent at home. In fact she's prone to violent outbursts; her elderly grandparents are terrified of her. Eventually Casey's hard work starts to pay off. After months of silence, Imogen utters her first, terrified, words to Casey: -I thought she was going to burn me. ' Dark, shocking and deeply disturbing, Casey begins to uncover the reality of what Imogen has been subjected to for years.
Skin Deep
by Casey WatsonRejected by her mother and excluded by her school, Flip is a little girl desperate to be loved. Am I ugly, Mummy? are the first words that little Phillipa says to Mike and Casey as she stomps into their lives on a hot August afternoon. She has a Barbie doll in one hand and a pink vanity case in the other and the bemused Watsons can only stare in amazement at this tiny eight year old girl who is being guided into the room by her social worker. Phillipa, known as Flip has Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and life with her single mother has come to an abrupt end after a fire burned the house down. When Casey meets Flip, the child seems remarkably unfazed by what has happened and the thing that seems to worry her is that Casey might find her ugly. Casey has come across children with FAS in her previous job in a high school behaviour unit, but is now realising that fostering Flip is going to be full of challenges which will test her and Mike s skills to the limit. "
Max the Miracle Dog: The Heart-warming Tale of a Life-saving Friendship
by Kerry Irving’Are you ready, Max? If anyone’s going to help me do this, it’s you.’ The heart-warming tale of a life-saving friendship. In 2006, a traumatic car accident changed Kerry Irving’s life forever. Suffering from severe neck and back injuries, Kerry was unemployed and housebound, struggling with depression and even thoughts of suicide. He went from cycling over 600 miles a month to becoming a prisoner in his own home. With hope all but lost, Kerry’s wife encouraged him to go on a short walk to the local shop. In the face of unbearable pain and overwhelming panic, he persevered and along the way, met an adorable yard dog named Max. As the Spaniel peered up through the railings, Kerry found comfort and encouragement in his soulful brown eyes. This chance encounter marked a turning point in both their lives. In Max, Kerry found comfort and motivation and in Kerry, Max found someone to care for him. This is their remarkable, inspiring story.
Taking Hold: My Journey into Blindness
by Sally Hobart AlexanderA true story of the author's loss of vision as a young woman and of her adaptation to blindness.
The Reason for Janey
by Nancy Hope WilsonPhilly’s life changes greatly when, after her parents' divorce, her mother takes in Janey, a retarded adult, to live with them. "I like to know the reasons for things,” says Philura Higley Mason. “When I know the reason for something, it fits. I can manage it.” She especially wants to know why Janey, a mentally retarded woman who moved in four months ago, fits into the family better than Dad, who moved out three years ago. After all, what makes a family a family? Last year, Philly won first prize at the fifth-grade science fair, so this year, superbrain Danny Stapleton is determined to outdo her. But Philly can’t even choose a topic. She’s wondering instead about Janey--that little-girl locket she wears, that mismatched pack of cards she carries, and that place she lived that makes Mom strangely angry: the Morrisville State School for the Mentally Retarded. And when Janey’s mother died, what happened to her father? As Philly uncovers Janey’s past, she unexpectedly collides with her own. Suddenly she must confront new truths about Dad, about Mom, and about herself. (She even makes some discoveries about Danny Stapleton.) The author of Bringing Nettie Back (also Macmillan U.S.A.) has artfully interwoven such complex issues as divorce, mental retardation, keeping secrets, and what it really means to be a family.
Mary Ingalls on Her Own
by Elizabeth Kimmel Willard(back of book)ages 8-12 MARY INGALLS lost her sight after a devastating bout of scarlet fever. Now Mary has the opportunity to attend the Iowa College for the Blind, where she will get a fresh start with her education and can learn the skills she needs for an independent future as well. It seems like a dream come true. But it also means leaving her cherished family behind in Dakota Territory, including her sister Laura. Laura's feisty personality has always complemented Mary's quiet nature, and ever since Mary lost her sight Laura has served as Mary's "eyes" to the world. Now that she's on her own, Mary must learn to get along without her beloved sister, and in the process realizes that she may have a bit of Laura's spunk in her after all. For the first time, readers will get a glimpse into the life of Mary Ingalls and will discover a whole new side of this Little House sister they've gotten to know through Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic Little House books.
Blindsided: a Reluctant Memoir
by Richard M. CohenBook Description: Illness came calling when Richard M. Cohen was twenty-five years old. A young television news producer with expectations of a limitless future, his foreboding that his health was not quite right turned into the harsh reality that something was very wrong when diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. For thirty years Cohen has done battle with MS only to be ambushed by two bouts of colon cancer at the end of the millennium. And yet, he has written a hopeful book about celebrating life and coping with chronic illness.
Surviving an Eating Disorder: New Perspectives and Strategies for Family and Friends
by Margot Weinshel Michele Siegel Judith BrismanFrom the book: The first book of its kind, Surviving an Eating Disorder is an inspiring yet realistic guide written expressly for parents, spouses, friends, relatives, and all others who are the "silent sufferers" of anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive overeating. Whether you've just begun to suspect a problem or have been facing the frightening reality of a serious disorder for some time, this reassuring book will help you to overcome feelings of confusion, helplessness, and anger and to take new actions that will encourage the recovery process. The authors, three leading experts in the field, explain what you can expect from the eating-disordered person--and yourself---and what kind of support is available. Drawing on the authors' extensive experience in counseling individuals, groups, and families, and illustrated throughout with vivid case examples, Surviving an Eating Disorder will help answer all your questions, large and small: Why is this happening? Can I keep sweets in the house? What do I say when she asks if she looks fat? How can I help him with his diet? Should I suggest therapy? Will things get better? In Part I, "Gaining Perspective," the authors discuss the psychological components of eating disorders as well as the family contexts in which they develop. Part II, "Confronting the Problem," offers guidance for bringing the problem out into the open, getting the person into treatment, and coping with the possibility of anger and denial. In Part III, "Using New Strategies," the authors show how the situation can be made better--now--by disengaging from the eating disorder (with practical suggestions for handling such daily issues as mealtimes, messy bathrooms, money, and requests for advice) while reestablishing a relationship with the eating disordered person based on issues other than food and weight. The guide concludes with names and addresses of national organizations and a list of suggested readings.
Genie: An Abused Child's Flight from Silence
by Russ RymerGenie's father tied her to a chair when she was a child and secluded her in a room. When she was rescued she was a shrunken teenager who could hardly speak. But the scientists exploited this condition to learn about her language acquisition
The Gifts of the Body
by Rebecca BrownA woman volunteer who cares for people with AIDS narrates a poignant account of the clients she comes to love in her role as a home-care aide, in a bittersweet novel about life, illness, death, and remembrance. By the author of The Children's Crusade.
More Than Meets the Eye
by Derek Gill Joan BrockJoan Brock was a teacher at an Iowa school for the blind when her life was nearly prefect. Then tragedy struck not once but twice. Most people would have wallowed in self pity and asked "Why me?" This courageous woman decided to face her challenges and ask "Why not me?" Her story is to say the very least inspirational.
Crazy Lady
by Jane Leslie ConlyReceiving less and less attention from his widowed father, Vernon joins with his friends as they ridicule the neighborhood outcasts--Maxine, an alcoholic prone to public displays of crazy behavior, and Ronald, her retarded son. Then the social service decides to put Ronald into a special home, and Vernon finds himself fighting the agency. 1994 Newbery Honor Book<P> Notable Children's Books of 1994 (ALA)<P> 1994 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)<P> 1994 Young Adult Editors' Choices (BL)<P> 1994 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)<P> Young Adult Choices for 1995 (IRA)<P>
Listen for the Singing
by Jean LittleAs the world around her braces itself for World War II, a young Canadian girl with impaired vision prepares to begin public high school.
Beautiful Child: The Story of a Child Trapped in Silence and the Teacher Who Refused to Give Up on Her
by Torey L. HaydenSeven-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 prove to be one of the most trying, perplexing, and ultimately rewarding of Torey'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 "hopeless" girl, and patiently and lovingly leading her toward the light of a new day. A stunning and poignant account of an extraordinary teacher's determination never to abandon a child in need from the internationally bestselling author of ONE CHILD.
Prairie School (I Can Read Series)
by AviIt's the 1880s, Noah works hard on the family farm and roams free on the Colorado prairie. One day his Aunt Dora arrives to give him some schooling. Noah doesn't think he needs it. What use is reading on the prairie? But what Noah discovers will change his life forever.
Sensory Sensitive Child
by Karen Smith Karen GouzeIn the tradition of the classic "The Out-of-Sync Child," two psychologists and mothers elucidate a problem that may affect as many as 10 to 20 percent of American children.
What Would Joey Do? (Joey Pigza #3)
by Jack GantosJack Gantos' acclaimed hero is attempting a breathtaking balancing act, as he tries to keep a handle on his wild, wired behavior without letting his hyperactivity spin him out of control all over again. This is truly a touching story, where Joey makes a friend with another child with disabilities, and finally comes to terms with his dysfunctional family.
A Gift of Hope: The Tony Melendez Story
by Mel White Tony MelendezFrom the Publisher: The inspiring story of a young thalidomide victim and talented musician who has gained international recognition. Wonderful reading for anyone--especially those facing seemingly insurmountable difficulties. ... This is a beautifully, and positively, written autobiography. Melendez neither downplays his and his family's struggles resulting from his lack of arms, nor does he whine about them. Writing about his father, "Still, he knew that only in America would he find the kind of medical treatment I needed, so he put his own dreams aside and began to dream for me. He was young, strong, and determined to provide for each of us-but especially, I believe, for me. Imagine his growing frustration as he tried to support us on the minimum wage jobs that he could find. And there was no extra time or money to train in another field. [In Nicaragua, he was educated and accomplished in the fields of agriculture and animal husbandry.] Instead, he found himself in a huge pool of cheap labor as more and more unskilled young people migrated to America."
A Random Act: An Inspiring True Story of Fighting to Survive and Choosing to Forgive
by Cindi Broaddus Kimberly Lohman SuitersCindi Broaddus didn't realize that her life was about to be forever altered as she sat in the passenger seat of a car on a lonely highway, speeding toward the airport in the early morning hours of June 5, 2001. The sister-in-law of Dr. Phil McGraw, a single mother of three, and a delighted new grandmother, she was thinking only of her imminent, well-earned vacation when a gallon glass jar filled with sulfuric acid, tossed from an overpass by an unknown assailant, came crashing through the windshield. In a heartbeat, Cindi was showered with glass and flesh-eating liquid, leaving her blinded, screaming in agony, and burned almost beyond recognition. When she reached the hospital, the attending doctors gave her little better than a 30 percent chance of survival. But Cindi Broaddus did survive--and after excruciating years of recuperation and seemingly endless sessions of skin grafts and reconstructive surgery, she emerged from her ordeal in many ways stronger than she had ever been before. This book includes picture descriptions.
A Small White Scar
by K. A. NuzumFifteen-year-old Will Bennon has always looked after his twin brother, Denny, who has Down syndrome, but now Will is ready to leave his family's ranch and become a professional cowboy, but Denny unexpectedly joins the journey.
Strong at the Broken Places: Voices of Illness, a Chorus of Hope
by Richard M. CohenThe stories of 5 chronically ill people, all different in gender, age, race, and economic status, but all determined to live life on their own terms.
More Than Money
by Neil Cavuto: True Stories of People Who Learned Life's Ultimate Lesson Author profiles the many business heroes who inspired him to continue his career through his battles with cancer and multiple sclerosis.