Torey L. Hayden Books

What ever became of Sheila? When special-education teacher Torey Hayden wrote her first book One Child almost two decades ago, she created an international bestseller. Her intensely moving true story of Sheila, a silent, profoundly disturbed little six-year-old girl touched millions. From every corner of the world came letters from readers wanting to know more about the troubled child who had come into Torey Hayden's class as a"hopeless case," and emerged as the very symbol of eternal hope within the human spirit. Now, for all those who have never forgotten this endearing child and her remarkable relationship with her teacher, here is the surprising story of Sheila, the young woman.

The narrative follows Torey Hayden, a former special education teacher, as she recounts three of her most remarkable challenges with her students. Through her experiences, she offers profound insights into the complexities of teaching and the resilience of children facing significant obstacles. The book highlights the transformative power of education and the deep connections formed between teacher and student in the face of adversity.

From Torey Hayden, the number one Sunday Times bestselling author of One Child comes Lost Girl, a poignant and deeply moving account of a lost little girl and an extraordinary educational psychologist's courage and determination. Jessie is nine years old and looks like the perfect little girl, with red hair, green eyes and a beguiling smile. She even has a talent for drawing gorgeous and intricate pictures. But Jessie also knows how to get her own way and will lie, scream, shout and hurt to get just exactly what she wants. Her parents say they can't take her back, and her social workers struggle to deal with her destructive behaviour and wild mood swings. After her chaotic passage through numerous foster placements, Jessie has finally received a diagnosis of an attachment disorder. Attachment disorders arise when children are deprived of the all-important close bonds with trustworthy adults that allow them to develop emotionally and thrive. Finally educational psychologist Torey Hayden is called in to help. Torey agrees to weekly meetings with Jessie to try and uncover why she is acting out. Torey's gentle care and attention reveal shocking truths behind Jessie's lies. Can Torey and the other social workers help to provide the consistent loving care that has so far been missing in Jessie's life, or will she push them away too?

"Were all just somebody else's kids . . . "A small seven-year-old boy who couldn't speak except to repeat weather forecasts and other people's words . . . A beautiful little girl of seven who had been brain damaged by terrible parental beatings and was so ashamed because she couldn't learn to read . . . A violently angry ten-year-old who had seen his stepmother murder his father and had been sent from one foster home to another . . . A shy twelve-year-old from a Catholic school which put her out when she became pregnant . . ."What do we matter?""Why do you care?"They were four problem children-put in Torey Hayden's class because no one else knew what to do with them. Together, with the help of a remarkable teacher who cared too much to ever give up, they became almost a family, able to give each other the love and understanding they had found nowhere else.

Filled with warmth and emotional depth, this heartwarming narrative explores themes of love, compassion, and connection. It captures the tender moments between characters, highlighting their relationships and personal growth. The storytelling invites readers to reflect on the beauty of human experiences and the bonds that unite us all.

From the million-copy bestselling author comes the true story of a deeply troubled young girl who is haunted by her past.

Features a narrative of an extraordinary teacher's determination. This work is an illustration of nurturing concern, not only for a few emotionally-disturbed children, but for one woman facing a personal battle.

This is a poignant account of a teacher's extraordinary efforts to break through a young student's self-imposed silence. Originally published: New York: William Morrow, 2002.

Written by the author of the bestsellers One Child and Ghost Girl, this work is a memoir of three people's - two children trapped in a prison of silence and a woman suffering in the twilight of her years - victimisation and abuse, and their heartbreaking but ultimately successful steps to recovery.

The story revolves around Torey Hayden, who takes on the challenge of teaching six deeply troubled children, each with unique and harrowing backgrounds. Among them are three recent arrivals from war-torn Northern Ireland, carrying the scars of trauma, and eleven-year-old Dirkie, who has only known institutional life. The group also includes the volatile Mariana, who displays aggressive and sexual behaviors, and seven-year-old Leslie, who struggles with silence and unresponsiveness. The narrative explores themes of resilience, healing, and the complexities of emotional trauma.