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  • Beautiful Child

  • The Story of a Child Trapped in Silence and the Teacher Who Refused to Give Up on Her
  • Written by: Torey Hayden
  • Narrated by: Susan Larkin
  • Length: 12 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (6 ratings)

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Beautiful Child cover art

Beautiful Child

Written by: Torey Hayden
Narrated by: Susan Larkin
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Publisher's Summary

In the tradition of David Pelzer's A Child Called 'It' comes the unsettling story of a mute, almost catatonic seven-year-old and the special education teacher who tries to save her from the silence and abuse of her world.

Hayden has chronicled experiences from her long career as a special education teacher in several books, including One Child and The Tiger's Child. Successes in this difficult and often frustrating field can be few and hard won, a fact which Hayden deftly illustrates while simultaneously offering hope and joy in small victories. This time she brings to life the story of a scruffy seven-year-old, Venus, who is so unresponsive that Hayden searches for signs of deafness, brain damage, or mental retardation. The author is relentless in her attempt to diagnose the cause of Venus's 'almost catatonic' state, which is punctuated by occasional violent outbursts. In this first-person narrative, Hayden also shares her own thoughts, worries, and reflections on the strained relationship with a mismatched classroom aide, creating a rich tapestry of the dynamics of a group of special needs youngsters and the adults who try to help them.

©2002 Torey Hayden (P)2013 Audible, Inc.
Education Psychology
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Profile Image for Cai'lin Kroon

Imperious Sounding Narrator

Always love this author but this narrator makes her sound like a real B and it was tough to listen to.

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