Short description
Torey Hayden faced six emotionally troubled kids no other teacher could handle - three recent arrivals from battle-torn Northern Ireland, badly traumatised by the horrors of war; eleven year old Dirkie, who knew life inside an institution; the excitable Mariana, aggressive and sexually precocious at the age of eight; and seven year old Leslie, perhaps the most hopeless of all, unresponsive and unable to speak.
Long description
Torey Hayden faced six emotionally troubled kids no other teacher could handle - three recent arrivals from battle-torn Northern Ireland, badly traumatised by the horrors of war; eleven year old Dirkie, who knew life inside an institution; the excitable Mariana, aggressive and sexually precocious at the age of eight; and seven year old Leslie, perhaps the most hopeless of all, unresponsive and unable to speak. But Torey's most daunting challenge turns out to be Leslie's mother, Ladbrooke, a stunning young doctor who soon discovers that she needs Torey's love and help just as much as the children. As Torey's aide in the classroom Ladbrooke reveals her dark and troubled life, and Torey must try and rescue the beautiful and sophisticated parent who had become just another kid. "Just another kid is a beautiful illustration of nurturing concern, no only for a few emotionally disturbed children, but for one woman facing a personal battle".
Review
Just Another Kid is not just another book. This remarkable teacher's memoir reminds us that love takes many forms. -- The New York Times Just Another Kid is an enchanting, inspiring book...impossible to put down. -- The Washington Post