Somebody Else's Kids

I devoured all works of Torey Hayden when I was a teenager and got horrified at the fact that there are some kids of the same age as me or younger who went through abuse or any other aggravated sort. Her books opened my eyes to the cruel side of the world and brought me outside of my comfort zone. And I just couldn't believe there are others who would shatter kids' hearts and lives, and the reality was just shocking to me. Yet, I was drawn to her story, cried and overjoyed with her and her kids [...]

I read "One Child" by Hayden and immediately had to have more. I soon owned the rest of the series and blew through them as well. Hayden is a special-ed teacher who works with the troubled kids and completely turns their world around giving them hope and something to live for.

Torey Hayden é daquelas autoras a quem gosto sempre de voltar. Os livros dela são, para mim, uma verdadeira inspiração. Admiro o trabalho dela e a forma como ela lida com todas as situações. Gostaria muito de falar com ela, trocar ideias e experiências Cada livro que ela nos traz é um pequeno pedaço de um mundo "anormal" que tenta viver na "normalidade" de um mundo mais alargado. Porém, eu questiono sempre: O que é ser normal?Eu tenho a minha própria definição e interpretação de [...]

I read this book as a teen many times over and then re-read it as a young adult. It opened up my eyes on the different issues that my peers were dealing with (when I read it as a teen) and I was drawn in by the teacher (Torey L. Hayden) who never gave up on the children. It resonated with me and now, all these years later, I have worked many years in the field doing similar work. I find the book raw, truthful and inspirational. Well written and highly recommended.

This book was instrumental in securing my drive and determination to help children in some way, when I grew up. It was a remarkable look at teaching children with special needs, mostly behavioral and emotional needs. Her patience, her approach, her attitude, all of it made a huge impact on me, and I've carried many of her principles into the classroom today.

I think I first read this book when I was about 10. I do know that Torey Hayden's books started me on my journey to become a special education teacher. Her descriptions of her students are compelling, sensitive and funny. I don't know if she would withstand the test of time--since many of her experiences were early in the history of publicly funded special education.

I read this book when I was in college, way back in the 80's. At the time I was studying to become a teacher and I wanted to soak up all the books about teaching that I could find. This is an excellent book for anyone who loves children and thinks the world is a better place with them in it!!!!

Enjoyed this book so much! Working at schools I've seen similarities in students. I could relate so much

This is the second book by Torey that I've read now. After reading 'Ghost Girl' I found myself eager to read Hayden's other offerings. I actually stumbled across her books quite by chance after I had finished reading all of Cathy Glass & Casey Watson's books & was desperately searching trying to find something similar to fill the empty void they had left in their wake. (So, if you’re a fan of either of these two authors you'll enjoy Torey's books immensely) Each time I've started on on [...]

These books are just so emotionally draining. Not because of the kids themselves; their stories are sad, but the way they handle their lives, often with such positivity, is amazing. No, what exhausts me is the fact that there are such horrible people in the world, that would do such horrible things to children. The author, Torey Hayden, is a teacher of special -needs children; in some cases, that means giving extra homework help to a kid struggling with math, but in other cases (as in this book [...]

Tositapahtumiin ja oikeisiin henkilöihin pohjautuvaa tarinaa on vaikea arvostella. Miten voin arvostella toista ihmistä tai hänelle tahtuneita asioita?Kuitenkin, olen lukenut Haydeniltä tähän mennessä jo useamman kirjan ja olen pitänyt jokaisesta. On ihanaa miten Hayden kohtaa lapset ja on heidän kanssaan. Hän uskaltaa myöntää heikkoutensa, mikä suurin niistä on ujous. Välillä kyllä kävi kieltämättä raivostuttamaan että miksi hän ei puolustanut jotakin lasta paremmin. En [...]

Somebody Else's Kids is a nonfiction book. I believe the reason she wrote this book was to tell her story or to inform people the fact that there are people with needs who need better classes available for them or just someone to lend them a hand. Regardless of which of those was her point I believe she achieved them. I really enjoyed this books story and I really enjoyed the fact that in her story she did not give up on them at all. She tried to help each of those students. There wasn't really [...]

One of Hayden's earlier books, and perhaps if I hadn't read several of her other books beforehand I would have scored it higher, but ultimately, her voice in this book, moreso than some of her others, grated on me. She is very self-congratulatory and though you can tell she cares about her students, she seems a bit arrogant about her own abilities throughout the story. The case studies are varied and interesting in her classroom, but I wish there had been more descriptions and details about thei [...]

Torey Hayden's books seem to bring out the same reaction to me, every time (okay, so this is only the second, but I'm noticing a trend). The stories are well written and captivate you, but the end result generally fails to deliver because these are true stories. At least this one had a little more of an ending than the previous one I read. I think the scariest sub-story for me in this book was the pregnant twelve-year old. And it wasn't due to sexual abuse, she'd had sex. At 12. That's frighteni [...]

all hayden books get 4 stars from me bc they changed my life when i was in high school and made me want to be a psychologist to help kids like she did. She is not meant to be a young adult writer I think her books are meant for adults, so don't think it's a kiddy book just cuz I read 'em in high school! I don't remember much about the writing (they are all written in first person) but the TRUE stories about the children who she has worked with are heartbreaking and inspiring. Haven't read one of [...]

After reading ONE CHILD and GHOST GIRL, I went back to the bookstore to pick up all the rest of Torey L. Hayden's books. Her style of writing is so easy and engaging. The characters in her stories are powerful and you are drawn to them all. None of the characters have one side to them, Hayden lets us see that everyone has good and bad. She is a truly gifted teacher and writer, and I am sure her works have sent many a young person in the direction of helping troubled youths and children. I know t [...]

It's been a while since I've read one of Torey's books and I have to admit that I've missed them. However, with that said, I struggled to get through this book as quickly as I had hoped to - I usually devour them in one sitting, but that is ultimately no fault of the writing. It is instead because the writing is good that it took me so long. Torey has long since been able to make me empathise with those she writes about and this book was no different - I just think she has however written better [...]

An honest, raw, and gripping true story of a special education teacher who cares more about her students than anything else in the world. This is a deeply encouraging story although heartbreaking and somewhat abrasive in its authentic presentation. Oddly enough, there is an underlying sexual theme running throughout the story as well--I'm not really sure how to word or explain that well enough for it to make sense. That is something you'll have to read to understand. I recommend this book to all [...]

I truly enjoyed the story about these kids. I especially identified with the characters of Boothe, Lori, and Tomaso. I have worked with children with autism for several years and could totally picture Boo running around and doing all those odd behaviors. Lori reminds me a lot of me in school and all the struggles to fit in. Tomaso I really liked because it shows how just one person can change the life of a child for the better.

As a former teacher; and now a professional who works in the Special Needs Community- I could not put this book down. There were part where, at times, I felt it be to a little too idealistic (even in the challenges and struggles of Torey); but the honest insight of dealing with disabled, disturbed, and abused children is just inspiring. Torey's passionate shines through in every page, and I cannot help but relate to her.

Very interesting book to read, and very different from others I have read. Once in a while I wanted to cry because sometimes it was so sad to think that those were real people and real stories. But sometimes I also wanted to cry because of something happy that happened and it made me happy as well. I have another Torey Hayden's book waiting in the self, I hope it's as good as this one and makes me feel the same way.

Such a wonderful book!It talks about children that people don't understand how smart and kind they are, even with all the problems they have. Even with difficulties, they face their lifes with smiles and they fight so hard to be better. This book also talks about an adult that sees these kids growing up and the fact that we need more hope in this world. I loved reading this book.

This one was not quite what I expected, I expected one of those ‘please Daddy, no’ type books, it’s what it looks like. I guess I shouldn’t have judged by the cover because it wasn’t that at all. It was about kids with learning problems (for a variety of reasons) and the teacher who helps them (that’s Hayden). It was more interesting and a better read than I expected.

Very good. A true story, covering an entire school year - but somehow Torey Hayden kept the story moving and kept drawing the reader right along as well as the best fiction writer. She showed the kids and herself so well that they felt like the real people they were. I agonized over the kids and cared terribly much about what happened to them. This is a story that's going to stick with me.

Another cracking book from Torey Hayden. The compassion effort and sheer determination comes through in every book and I admire her tireless work with these troubled and disabled children. off to read another

This book was brilliant. I related to this author so much. Her memoir of working with special ed kids touched home for me. If you work with these amazing little people or are the parent, I thoroughly recommend it.

I love Hayden's books because I love two thing, kids and touching stories. Hayden is the teacher I want to meet and the teacher I want to be. She reminds me the most important thing through this book, one kid matter.

One of my all-time favorites. I've read it numerous times since discovering it in college. One of the books that helped move me into studying sociology.

Anyone who has worked with kids should read this book; it had me in tears!!

I read this book decades ago, but I still think about it regularly.