Lost Child: The True Story of a Girl Who Couldn't Ask for Help

The first new book from beloved therapist and writer Torey Hayden in almost fifteen years—an inspiring, uplifting tale of a troubled child and the remarkable woman who made a difference.

In a forgotten corner of Wales, a young girl languishes in a home for troubled children. Abandoned by her parents because of her violent streak, Jessie—at the age of ten—is at risk of becoming just another lost soul in the foster system.

Precocious and bold, Jessie is convinced she is possessed by the devil and utterly unprepared for the arrival of therapist Torey Hayden. Armed with patience, compassion, and unconditional love, Hayden begins working with Jessie once a week. But when Jessie makes a stunning accusation against one of Hayden’s colleagues – a man Hayden implicitly trusts – Hayden’s work doubles: now she must not only get to the root of Jessie’s troubles, but also find out if what the girl alleges is true.

A moving, compelling, and inspiring account, Lost Child is a powerful testament once again of Torey Hayden’s extraordinary ability to reach children who many have given up on—and a reminder of how patience and love can ultimately prevail.

This unforgettable memoir explores the complexities of childhood trauma and the battle to save one lost soul.

• Reactive Attachment Disorder: Go inside a Welsh children's home to meet Jessie, a ten-year-old girl so volatile and manipulative that her own parents have given up on her.
• A Child Convinced She's Possessed: Discover the challenges of working with a bright, precocious girl who is certain the devil lives inside her, driving her to acts of violence.
• A Shocking Accusation: Navigate a professional crisis when Jessie accuses a trusted colleague of a terrible crime, forcing Torey Hayden to question everything she believes.
• Childhood Mental Illness: A raw and honest look at the failures of the system and the power of one dedicated therapist to make a difference in the life of a child everyone else had written off.

“A fascinating study of a dedicated psychologist’s determination to save a child obscured by her own behavior.” - Booklist

Praise for Just Another Kid: “Just Another Kid is not just another book. This remarkable teacher’s memoir reminds us that love takes many forms.” - New York Times

“An enchanting, inspiring book...impossible to put down.” - Washington Post

Praise for Beautiful Child: “Moving.... As lively and as surprising as the kids it so deftly portrays, Beautiful Child persuades us that even the most withdrawn and troubled child can be reached if someone takes the time, pays attention, and sincerely, deeply cares.” - O magazine

Praise for One Child: “Parts of this book will enrage you. Parts of this book may make you cry. And parts may make you cheer. But whatever your reaction, I think you will agree that it has been a long time since you have read a book with the sheer emotional impact of One Child.” - New York Times

“Page after page proves again the power of love and the resiliency of life.” - Los Angeles Times