The Spark
A Mother's Story of Nurturing Genius
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
The extraordinary memoir of a mother's love, commitment and nurturing, which allowed her son, originally diagnosed with severe autism, to flourish into a universally recognized genius--and how any parent can help their child find their spark.
Today, at 13, Jacob is a paid researcher in quantum physics, working on extending Einstein's theory of relativity. Diagnosed at 1 with severe autism, at 3 he was assigned to life-skills classes and his parents were told to adjust their expectations. The goal: tying his own shoes at 16. Kristine's belief in the power of hope and the dazzling possibilities that can occur when we keep our minds open and learn to fuel a child's true potential changed everything.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Barnett, the mother of a child prodigy who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, swiftly draws readers into her family life, sharing her humble upbringing in central Indiana as a member of the New Amish, and her whirlwind romance and marriage to a young man named Michael Barnett. The couple settles down to raise a family, he working at Target, she running a daycare center. When informed that their first child will never read or tie his shoes, the author follows her "mother gut," opening her own pre-kindergarten "boot camp" for autistic kids to prepare them for mainstreaming. Barnett had seen a "spark" in Jake and deeply believed that her child had much higher potential. Indeed, Jake with an IQ higher than Einstein's not only soon reads, but creates an original theorem that may put him in line for a Nobel Prize (at nine, he's been admitted to a nearby university). With passion and grace, Barnett covers Jake's transformation, how close he came to being "lost" in a special ed system focused on what children "can't do," and her own journey as the mother of three sons and as advocate for Jake and other autistic children. She also explores and defends the balance between Jake's intellectual pursuits and his right to an ordinary, happy childhood. This eloquent memoir about an extraordinary boy and a resilient and remarkable mother will be of interest to every parent and/or educator hoping to nurture a child's authentic "spark."
Customer Reviews
Spark
Great book. The rating is correct!!
I have worked with children of all abilities in the school system for
thirty five years.
I now have learned we do not have to have the child see how our world works and to try to fit them in....
BUT.....How their world works and how they fit into it. .With this approach I feel I would be much more able to understand and
work with the student. (To what they want not me ).
I am a guidance Counselor .Wish I had read this book many
years ago. I now believe I would have been of more assistance
to both the child and parent and also a much more happy and
successful helper.
John Yeo Esq.
Degrees in Education and Psychology as well as Science.
All parents new and old should read this book
I have just emailed my children to recommend they read the
book now.
The spark
This book was amazing! A mothers intuition is always right .
I was told that my daughter needed to enter a special education program in which she would not graduate due to her learning deficits.
This coming From professionals in the educational system!
Upon entering high school she blossomed. my belief was she was just bored!
In less then a month she will be graduating grade 12 and has been accepted into a criminology program in college.
As a parent follow your gut instinct! I knew she was much more then they labeled her to be.