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The Lost Children
First published in 1974 as A Circle of Children this is the first of four books from learning disabilities specialist Mary MacCracken.
This is a book about children so emotionally disturbed they cannot fit into society; it is also the story of a woman whose involvement with these children changed the shape of their lives forever.
When Mary MacCracken joined a school for emotionally disturbed children as a volunteer, she quickly found herself rocked to the core by the strong, loving people who taught there, the hard-pressed and bewildered parents, and the damaged children. On the outside most of the children looked healthy. But the reality was far sadder. Locked away from love and any human contact, these children struggled with life every day.
It soon became evident that Mary MacCracken was a natural, gifted teacher. Using her instincts, observations and common sense, Mary was able to establish a rapport with even the most difficult children. Over time, Mary taught her class to eat and to drink; she decoded their mutterings, and taught them to talk and to read. But most important of all she helped them to take the first steps towards feeling love and trust.
There are no miracle-workers in this story, only a remarkable woman who refused to give up. Heartfelt, moving and incredibly inspiring, this is an amazing story about the astonishing human capacity for growth and change, even in those whom society regards as beyond help.
This is a book about children so emotionally disturbed they cannot fit into society; it is also the story of a woman whose involvement with these children changed the shape of their lives forever.
When Mary MacCracken joined a school for emotionally disturbed children as a volunteer, she quickly found herself rocked to the core by the strong, loving people who taught there, the hard-pressed and bewildered parents, and the damaged children. On the outside most of the children looked healthy. But the reality was far sadder. Locked away from love and any human contact, these children struggled with life every day.
It soon became evident that Mary MacCracken was a natural, gifted teacher. Using her instincts, observations and common sense, Mary was able to establish a rapport with even the most difficult children. Over time, Mary taught her class to eat and to drink; she decoded their mutterings, and taught them to talk and to read. But most important of all she helped them to take the first steps towards feeling love and trust.
There are no miracle-workers in this story, only a remarkable woman who refused to give up. Heartfelt, moving and incredibly inspiring, this is an amazing story about the astonishing human capacity for growth and change, even in those whom society regards as beyond help.
242 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
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246 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 17, 2018
**3,5 estrelas**
Gosto de ler sobre esta temática.
A paciência, a coragem, a determinação e a sensibilidade das pessoas que trabalham nesta área e a forma como abraçam estes desafios fascinam-me. O livro demonstra que a essência para obter resultados é seguramente o amor , este é o aspecto primordial. Confesso que pensei que iria encontrar algo mais fundamentado, contudo as crianças vão nos sendo apresentadas sem percebermos exatamente de que padecem e isso frustrou-me um pouco. Não são identificadas as doenças ou o que eventualmente terá levado aos comportamentos desviantes. Eram "depositadas" ali porque não eram aceites nas escolas ditas "normais" e por outro lado os pais não poderiam tê-las a tempo inteiro (nem seria aconselhável). O trabalho desenvolvido para as crianças conquistarem a par e passo competências, confiança em si próprias e nos outros, aprenderem a socializar e descobrirem o mundo que as rodeia, é absolutamente fabuloso. Mary, assim como o seu colega Dan, tinham um dom para comunicar e chegar ao âmago daquelas crianças, como poucos. Acredito sinceramente que cada um é dotado de algo especial que os caracteriza e valoriza e é disso que se trata.
Leiam. Far-vos-á refletir. Urge aceitar e conviver com a diferença, sem preconceitos, sem juízos de valor, tantas vezes infundados e redutores.
Gosto de ler sobre esta temática.
A paciência, a coragem, a determinação e a sensibilidade das pessoas que trabalham nesta área e a forma como abraçam estes desafios fascinam-me. O livro demonstra que a essência para obter resultados é seguramente o amor , este é o aspecto primordial. Confesso que pensei que iria encontrar algo mais fundamentado, contudo as crianças vão nos sendo apresentadas sem percebermos exatamente de que padecem e isso frustrou-me um pouco. Não são identificadas as doenças ou o que eventualmente terá levado aos comportamentos desviantes. Eram "depositadas" ali porque não eram aceites nas escolas ditas "normais" e por outro lado os pais não poderiam tê-las a tempo inteiro (nem seria aconselhável). O trabalho desenvolvido para as crianças conquistarem a par e passo competências, confiança em si próprias e nos outros, aprenderem a socializar e descobrirem o mundo que as rodeia, é absolutamente fabuloso. Mary, assim como o seu colega Dan, tinham um dom para comunicar e chegar ao âmago daquelas crianças, como poucos. Acredito sinceramente que cada um é dotado de algo especial que os caracteriza e valoriza e é disso que se trata.
Leiam. Far-vos-á refletir. Urge aceitar e conviver com a diferença, sem preconceitos, sem juízos de valor, tantas vezes infundados e redutores.
May 16, 2019
In the late 1960s, Junior Leaguer Mary MacCracken observes a school for emotionally disturbed children and realizes her calling.
I first read THE LOST CHILDREN, then titled A CIRCLE OF CHILDREN, in 1976 after it was first published using it for a book report in seventh grade. Enthralled with the true story by the late Mary MacCracken, I wanted to be a special education teacher just like MacCracken. I went on to become a child psychologist after realizing I lacked the patience for the daily rigors of teaching.
Unlike Torey Hayden, MacCracken tells her story with humility, never purporting herself as a savior. She writes of a time when parents, usually mothers, were blamed for their children’s emotional disturbances. Ahead of her time, MacCracken sees little use in blame and wonders about biology, the nature more than nurture.
12-year-old me wrote a fan letter to MacCracken and told her I wanted to be like her when I grew up and she delighted me with a return handwritten letter.
THE LOST CHILDREN is as enjoyable now as I was 43 years ago.
I first read THE LOST CHILDREN, then titled A CIRCLE OF CHILDREN, in 1976 after it was first published using it for a book report in seventh grade. Enthralled with the true story by the late Mary MacCracken, I wanted to be a special education teacher just like MacCracken. I went on to become a child psychologist after realizing I lacked the patience for the daily rigors of teaching.
Unlike Torey Hayden, MacCracken tells her story with humility, never purporting herself as a savior. She writes of a time when parents, usually mothers, were blamed for their children’s emotional disturbances. Ahead of her time, MacCracken sees little use in blame and wonders about biology, the nature more than nurture.
12-year-old me wrote a fan letter to MacCracken and told her I wanted to be like her when I grew up and she delighted me with a return handwritten letter.
THE LOST CHILDREN is as enjoyable now as I was 43 years ago.
September 21, 2016
I didn't really get this book. It was supposed to be an insight into working with children who have severe special needs, but I didn't feel it provided any insight or explanation into that sphere of work. Essentially, the message of the book was 'you need to be a naturally gifted teacher to be any good at this,' which I felt was both incorrect and harmful to people considering getting involved in the industry.
The narrator clearly knew what she was doing when with the kids, but never gave any explanation as to why she did it, or why the children were behaving in the way they were. I stopped reading with many more questions than when I started.
For anyone interested in a book about working with children who suffer from mental disabilities, this is not one I would recommend.
The narrator clearly knew what she was doing when with the kids, but never gave any explanation as to why she did it, or why the children were behaving in the way they were. I stopped reading with many more questions than when I started.
For anyone interested in a book about working with children who suffer from mental disabilities, this is not one I would recommend.
December 16, 2014
(...)
Mary acabara por aprender com os melhores, acabando ela mesma por criar os seus próprios métodos. Adorando aquelas crianças como ninguém, Mary compreendia-as e conseguia de alguma forma alcançá-las e ajudá-las a conseguirem entrar melhor no mundo em seu redor. Neste livro lemos sobre as suas primeiras experiências, sobre o que lhe passava pela cabeça enquanto tentava, por todos os meios em seu poder, ajudar aquelas crianças. Todas elas diferentes entre si, mas todas precisando do mesmo. De alguém que as tratasse como se fossem crianças como todas as outras.
De rápida leitura, a jornada desta mulher acaba por tocar todos de uma forma distinta. Foi um livro que adorei e que recomendo a todos.
Opinião completa em http://blocodedevaneios.blogspot.pt/2...
Mary acabara por aprender com os melhores, acabando ela mesma por criar os seus próprios métodos. Adorando aquelas crianças como ninguém, Mary compreendia-as e conseguia de alguma forma alcançá-las e ajudá-las a conseguirem entrar melhor no mundo em seu redor. Neste livro lemos sobre as suas primeiras experiências, sobre o que lhe passava pela cabeça enquanto tentava, por todos os meios em seu poder, ajudar aquelas crianças. Todas elas diferentes entre si, mas todas precisando do mesmo. De alguém que as tratasse como se fossem crianças como todas as outras.
De rápida leitura, a jornada desta mulher acaba por tocar todos de uma forma distinta. Foi um livro que adorei e que recomendo a todos.
Opinião completa em http://blocodedevaneios.blogspot.pt/2...
March 6, 2016
Amazing. I wouldn't have the patience that Mary MacCracken did.
The only thing I disliked was the title change. The Lost Children seems so...generic. And the book stresses not their lostness or apartness but how love and acceptance helped the children to grow, becoming a class and then a community. So I feel that A Circle of Children was a superior title.
The only thing I disliked was the title change. The Lost Children seems so...generic. And the book stresses not their lostness or apartness but how love and acceptance helped the children to grow, becoming a class and then a community. So I feel that A Circle of Children was a superior title.
June 17, 2018
Excellent book
February 11, 2025
Um livro em jeito autobiográfico, sobre a experiência da autora com crianças autistas e problemáticas. Um livro que deveria ser lido por toda a gente, principalmente por pessoas que se dedicam à educação de crianças
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November 4, 2020`I think this was definitely a good book because I like books about kids and disorders. This book includes both of those. It's about kids who are emotionally disturbed. I would suggest this book to anyone who works/worked with emotionally disturbed children because if you have actually worked with kids like this, you can really connect to it. My little brother has always had a speech issue and I have always been by him to help. Now he is seven and can talk better but he still has trouble with some words and how to pronounce them correctly. My favorite parts in the book is whenever the two main characters, Dan and Mary, would combine there classes and do things together so their children could get to know each other better. At the beginning, the pace of the novel was kinda slow and it started to get boring but once Mary becomes a full time teacher after the first few chapters, it goes at a medium pace. Not to much is happening at once but there is constantly new twists which kept the book interesting.
March 5, 2024
I have worked with the population of students disabilities in this book for many years in public and private schools as a teacher assistant and now teacher. This book is a little dated but the methods that Mary tries to use are ahead of her time. Co-teaching, Community Based Instruction and early attempts of Greenspan's DIR and ABA. I find it so sad that they did not have certified teachers and not as much support but this is not unheard of. I have experienced quite similar stories of the book although have the training to manage. I am glad in the end Mary became certified and kept working until her death at the age of 88. I wonder what happened to the new school that was supposed to open and also what came of the students she taught. Not a bad story for educators, psychologists, social workers and anyone else interested in learning how special education for those with significant needs was handled in the days before ADA.
January 28, 2016
i have always been interested in health issues as i have so called special needs myself although dont like that expression . my mum was a teacher similar to mary and still keeps in touch with some of her children i have aspergers ocd ptsd and had a bleed on the brain so yer you can see why i liked this book s not everyone fits into a certain hole and the world needs to see this which mary does it is a beautiful read full of hope i wonder where these children r today
July 2, 2016
Wonderfully written
Mary Mac Cracken is a talented writer. The story of how she became a teacher working with severely emotionally disturbed students is spellbinding. Her recollections of her first few years are funny, frustrating and inspirational. I highly recommend this book to anyone . Those working with or aspiring to work in special education will really appreciate her work.
Mary Mac Cracken is a talented writer. The story of how she became a teacher working with severely emotionally disturbed students is spellbinding. Her recollections of her first few years are funny, frustrating and inspirational. I highly recommend this book to anyone . Those working with or aspiring to work in special education will really appreciate her work.
January 3, 2019
This is a very inspirational story of a woman who finds that she has a gift of being able to connect with children who had social and personal problems.
She is able to join a school for emotionally disturbed children as a volunteer. She finds herself strongly connected to the children and to the teachers.
She works with the children every day and soon discovered she has found her calling.
She is able to join a school for emotionally disturbed children as a volunteer. She finds herself strongly connected to the children and to the teachers.
She works with the children every day and soon discovered she has found her calling.
June 21, 2014
I so dearly love this book and her others! I am so glad they are being republished. It is wonderful to read about the beginnings of the special ed movement in our schools. While it is so far beyind what I hope we all have now, what is universal and timeless is Mary's love for and belief in these children.
specially-requested
March 31, 2014
June 5, 2015
Um livro muito interessante para quem lida com crianças, sobretudo no ensino, mas não só. A forma como a autora relata as suas experiências é cativante e pessoal e leva-nos a questionar uma série de coisas e até mesmo como estas crianças são encaradas hoje em dia. Uma leitura que recomendo.
January 10, 2018
Um livro em jeito autobiográfico, sobre a experiência da autora com crianças autistas e problemáticas. Um livro que deveria ser lido por toda a gente, principalmente por pessoas que se dedicam à educação de crianças
October 20, 2015
EXCELLENT :)
May 26, 2014
I'm so glad my mum recommended this book to me! It is so inspiring and shows that with a little patience and time changes can be made. I read this book over a couple of days and loved it
April 28, 2015
Couldn't put it down, drew me in from the start. Fantastically truthful, real life, didn't want it to end. Ready for more from this lady.
June 20, 2015
Mary MacCracken has such a gift for helping children. Her approach and attitude is really very inspiring.
March 28, 2019
One of my favorite books. Mary MacCracken gives such a brave, vulnerable portrayal of learning to become a teacher of emotionally disturbed children.
October 24, 2024
The book resonated personally for me as the grandmother of an autistic grandchild. The rapid eye movement I’ve occasionally noticed in her has a name, which I learned from this book: nystagmus. I was delighted to learn its name so I could research it.
This is a heartbreaking and inspirational book rolled into one, with engaging stories to illustrate. The teacher and author Mary MacCrackan, along with teachers Helga and Dan, teach with love and a readiness to learn from their emotionally disturbed students: Chris, Jenny, Matt, Brian, Alice, Rufus, Stuart, and others. The teachers then respond in appropriate or experimental ways to keep these children out of institutional care and ready for more public settings. School Director Doris plays an interesting and perhaps controversial role as well.
Mary comes to believe that the teacher education classes she is taking on the side do not get it right much of the time. She develops her own theories from personal experience. 1. Be ready to throw out the lesson plan. 2. No lesson plan should be no more than a 5-line plan, easily tossed or moved to another day. 3. She calls her teaching style LASER teaching: Love Amplified by Structured Educational Reality. 4. Weekly field trips on the train, a mountain, to a picnic area, grocery stores, a swimming pool, and museums are key to helping these children navigate the world.
I hope there will always be Mary MacCrackans in the world for children with special needs, including my own granddaughter.
I finish with a paragraph I liked: “Transitions are important—in school as well as in grammar. A child can fall apart as easily as a paragraph, with meaning and content lost, if the transitions are not well carried out.”
This is a heartbreaking and inspirational book rolled into one, with engaging stories to illustrate. The teacher and author Mary MacCrackan, along with teachers Helga and Dan, teach with love and a readiness to learn from their emotionally disturbed students: Chris, Jenny, Matt, Brian, Alice, Rufus, Stuart, and others. The teachers then respond in appropriate or experimental ways to keep these children out of institutional care and ready for more public settings. School Director Doris plays an interesting and perhaps controversial role as well.
Mary comes to believe that the teacher education classes she is taking on the side do not get it right much of the time. She develops her own theories from personal experience. 1. Be ready to throw out the lesson plan. 2. No lesson plan should be no more than a 5-line plan, easily tossed or moved to another day. 3. She calls her teaching style LASER teaching: Love Amplified by Structured Educational Reality. 4. Weekly field trips on the train, a mountain, to a picnic area, grocery stores, a swimming pool, and museums are key to helping these children navigate the world.
I hope there will always be Mary MacCrackans in the world for children with special needs, including my own granddaughter.
I finish with a paragraph I liked: “Transitions are important—in school as well as in grammar. A child can fall apart as easily as a paragraph, with meaning and content lost, if the transitions are not well carried out.”
November 7, 2024
I surprisingly enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would.
This was a free book I picked up from the library, so I expected to return it once I was done with it. However, this book spoke to me much more than expected, and so it now has a place on my shelf for the timebeing.
I usually am not a fan of books written in first-person perspective, and it definitely threw me off in the beginning. I gradually became used to it, as the story became more and more engrossing to read. I found myself feeling connected to the children and the efforts of Mary as she taught each child. The content of the story was especially interesting to read in light of the course on Special Education that I took last year. I loved the full circle moment at the end of the book, when Mary became the role of the guide for the new substitute teacher.
The one thing I disliked the most was the occasional pivot to Mary's marriage and divorce, as well as her blossoming romance with Dan. I didn't find these points necessary to the story and would rather the story without.
Overall I found this book inspiring, and am interested to look into the author's other works.
Edit: I did not realise her books were memoirs! This puts the 'romance' component into much more perspective. I feel even more touched knowing that these were events that happened in real life.
This was a free book I picked up from the library, so I expected to return it once I was done with it. However, this book spoke to me much more than expected, and so it now has a place on my shelf for the timebeing.
I usually am not a fan of books written in first-person perspective, and it definitely threw me off in the beginning. I gradually became used to it, as the story became more and more engrossing to read. I found myself feeling connected to the children and the efforts of Mary as she taught each child. The content of the story was especially interesting to read in light of the course on Special Education that I took last year. I loved the full circle moment at the end of the book, when Mary became the role of the guide for the new substitute teacher.
The one thing I disliked the most was the occasional pivot to Mary's marriage and divorce, as well as her blossoming romance with Dan. I didn't find these points necessary to the story and would rather the story without.
Overall I found this book inspiring, and am interested to look into the author's other works.
Edit: I did not realise her books were memoirs! This puts the 'romance' component into much more perspective. I feel even more touched knowing that these were events that happened in real life.
February 2, 2019
First book of hers
I enjoyed this, though hadn't realised it was a little dated. Still a good read and I may try another by this author.
I enjoyed this, though hadn't realised it was a little dated. Still a good read and I may try another by this author.
February 20, 2019
I found it quite slow to start but soon got into this book and her way of writing. Very interesting, must now buy her other books!
April 1, 2019
Deeply touching and eye-opening.
October 29, 2024
Love books about good teachers and special needs kids! This was a winner!
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December 6, 2025A must read
January 8, 2016
very inspired. i learn a bit on how to build a rapport with children.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews