“MARY MACCRACKEN IS AS GIFTED A WRITER AS A THERAPIST. THIS IS HER BEST BOOK YET!”
– Josh Greenfield, author of A Child Called Noah
“EACH CHILD PRESENTS A UNIQUE CHALLENGE AND EACH CHAPTER A MOVING EXPERIENCE.”
– Jean Vitalis, Educational Therapist, Board of Trustees, Churchill School
This book recounts the essence of my experience and in that sense is a true story. However, it is not intended as a literal account, and it is not to be taken as a portrayal of any living person. All names (except for my family’s and mine) of individuals, places, and institutions are fictitious.
HarperElement
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers
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London SE1 9GF
First published in the United States as Turnabout Children by Signet, 1987
This updated edition published by HarperElement 2015
© Mary MacCracken 1986, 2015
Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2015
Cover photograph © Vanessa Munoz/Trevillion Images (posed by model)
Mary MacCracken asserts the moral right to
be identified as the author of this work
A catalogue record of this book is
available from the British Library
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Source ISBN: 9780007555185
Ebook Edition © FEBRUARY 2015 ISBN: 9780007555192
Version: 2015-01-12
This book is dedicated to my own three children – Susan, Nan, and Steve – and their families, in small return for the joy they’ve given me.
And also to my four stepchildren – Michael, Joan, Karen, and Mark –and their families, who have enriched my life.
Contents
I particularly want to thank:
All the children I’ve worked with and their parents. This book might well have been titled “Lessons from Children.”
My husband, Cal, for standing by, putting up with, and continuing to encourage me.
My daughter Susan, for reading every word of every draft and for offering insights, comments, and unfaltering faith.
My daughter Nan, for joining me in private practice, and sharing her talent for growing children.
Gene Young, my friend and first editor, for buying my first book, The Lost Children, and for thoughtfully editing both Lovey and City Kid and much of A Safe Place for Joey.
Fredrica S. Friedman, my current editor, for her hard work, enthusiasm, and careful guidance of this book in its final stages.
Carl Brandt, my agent, for watching over my books, both here and in other countries.
Ruth Watson, for reading, typing, and uncomplainingly retyping the many drafts of this book.