Editorial Review
Jadie never spoke. She never laughed, or cried, or uttered any sound. Despite efforts to reach her, Jadie remained locked in her own troubled world––until one remarkable teacher persuaded her to break her self–imposed silence. Nothing in all of Torey Hayden's experience could have prepared her for the shock of what Jadie told her––a story too horrendous for Torey's professional colleagues to acknowledge. Yet a little girl was living in a nightmare, and Torey Hayden responded in the only way she knew how––with courage, compassion, and dedication––demonstrating once again the tremendous power of love and the relilience of the human spirit.
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Customer Reviews
Ghost Girl Book 
2007-03-21
I loved the book couldn't put it down. Read the whole thing in 2 days. Very shocking and moving to say the least.
Ghost Girl 2007-01-10
I thought this book was a great read, it is good for anyone interested in the feild of teaching. It is an inspireing book for both students and teachers alike. Hayden did it again when she wrote this book. Its one of those books that are very hard to put down. Hayden tells the true story of one of her students. She brings her expereinces to life, as she does in all of her books. If you like this book, I also reccomend "Somebody else's kids" by Torey Hayden.
Ghost Girl 2006-07-23
Jadie is an eight year old elective mute. She does not talk at first but, her teacher Torey helps Jadie to talk. When Jadie does begin to talk she tells Torey disturbing accounts of abuse that she (Jadie) has endured. Is Jadie lying? Is she psychotic, schitozphrenic, or really experiencing these horrible things? Jadie is afraid of spiders. She claims they can spy on her. Jadie believes she is a ghost. She is fascinated with drawing symbols. Torey believes Jadie is a victim of ritualistic abuse (satanism).
Ghost Girl; a real heartbreaker 2006-05-15
When I first read the review of Ghost Girl on the back of the book, I knew I would be hooked, and I truely was. This novel undoubtedly sucked me in from the very beginig. Jadie, a young and abused child from a strage family never spoke until, almost by the grace of god, a child Psychologist named Torey was sent to save her. This story of emotional physical and sexual abuse really made me see this world is not perfect. For a very long time I have had thoughts of being a child psychologist, like Torey is, and after finishing Jadie's heartwrenching story I was inspired to fulfill my dream. I absolutely love the way Torey felt called to publish her relationship with Jadie for others to read. I didn't want to put Ghost Girl down, and once I did I wanted to pick it back up and read it again. I will definately carry Jadie's story with me for a very long time. I encourage you to experience Ghost Girl, and do the same.
Makes your stomach turn! 2006-05-15
I couldn't put this book down. I never imagined somthing this horrible could actually happen to a young child. Eight year old Jadie, was an elective mute. She was a very disturbed child who slouched over when she walked afraid her insides would fall out. Torey was her special education teacher and was previously a child psychologist, working with other elective mutes. Jadie begins talking to Torey telling her things that happen to her and her sisters. They are so out of this world that you think no one could be so sick to touch a child in such ways. Torey goes through ups and downs with Jadie finally giving her the help she has been searching for.
Real life Horror Story 
2008-05-29
I love Torey Hayden's books and own all of the non-fiction ones. Ghost Girl was by far the most troubling, frightening and haunting book of them all. The things Jadie and her sister went through, and the things she confessed to Torey were just...almost indescribably awful. There is a part of the book where Torey reads a book about similar sadistic things being done and she says she wants to "throw the book into the fire" for putting such evil, disgusting thoughts in her mind by making her aware of their existence. Despite the fact I love Torey Hayden and all her books and thought this was good as well, that is how I felt while I was reading Ghost Girl. So be forewarned!
An Unforgettable Read 2008-01-29
This was a fascinating story that I stayed up late to finish in one night.
When a Special Education teacher begins to see clues that Jadie, one of her students, might be the victim of possible ritualistic sexual abuse, she digs deeper and ultimately must come forward with her suspicions.
This is a haunting, riveting read!
Spellbinding 2007-11-22
After just finishing Ghost Girl..I thought it was spellbinding all the way through...Little Jadie..just crawled inside my heart..and forever will stay..donna from Indiana
Amazing Author! 2007-04-25
Another great book that I couldn't put down. She has such amazing stories to share about her years teaching and she writes in a way that keeps the reader hooked until the very end.
A straightforward account of horrific child abuse... 2007-03-22
As in her other books, special ed teacher Torey Hayden charts a year in the life of her students...this time focusing upon Jadie Ekdahl, an electively mute little girl.
Being warned about all the past teachers who have tried to get Jadie to speak but failed, Hayden is surprised when she succeeds in getting the child to answer her questions within hours of her arrival.
Once Jadie does begin to speak, she hints of horrible abuse she and her younger sisters have suffered, abuse which is either pornographic or Satanic in nature. Although Hayden does help Jadie significantly, she never does learn the full story behind the abuse, as the child cannot understand everything she's been through, her parents vehemently deny it...and the community as a whole refuses to believe anything at all's happened. It's a bit of a letdown for readers, getting into the details of an abused child's life, yet never learning what really happened in the end.
Although this book -- like all of Hayden's others -- crosses into the realm of potential sap, preachiness or self-admiration, it never goes there. While Heyden's quest to help the children -- and resulting success with them -- puts her well ahead of other educators, she never takes on the air of patting herself on the back for it. Rather, she is a mere human; one who often becomes frustrated, as anyone else might be; and far from perfect. Often, as she becomes fixated on the children, Heyden forgets to balance the other areas of her life, which become problematic as a result.
This is a fascinating look at the life of a child suffering incredibly bizarre abuse, and how one caring individual tried to help.
