A review by agor
January First: A Child's Descent into Madness and Her Father's Struggle to Save Her by Michael Schofield

2.0

This book is truly deserving of just 1 star; however, I'm giving this book 2 stars because Jani's condition and her story is fascinating. Her dad, the author, is not. Best example of a savior complex if I've ever seen one. He genuinely thinks he is the ONLY person who can save Jani and "pull" her back from whatever it is she has (she's not diagnosed until later in the book). Also, in case you missed it, Jani's a genius with an IQ of 146, awarded to her before the age of 2. Which you hear about SEVERAL times. SEVERAL TIMES. Which also, he thinks, makes her exempt from any sort of diagnosis, seeing as she is so intelligent she simply isn't receiving the adequate attention and care she needs. Basically, everyone else is the problem, Jani is not.

I ended up feeling incredibly sad for Jani that this is her life, but I do not feel sad for her parents. The advice they were provided, both medically and emotionally, went virtually ignored every time. I'm not a parent, but even I know when to heed the advice of the professionals, especially when actively sought. Pompous idiots, IMHO.

2 stars stands.