Torey Hayden's novel One Child is a moving, personal account of how even the smallest amount of love can change someone. One Child revolves around a special education teacher, Tory Hayden, her class and her aides. The main child Hayden talks about is Sheila, who was given to Hayden after she lured a young boy into the forest, tied him to a tree, and burned him nearly to death. Hayden describes Sheila as having “matted hair, unfriendly eyes, and a very bad smell” when they first met (Hayden 16). Sheila lives in a dilapidated house with her father who abuses, belittles and isolates her. Her past is mutilated by a mother who abandoned her when she was four, leaving her in the care of a neglectful father. These circumstances lead her to lash out at anyone she comes into contact with. Hayden provides a seemingly harmless environment in which Sheila thrives with the help of the love her teacher provides. The main idea of ​​Hayden's novel, presented through the use of rhetorical strategies, is that even offering comfort to an individual for a short time...