Portland Public Library

The spark, a mother's story of nurturing genius, Kristine Barnett

eng

individual biography

illustrations

no index present

non fiction

The spark

800039432

Kristine Barnett

a mother's story of nurturing genius

The mother of an autistic child who was eventually recognized as a genius recounts her rejection of conventional advice from developmental experts and shares the strategies she utilized for tapping her son's potential. Kristine Barnett's son Jacob has an IQ higher than Einstein's, a photographic memory, and he taught himself calculus in two weeks. At nine he started working on an original theory in astrophysics that experts believe may someday put him in line for a Nobel Prize, and at age twelve he became a paid researcher in quantum physics. But the story of Kristine's journey with Jake is all the more remarkable because his extraordinary mind was almost lost to autism

Introduction -- An inch, or ten thousand miles -- A baby boy -- Something's wrong -- Scattered skills -- Inside the diagnosis -- An ending, and a beginning -- Rainbows -- Breakthrough -- A step backward -- The new normal -- Let it shine -- A window onto the universe -- A cup of chicken soup -- Kindergarten pro -- Three letters -- Jelly beans -- A boy cave -- Who am I? -- Saved by the stars -- Pop-Tarts and planets -- Two pies -- A chance to play -- A dream come true -- Dark times -- Jealous angels -- Bold and underlined -- Skipping a grade -- or seven -- An original theory -- A home away from home -- Lucky penny -- Thanksgiving -- A roller-coaster ride -- A first Summer job -- A celebration -- Postscript