9780449009635
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The Spark audiobook

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The Spark Audiobook Summary

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. At age two, when Jake was diagnosed, Kristine was told he might never be able to tie his own shoes.
 
The Spark is a remarkable memoir of mother and son. Surrounded by “experts” at home and in special ed who tried to focus on Jake’s most basic skills and curtail his distracting interests—moving shadows on the wall, stars, plaid patterns on sofa fabric—Jake made no progress, withdrew more and more into his own world, and eventually stopped talking completely. Kristine knew in her heart that she had to make a change. Against the advice of her husband, Michael, and the developmental specialists, Kristine followed her instincts, pulled Jake out of special ed, and began preparing him for mainstream kindergarten on her own.
 
Relying on the insights she developed at the daycare center she runs out of the garage in her home, Kristine resolved to follow Jacob’s “spark”—his passionate interests. Why concentrate on what he couldn’t do? Why not focus on what he could?  This basic philosophy, along with her belief in the power of ordinary childhood experiences (softball, picnics, s’mores around the campfire) and the importance of play, helped Kristine overcome huge odds.
 
The Barnetts were not wealthy people, and in addition to financial hardship, Kristine herself faced serious health issues. But through hard work and determination on behalf of Jake and his two younger brothers, as well as an undying faith in their community, friends, and family, Kristine and Michael prevailed. The results were beyond anything anyone could have imagined.
 
Dramatic, inspiring, and transformative, The Spark is about the power of love and courage in the face of overwhelming obstacles, and the dazzling possibilities that can occur when we learn how to tap the true potential that lies within every child, and in all of us.

Other Top Audiobooks

The Spark Audiobook Narrator

Kathe Mazur is the narrator of The Spark audiobook that was written by Kristine Barnett

About the Author(s) of The Spark

Kristine Barnett is the author of The Spark

More From the Same

The Spark Full Details

Narrator Kathe Mazur
Length 10 hours 35 minutes
Author Kristine Barnett
Category
Publisher Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Release date May 05, 2024
ISBN 9780449009635

Subjects

The publisher of the The Spark is Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group. includes the following subjects: aspergers, autism, memoir, parenting, non-fiction, genius, education, biography, biographies, biography autobiography, nonfiction books, true story, inspirational, true stories, bios, non fiction, biographical, inspiration, narrative nonfiction, motivational, motivational books, memories, advice, auto biography biography, autobiography biography, non fiction books, nonfiction, inspirational books, biography and memoirs, true life, personal story, personal stories, memoirs biographies, memoir autobiography biography, medical, Biography & Autobiography, Personal Memoirs, Biography & Autobiography, Science & Technology, Biography & Autobiography, Medical The BISAC Subject Code is Biography & Autobiography, Personal Memoirs

Additional info

The publisher of the The Spark is Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group. The imprint is Random House Audio. It is supplied by Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group. The ISBN-13 is 9780449009635.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Frequently asked questions

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