Kristine Barnett lives in Indiana with her husband, Michael, and their three sons. In 1996 she founded Acorn Hill Academy, a daycare serving local families. She and Michael currently run a charitable community center for autistic and special-needs children and their families called Jacob’s Place.

“The Spark describes in glowing terms the profound intensity with which a mother can love her child.”
—Andrew Solomon, author of The Noonday Demon and Far From the Tree

“The Spark is about the transformative power of unconditional love. If you have a child who’s ‘different’
—and who doesn’t?—you won’t be able to put it down.”
—Sylvia Nasar, author of A Beautiful Mind

“With passion and grace, Barnett covers Jake’s transformation, how close he came to being ‘lost’ in a special ed system focused on what children ‘can’t do’. . . . This eloquent memoir about an extraordinary boy and a resilient and remarkable mother will be of interest to every parent and/or educator hoping to nurture a child’s authentic ‘spark.’”—Publishers Weekly

“[A] compelling memoir . . . Jake is unusual, but so is his superhuman mom.” —Booklist