January First: A Child's Descent into Madness and Her Father's Struggle to Save Her [Hardcover]

Michael Schofield (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 7, 2012

Michael Schofield’s daughter January is at the mercy of her imaginary friends, except they aren’t the imaginary friends that most young children have; they are hallucinations. And January is caught in the conflict between our world and their world, a place she calls Calalini.  Some of these hallucinations, like “24 Hours,” are friendly and some, like “400 the Cat” and “Wednesday the Rat,” bite and scratch her until she does what they want.  They often tell her to scream at strangers, jump out of buildings, and attack her baby brother. 
 
At six years old, January Schofield, “Janni,” to her family, was diagnosed with schizophrenia, one of the worst mental illnesses known to man.  What’s more, schizophrenia is 20 to 30 times more severe in children than in adults and in January’s case, doctors say, she is hallucinating 95 percent of the time that she is awake. Potent psychiatric drugs that would level most adults barely faze her. 

A New York Times bestseller, January First captures Michael and his family's remarkable story in a narrative that forges new territory within books about mental illness. In the beginning, readers see Janni’s incredible early potential: her brilliance, and savant-like ability to learn extremely abstract concepts. Next, they witnesses early warning signs that something is not right, Michael’s attempts to rationalize what’s happening, and his descent alongside his daughter into the abyss of schizophrenia.  Their battle has included a two-year search for answers, countless medications and hospitalizations, allegations of abuse, despair that almost broke their family apart and, finally, victories against the illness and a new faith that they can create a life for Janni filled with moments of happiness. 
 
A compelling, unsparing and passionate account, January First vividly details Schofield’s commitment to bring his daughter back from the edge of insanity.  It is a father’s soul-baring memoir of the daily struggles and challenges he and his wife face as they do everything they can to help Janni while trying to keep their family together. 

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Imagine invisible demons that attack your beautiful child. But this is no nightmare, and no supernatural fantasy. The demons are real, and they come from inside her own mind. The story of January Schofield, diagnosed at six with childhood schizophrenia. is told by her father, Michael, with a father's tenderness, a novelist's consciousness, and a knight's grace. We can hold our breath and pray, but not look away. This modern parable may be the most compelling book you will ever read.” --Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of The Deep End of the Ocean

“January First is a riveting and compelling-and also quite painful--story of a father’s efforts to help his young daughter find a place for herself in this world in the face of a serious mental illness. Schofield gives a glimpse inside the mind of a child who lives much of her life in another world, interacting with "friends" who are only in her mind. Schofield takes us on his journey with Jani, starting with his thoughts that Jani is simply a misunderstood genius to recognition that something is really wrong, to the ultimate diagnosis of schizophrenia, a very serious mental illness, even more so when it manifests in a child.  Schofield and his wife never give up.  Their dedication and steadfastness are inspirational.  Their story will be highly valued by the many families with a child with mental illness-indeed, by the many families who have any kind of struggle with their kids.  The book ends on a hopeful note with Jani in a better place, yet we recognize that the battle is likely not over.” – Elyn Saks, MacArthur Grant Recipient and author of The Center Cannot Hold

"In his memoirs 'January First,' Michael Schofield chronicles his family's experience with [a] devastating mental illness, which usually presents itself at least a decade later." --Daily Mail (UK)


"An unflinching portrait of the scourge of mental illness." --Kirkus Reviews

"In this dramatic memoir, Schofield...explains the mental illness of his young daughter...offers valuable insight for others in similar situations, and ends on a hopeful note." --Publishers Weekly

About the Author

MICHAEL SCHOFIELD teaches writing courses at California State University, Northridge.   He keeps a blog of his family's journey through Janni's schizophrenia at www.janisjourney.org.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Crown; 1 edition (August 7, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780307719089
• ISBN-13: 978-0307719089
• ASIN: 0307719081
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 1.1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (238 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Schizophrenia
  • #44 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Psychology & Counseling > Mental Illness
  • #87 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Psychology & Counseling > Pathologies

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 68 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful, compelling read August 7, 2012

By Susan Collier

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I know of Jani from TV. I arrived home from work and found that January First had arrived. I was tired and grumpy and had many work tasks to complete this evening. I took a peek at just the first chapter and never stopped reading. I think Michael has written a wonderful, honest, heartbreaking story and I am so grateful he has written it. I do not have a family member with a mental illness but since learning about Jani I have been paying more attention and have come to realize that help for these families is just what Michael describes, hard to come by. It is difficult for me to realize how arduous and lonely and scary such a struggle would be. I think it is so important that you were honest, that you shared your doubt and your conflicting emotions. Living in a state of exhaustion and fear is a state of being where few could tread with certainty. I honor your journey and am grateful Jani has you both. I found the triumph of love to be the enduring message.

I highly recommend this book. It is an invitation to take a walk with two people who have been to the depths of despair and came up with hope. It is also the story of not giving up, period. Ever.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars A father's descent into madness... December 24, 2012

By A reader

Format:Hardcover

I wanted to like this book. I truly did. After seeing a documentary about Jani, the daily struggles of a schizophrenic child piqued my interest. But, sadly, the father's ego and sense of entitlement got in the way of her story. His self-aggrandizing position of superiority above those around him and dozens of inconsistencies in his actions proved to be too much to stomach:

His description of his daughter is akin to viewing her as a science experiment, and yet he seems truly amazed that despite her "genius" she wants to be a normal child. It's sad that I know Jani's IQ (stated ad nauseum throughout the book, to the point of embarrassment) but not HER hopes and dreams. My heart goes out to poor Jani. While Mr. Schofield clearly loves her, he has yet to realize that gifted intelligence is by no means unique to his daughter.

Jani's aggression is well-documented throughout the book, yet consistent discipline is presented as a `novel' concept towards the end of the book, only after a therapist suggested they not give in to a five year old's demands. Seriously? One might question whether some of her behavioral issues could have been curtailed with parenting 101 - don't negotiate with a toddler.

The family insists on keeping a dog, despite repeated attempts by Jani to harm or attack the poor animal. Worse, the father and mother at various points in the story feel compelled to include Jani on walks and during play.

The father describes ongoing beatings, but as a teacher at a local college, makes no mention of whether inevitable bruising from such forceful blows would cause others to raise questions. Seems odd that bloody lips, scratches, and kicks wouldn't be noticed.

Both parents repeatedly express annoyance and/or surprise that no one will swoop in and `fix' this situation for them. I found myself disgusted at the sense of entitlement these parents feel when working with state officials who truly seem to want to help. Jani has no business in a conventional elementary school (for the safety of the other children, if nothing else), yet her parents seem intent on foisting her off to the first facility that will take her. They then engage in combative and insulting accusations towards the administration, only to be shocked when a public school is unequipped to deal with Jani's frequent outbursts. I felt sorry for every employee this insufferable father encountered.

Lastly, they bring another child into this situation, with the rather extraordinary claim that Jani wanted them to have a `normal' life and thus requested a brother for the parents' sake. Again, what would compel this couple to bring a defenseless infant into the mix is beyond me.

This is the only Amazon book review I've ever felt compelled to write...I just couldn't let others make the same mistake of thinking this is a story about Jani. I wish these parents the best.

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting story buried beneath the author's ego November 4, 2012

By Lily

Format:Hardcover

This is an interesting story that might have been more effectively told if the author could have reigned in his ego. He seems to have some of the same problems from which his poor daughter suffers--excessive anger, the insistence on turning every exchange with other people into a power struggle and chronic impulsivity. While I felt great sympathy for the parents and have no doubt their daughter has some form of mental illness or disability for which there are few services, he was so unsympathetic that it diminished the book's impact. The topper was when he called his father to ask if there was any mental illness in his family and then later reveals he was hospitalized for explosive anger and fire-setting as a youth. Did he forget that little detail? He seemed to identify with his daughter to an unhealthy degree and blame his wife when she was not willing to sacrifice everything and everyone to make Jani happy for the moment. He seemed more like a pal than a parent at times. Perhaps a professional writer would have been more objective. Use of the present tense made me feel I was trapped in the father's angry head for the whole book and I wondered if some of the episodes were exaggerated a bit. Not a great reading experience.