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

Michael Schofield (Author)

Book Description

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. 

From the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

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

About the Author

Michael Schofield is the father of January Schofield, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of five. He relates January's journey in his memoir January First: A Child's Descent into Madness and Her Father's Struggle to Save Her. Michael and his wife, Susan, are the founders of the Jani Foundation, a group that seeks to promote awareness and put pressure on government and other agencies to provide better care for mentally ill children. The foundation also connects donors to families of mentally ill children in need. Michael and Susan live with their children in Southern California. An AudioFile Earphones Award winner and Audie Award finalist, Patrick Lawlor is also an accomplished stage actor, director, and combat choreographer. His recent audio includes the New York Times bestseller The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell (Tantor). "Lawlor is masterful." —The Philadelphia Inquirer

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 1884 KB
• Print Length: 306 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0307719081
• Publisher: Broadway (August 7, 2012)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0058Z4NK0
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,768 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #1 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Schizophrenia
  • #5 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Psychology & Counseling > Mental Illness
  • #7 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Psychology & Counseling > Pathologies

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.

24 of 26 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.

30 of 38 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Honest, well-told memoir confronting the tough topic of childhood mental illness August 28, 2012

By A. McNeil

Format:Hardcover

It's rare to see a memoir by a father. There are a ton of memoirs by mothers but not a lot by fathers, particularly not by fathers of daughters. Put this together with the fact that Jani (her parents' nickname for her) has childhood-onset schizophrenia, and you have one unique book.

This is an excellently told memoir. It opens with Michael speaking about having his daughter's diagnosis now and struggling with all the barriers toward a normal life presented not just by her illness but by the world we live in.

After the introduction, Michael tells the story in a linear fashion. He does a good job remembering how he felt in the early days. His immense pride at his daughter's high IQ and creative mind coupled with a determination to help her succeed and be herself. It's fascinating to see, as an outsider, how early there were warning signs that something was not quite right with Jani but that Michael and Susan (her mother) attributed to a positive cause. I think that's typical of parents and indeed of anyone who loves someone. They were looking for the best. Believing in the best for their daughter.

This of course makes Jani's move toward violent behavior at the age of five that much more heart-breaking to read. I've heard and read stories and documentaries of how difficult it is for parents of young adults who become schizophrenic but at least they are adults. To have this happening to your five year old is completely terrifying. How do you control a child for whom no punishments seem to work? Who is more concerned with appeasing her hallucinations than with obeying her parents?

I certainly don't agree with all the parenting choices the Schofields made in the first five years of her life (and for the record, neither do all of the psychiatrists), but none of their choices would create schizophrenia. This is one of those occasions where you don't always agree with the choices the memoirist made, but you're also not right in the heat of the battle. It's far easier to say, "oh, you should have done this," when it's not your child who's being lost to a mental illness right before your eyes.

That's the thing about this memoir. Michael is so obviously completely honest. He tells things that happened that don't present him in the best light. He is completely forthcoming in his own shortcomings, but he reiterates over and over how much he loves his daughter and wants to keep his family together. This combination does for this memoir what a lot of memoirs don't have: it lends a complete sense of validity to the story as a whole.

This level of honesty combined with his writing ability make this memoir a strong call. A call to parents of children who are other-abled (whether mentally or physically) that they are not alone. It's also a call to the rest of us who are not one of these parents to take a moment to think how difficult it must be and go easier on the parents and the child. I know I for one might think the next time I see a kid throwing an epic tantrum, "Maybe that child has an illness" instead of "Sheesh, do a better job, parents."

Overall, this is a well-written memoir presenting the unique perspective of a father caring for a daughter with a mental illness. It also provides one of the few accounts of childhood-onset schizophrenia. Highly recommended to parents with special needs children, as well as to anyone who enjoys memoirs and the different perspectives reading them can bring.

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