A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring book.
Review: The book I read was called a Child Called "It" by David Peltzer. I gave this book five stars because it was an inspiring book. This book is about David. His life was perfect until he was six years old. His mother was the envy of the town. One day when David came home from school his mother slapped him across the face and told him he was a "bad boy." She said he was stupid and he was staying in second grade. But, David was a good and smart boy he normally got an A+ on everything. David's mother did cruel and evil things to him. Some of the worst were making him eat baby poop, eating his throw-up, putting him in a freezing bathtub, and leaving him there for hours. And when she told him to get out of the bath, [not even dry off] put his clothes on and making him sit in the backyard on the rocks in the shade. She left him out on everything her and her family did, and she didn't feed him for up to a period of six days, and put him in the bathroom with no window with Clorox and ammonia fumes. The worst thing was when his mother stabbed him with a knife. His mother did not even take him to the hospital! One day David's school had enough. A police officer came to the school and took David away. To see what happens read the book!

Rating:
Summary: A Very Compelling Book
Review: My husband told me a coworker read this book and told me I may like it. I like reading books on human issues.

But this book was on one hand disturbing on the other hand I could not put it down. I cannot believe a woman could be this mean. She makes Mommie Dearest look like a wonderful mother. Initially it starts by normal discipline then into some mistreatment then outright abuse such as the Mirror Treatment, find Mothers missing things, the beatings, the broken arm, the grounding in the celler, Then she begins to abuse him in front of father like the no Christmas presents punishment, the not going with the family on vacation stuff.

Then this abuse becomes unbearable. Then Mother tries to burn David on the stove. Then by second grade Mother begins to starve David for not doing his chores fast enough, Davis steals food at school, Mother starves him more, he throws up and is forced to eat it, he is fed iodine one time, ammonia another as well as listerene and clorox numerous times. He is beaten severely, when given a bath it is a cold one, he had to sleep on a cot with no blankets for a while then mother makes him sleep on father's bed(no logic in that one).

It even gets worse. He accidentally got stabbed once, then one summer when the father was away for two weeks David was starved for 10 solid days. Still once in a while Mother lets David back in the family when re;latives came arround or she got a visit from Child welfare people.

I am surprised that this was not stopped previously. Most people were aware he was abused but did not know the extent of the hell David lived in. The house became a prison for David. He was treated worse than a prison inmate and worse than a dog.

By the way his mother is no longer living. Dave's official website stated this. I wonder how she died. Anyway she is most definately in the lake of fire(provided there is one.. I believe there is).

I also read the Lost Boy as well. I am hoping his third book tells us what became of his "family."

Rating:
Summary: A Child Called It
Review: A Child Called It by David Pelzer is an amazing story about a boy who went through hard times as a child and how he fought each day just to live. I could never imagine how a mother could treat her child like that. She would always beat her son David and she would try and find new ways to torture her son. It makes me appreciate and love my mother so much more.
When the story starts everything is so happy and there is so much love. And then everything changes so fast.
Dave Pelzer went though a lot as a child; I think it is amazing that that he could write about all the trauma that he went through. He is a very good writer. It was so descriptive I wanted to go in the story and help David.
I would recommend this book to everybody because it is inspiring and it causes you to step back and think about all the great things in your life, and wonder what some of your friends could possibly be going through. Now I pay attention to other peoples' feelings.

Rating:
Summary: One child's courage to survive
Review: David Pelzer suffered from and survived the third worst case of child abuse in California. After living through his nightmare, he managed to re-visit his childhood and write the autobiography in a three-book sequence. His first book titled, A Child Called "It", portrays his life from when his family life was too perfect, to when each day he woke up to fight to stay alive. Throughout the book he tells of his abuse, life at home, and his only hope of living, his father. As the story progresses and the severity of David's abuse grows worse every day, he comes to the same decision; do I fight to live or hope to die?
With the exception of the first chapter, the rest of David's life is told as a flashback. The fact that the book begins with David's rescue gives you reassuring hope that soon his torture will end. The way in which David Pelzer writes, matures at the same rate as his age and character. In many instances, this makes one feel David's pain and anguish. This technique creates an imaginary sense of friendship between the reader and David. The author builds loyalty to the reader through his narrative approach. David Pelzer is uncomplicated and innocent, just as a child would be. His genuine, child-like dialogue draws you to his life, and feeds your compassion and desire to save him.
David was born to something commonly known as the "Perfect Family". His early childhood was spent on trips to the Golden Gate Bridge and Russian River where they would go camping for weeks at a time. He was born to a loving and devoted mother, a proud and brave father, and two brothers that only exceeded his own age by a few years. For whatever reason, he never explained what exactly had started his abuse. He mentions his parent's love of drinking, yet it was never mentioned to be at a cause of his dramatic lifestyle change. When the abuse begins, he mentions how he remembers his parents fighting. Yet even their marital issues never seemed to have gotten in the way of their love for their children. Throughout the book he never formally addresses a specific cause to the start of what he once thought would be the end of his life.
As his mother stripped him of his very own humanity, his spiritual self was all he had left to keep himself alive. His father, who he once thought would someday save him, gradually faded out of his life. When his dad finally moved out, David hated the world. He claimed that his far worst enemy was God, for not answering any of his prayers. David learned to hate anyone that knew of his situation, yet failed to help him. David Pelzer also learns to become his own hero. He knew that if he didn't have his own heard, he would die. Yet there were times when he even doubted that much. There are points in the book where he describes waking up and hoping that today would be the day she finally killed him and woke him from his never ending nightmare. This compelling story will take its reader from heart-wrenching torture and discipline, to David Pelzer's rescue and recovery of his own life.

Rating:
Summary: Child Called "It" -Bill
Review: "A Child Called It" by Dave Pelzer is a heart breaking account of David's childhood. The story retells all the horrors that were brought upon him by his mother as he was growing up. Even though the book is extremely sad and depressing it is wonderfully written and entertaining. I finished the book in a 2-hour sitting, I tried to put it down but I had to see what was going to happen next.

The book opens with David getting rescued from his outrageously abusive mother, which is good because as you read the rest of the depressing pages you know that it will end sometime. All of a sudden one-day David's mother begins to abuse him. First it is just verbal and emotional, but soon it escalates into horrible physical punishments. His mother makes him eat his brother's dirty diaper, he can't eat dinner with the family, and she even stabs him one day because he didn't do the dishes on time. She plays terrible mind games with David, once she told him that his punishments were over and she loved him again. He believed her and then realized it was only an act when a social worker arrived the next day to see that everything was ok. It is amazing that David lived through all of his mothers abuse and can talk about it today.

The fact that Dave Pelzer was the author of this book makes it as good as it is. No one could have written a book about David's tragic childhood better than he. He retells of the horrible events with such accuracy and emotion that no one else could get it right. Only Dave knows what was said and how it was said. It adds a feeling to the story that makes it enjoyable to read, even though it is such a sad and depressing story.

The book reads like you are having a conversation with Dave and he is telling you the story. The story is written easily and straightforward, just about anyone who can read will be able to understand this book. The way David writes makes you feel so bad for him because he doesn't feel bad for himself. He tells how he feels about certain events but never feels bad for himself, which makes the reader more depressed for him.

This book gets a huge thumbs up. Anyone would enjoy reading this book, it has its depressing parts but you know everything turns out ok because David describes getting saved in the beginning. Even though it is terribly depressing, it is also entertaining to read, and I would recommend it to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: Heart Breaker
Review: Dave Pelzer is a remarkable man who should be knighted. I personally think that child abuse should hold the death penalty, and David's mom sure deserves it. His brothers should be shot. His brothers were cruel and evil and that part where he allegedly caused a birth defect in the fetus his mother was carrying was her fault, not his. Sadly I know many abused children. All abused by fathers, when sexually, equal physically and emotionally by both. His cruel mother ruined his life and Mr. Ziegler, his teacher was a great person and was his savior. Remember his prayer, "deliver me from evil".

Rating:
Summary: One Child's Courage to Survive
Review: Kids at the age of 10 and older will injoy the book, A Child Called,"It." It is about a childs courage to survive when being abused by an adult. David is the main character. He has trouble in school by stealing food from kids lunch boxs because his mom is so mean that she doesn`t even feed David. His mom is usually mean and abusive because she is an alcoholic. Will David survive? Read, A Child Called,"It" to find out.

Rating:
Summary: Child Called It
Review: If Your looking for a really good book to read then you should look into this book i have read called the Child Called It! I reccomend this book to readers who like sad stories. The Child Called it is based on a true story, and involves Violence and abuse. Vulgaral language is also present in this Book.

This book is about a little boy named David Pelzar who had the perfect life, but later he wonders what a perfect life is. His parents were joyful, and loving in every aspect. David's mother was a house wife who loved every holiday and dressed as though she was the light of the world. His father was a firefighter his hero. David loved it when his father called Him Tiger, it was a nickname he had grown up with. After awhile his mother started getting angry. When he got home She would yell and give him and his brothers spankings. Then it got completely out of control she started beating Dave only out of all the children. She gave him harsh treatments and if he were to talk back he would get spacked. When Dave's dad was around his mother was like and angel. But it got to the point when she didn't care that her husband was around. He slept in the garage and she starved him. When the school called and said he had stolen kids lunches she made him throw up so that she new what he was eating. Finally her husband moved out he couldn't take it any more. Dave had wished he would stay or take him with him. Then Towards the end she started treating him like a human being. He thought the torture was ended. She was only nice to him so that when the social worker came he'd tell her he loved where he lived and his mom never hit him. But that all changed when just one thing went wrong during the conference. So she went back to beating him after the Social worker felt suspuciousness.

I hope I have filled your head with enough information that you'll check out this magnifacent book. I thought this was a rally great book so I read all three of his books. There all great i suggest that if you liked the Child Called It You should read the Series. In order because you wouldn't want to miss out on any of Dave's adventure's.

Rating:
Summary: What's His Name?
Review: This book is really sad. What goes through your mind when you read it is unimaginable. When I finished it I cried. I couldn't stop. I thought, "She actually loves him." At the time it seemed impossible. But, hit rewind. A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer is a heart-warming, tear-jerking story about a young boy whose mother abuses him. She once tried to make him lay on a burning stove. In the beginning, his mother would never lay a single hand on him. But then she had his other brothers and just decided to say, "You know what, I don't like him anymore." She never fed him enough, made him have constant chores, abused him, it was just totally sad. It made me feel lucky for what I have. I mean, this boy didn't have anything. An old shirt, he slept in the garage on an old army cot, no toys, no playtime, nothing. At first his old man stuck up for him but then he stopped. I mean, come on, don't you have good food, good toys, clothes, and almost anything you need? Well, he didn't. Right now you must be thinking that this story is fictional. Well, it's not. The main character? Dave Pelzer himself. This is an absolute must read. Read A CHILD CALLED IT by Dave Pelzer.

Rating:
Summary: Beyond Courage
Review: Denise Lewis, A reviewer,
This book goes beyond the normal courage of a child that lves through such ordeals as Mr. Pelzer lived through. A book of the ages, one that must be put in Libraries and Schools-one that parents should have to read and one that should be reading material for all Child Protective Services. This book is powerful in its content. A must read!

I want to also recommend several other memoir style books that also show courage through a childs terrible life and the healing that happens for them: Nightmares Echo,Lost Boy,Lucky,and Running With Scissors