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

Rating:
Summary: heartbreaking, educational and thought-provoking
Review: It is impossible for me to call this book "great" or any other cheerful adjective. It was painful for me to read this book, but I did so in one sitting. I needed to be with David, as if my reading his story would somehow help him get through his day. It is beyond remarkable that a child could survive such heinous acts, and live a productive life. David Pelzer is a survivor whose story will never be forgotten by this reader.

Rating:
Summary: Could not put it down
Review: this book is the best book i have ever read. his mother was very cruel to him and it is the most severe abuse i have ever heard of. what i am wondering, is why it was to only him? was he the middle child..or what? after reading this whenever my mother tells me to do something, i do it..because i know it is far more easier to do than David had to. in the beginning it says that you will feel his pain, and everything he is being put through. and that is VERY true. i could feel the hurt, and emotionally torn this boy was. to all you non-readers- BUY IT!

Rating:
Summary: David is a hero!
Review: I read this book on of all days, Mother's Day. I could not put it down. I sobbed as it was such a heartwrenching tale of abuse at the hands of the one person who should have been a young child's savior. I found myself angrier at the father many times than the mother. What kind of "man" let alone a heroic fireman lets a lunatic inflict the horrendous punishments endured by this wonderful boy. Thank goodness for the intervention of his school nurse & teachers. David, you are a miracle!

Rating:
Summary: EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!
Review: FROM THE BEGINNING, THIS BOOK HELD ME IN A TRANCE. I FINISHED IT IN JUST TWO NIGHTS OF READING AND CRIED FOR THAT POOR, HELPLESS CHILD. THE DETAIL WAS AMAZING AND I COULDN'T HELP BUT BE AMAZED AT HIS STRENGTH TO GO ON AND SURVIVE IN A WORLD THAT TREATED HIM SO TERRIBLE AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE. THE ONLY THING I WAS UPSET ABOUT IS THAT IT WAS NEVER TOLD WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS MOTHER AFTER EVERYTHING WAS OVER. BUT OVER ALL, THIS IS A BOOK THAT EVERYONE SHOULD READ BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY MAKES YOU HURT FOR THE ABUSED CHILD BUT IT MAKES YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR DAY TO DAY PROBLEMS DON'T ADD UP TO MUCH WHEN PLACED NEXT TO DAVID'S PROBLEMS. YET HE NEVER COMPLAINED OR HAD ANYONE TO DO ANYTHING FOR HIM. HE IS TRUELLY A STRONG PERSON AND WAS STRONGER AS A CHILD THEN I COULD BE AS AN ADULT IN THAT SITUATION.

Rating:
Summary: Powerful and extremely awesome how any one can overcome!
Review: I was on the edge of my seat from the first sentence. I cried through out the book. I grew up in an abusive home, so I could relate. He brought you along into the book with him. It was like being there. He had the capacity to make you feel the experience with him. It truly touched me. I passed it along to my Psychiatrist who has read it as well.

Rating:
Summary: The most touching and inspirational story of survival!
Review: I read this book in one day! It was the most moving story I have ever read. I was inspired and touched by Dave's story. He is a true survior! this story helped to put my daily troubles in perspective! WONDERFUL!!!

Rating:
Summary: EVERYONE must read this!
Review: What a story! I can't believe that this child really lived through this! I just wanted to jump in the pages, hug him and take him home with me! It makes me cry now, to think about the things that his Mother did to him. My daughter is 10 and I just passed the book on to her. We have been doing a lot of talking! Kids these days think they have it bad that they have to be in by a certain time! They should read this! David......I would have loved you!

Rating:
Summary: This book helps people realize what really goes on out there
Review: I've read two of David's books. They both made me cry. This book is about a child who was SEVERELY abused and did not get help from people who could SEE the pain. He had NO ONE to help him. But he survived. On his own, he survived. I often asked, how could anyone do this to a child? But he was strong, is strong. I felt what he went through when I read this book. It was difficult to read but I did because like David, I want to make a difference. Everyone needs to pull together and help our children! Stand for the Children!!!

Rating:
Summary: TOOOOO FAR FETCHED
Review: No way did this happen to this guy. He would have been dead or a living skeleton. The book is a ploy to make money. I didn't believe a word. Don't waste your money unless you want to read about someone's overactive imagination.

Rating:
Summary: David's one of the most motivating people I call my friend
Review: I had the priviledge to meet David Pelzer when he received his Jaycee TOYA award, Ten Outstanding Young American award in Jan 1993. I read his book in 1993 in one sitting. It is written through the eyes of a 6 year old. How the 6 year old remembered it. It describes how naive the system was in the 1970s, people didn't know child abuse existed to the extent it did and still does. It is written so the book can be in schools and children may read it and not be afraid to tell the truth. It's okay to tell. That's the message of this book and the gruesome details had to be told. The police reports verify he was the 3rd worst child abuse victim in the state of Calif, the other 2 died. I have a friend who is a teacher and has used this book in her class, the 7th graders are now volunteers and assist with a Big Brother/Sister program. This has been three years ago! The skeptics who think David made this up have never personally seen the marks on his arms, that he continues today to put lotion on his dry skin. As past chapter president of the Fargo, ND Jaycees, Dave visited us many times and spoke with schools, colleges, and social workers. The impact his motivational speeches had on the different groups will long be remembered. To each group, he changed his talk. He does a great impression of Arnold Schwartzenager... I will always remember when one student at a school had stolen the book off the counselor's desk and read it before the symposium. Because of this book, because of how she trusted David, she came forth and admitted that she was being abused. She had asked her teacher for a private meeting with David Pelzer. This is just one of the stories of how I personally have seen the effect of this book...I look at it as David has three messages. The first book is the child abuse awareness issue. I have the first edition of the book when it came out in 1993 which David wrote on his own. It took almost 4 more years for the 2nd edition of the "Lost Boy" to be published after he hired professional editors. David wanted to get his message out that it's okay to tell the truth, to speak up. The book has successfully accomplished this goal. The 2nd book deals with the foster years and is written more for social workers than children. How the public treats the foster child and how they are still victims. The 3rd book will tell how he has gone on with his life. This is his only income so if it does keep food on the table, clothes on his back, so be it! He deserves all the pleasures that life can bring. I never thought I'd hear people say they wouldn't cough up more money to read another book of Dave's. In between his writing David is busy raising his son, speaking on child abuse awareness and as a motivational speaker, I think it's great he has time to write three books. I encourage all groups to bring him in as a motivator with a never-give-up-attitude. I purchased the newest edition of the "Lost Boy" today and have already completed it. Kudos, Dave. David, you are an incredible man! You will always be welcome in North Dakota!