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

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Summary: I think everyone should read this book.
Review: This book is so emotional, cause you wouldn't think that a mother could really do such horrible things to her own child. I think everyone should read this book, it lets people know that there is this kind of abuse going on out there in the world. I could not put this book down after I started to read it, I read it in one night. And the worst part about it is that this book is a true story, and the author Dave Pelzer was the one that was abused by his mother. Dave did an excellent job writing this book, and it had to take alot of guts to tell the public what had happened to him when he was a boy.

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Summary: Neve - My thoughts on this book as a teenage female
Review: I personally have not lived through the same type of ordeal David has and I feel lucky I haven't. David told an increadible story and I'm very proud of him, but as an author it lacked. It was a bit choppy and it did leave many unanswered questions. True, David did not seem very emotional in telling this story and I can think of a possible reason why. As a victim of clinical depression, I know that when I tell my story people say I don't seem very emotional. It's a survival method. You try to remove yourself from any feelings....eventualy you can deal with your feelings and analyze them, but for the moment, it is too difficult. This might be the situation in David's case. Overall, I thought it was an interesting story and David was brave to tell it.

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Summary: To create an awareness and move us into action...
Review: This book has touched me deeply. I believe it was well written by the perspective of a child (David's). It does not answer a lot of questions because a lot of what happened to David at that time did not make sense. I don't believe this book was made to be an autobiography, explanation, or self-help book to aid anyone. Instead, it was made to create an awareness of the dirty dark secret that lies hidden in many families through the perspective of a child experiencing it. And it was written effectively and eloquently in that mode. It is a book made to move us into action, and to stop ignoring the plaque of child abuse. David takes us into the dark-fearing world he remembers, the confusion, despair, questions, not answers and explanations; feelings of abandonment, a hopeless existence, where death takes on the attractive meaning of freedom. A freedom from a life of pain, where only a child who has been there can fully comprehend. Who cares what happened to the mother or father or brothers, or if David was a problem child??? The point is that it should not have happened, nor should it continue to happen to anyone! There are no circumstances or explanations that can justify this outrage. I know what it feels like to lie in bed at night wishing it would end. Peace permeates my soul now. However, I still cry for all those children who are not safe. May peace come to them too, as it has for me and David.

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Summary: Good story but AWFUL MARKETING PLOY
Review: Unless you plan on buying the next installment of this book, don't waste your money. This book brings to you a good story and drops you cold. You are left hanging. What a great marketing ploy.

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Summary: A heart wrenching tale that you find hard to swallow
Review: This book brought me to tears more than one time. I was brought up in a wonderful family and know this type of thing happens and you never see or hear of it. The book goes into a childs detailed mind of the horrific things that really happened and just powerless we can make out children feel if we don't choose our words and actions very carefully, we need to keep in mind the children ARE listening. David does a wonderfuljob of telling his story not to make you feel sorry for him, but to understand him and pay more attention to that one strange child that may not assosciate with your child and maybe make you question why? and ask yourself does that child need help, that you may be the only one he/she can count on without them knowing. The teachers and school staff who took David's life back into God's hands and out of his mothers should be commended and David should be real proud of the wonderful job he has done with his feelings and what sounds like putting his life with his son in a wonderful realm.

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Summary: One of the most heart turning books I've read.
Review: As I read this my heart broke for this poor child. Reading the terrible things that he endured as a boy were nearly un-believable. I cried through the entire novel especially with the warming story of his son and he: "I'm FREE." These words made my heart crumble, feeling that now David was a close but un-touchable friend of mine. By reading this intense novel I was awakened to a subject in which I had no idea was so severe in our society, it really concerned me. I really suggest it, it made me see how ignorant i really was to this subject.

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Summary: Excellent Book - made me cry
Review: I read the first two pages in the discount store and then headed right over to the food section and bought my son three huge boxes of his favorite Cheerios. Then I went home and spent the entire weekend reading and crying. If only we could time travel, I would go right back in time and pick David Pelzer up in my arms, take him home, and nourish him with love, food, and whatever else he needed. David Pelzer is the ultimate example of perseverance and determination. I believe he could accomplish anything. Absolutely buy this book AND the sequel. I can't wait for sequel number three.

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Summary: Super book, I read it aloud to my seventh grade reading cass
Review: This thought provoking book enlightened the awareness of child abuse for my seventh graders. Next week, we are going to hear the author speak. Students have requested I read his second autobiography. Many thought provoking questions came from this novel.

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Summary: An incredible story.
Review: I work with abused and neglected children and have seen this type of abuse, although not as severe, in many of the families whom I serve. This book is surely a wake up call for everyone who does not believe that child abuse exists today. Thank you David for being brave and speaking out for all the children who have been abused. I wish you and your family much happiness in the years to come.

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Summary: Just the back cover of this book made me really sad.
Review: I read the back of the cover, and found it so sad that somebody could be such an animal to their own child, that I could not buy the book, because I felt so incredibly upset at just those few details.