Rating: 
Summary: Ultimately Unfulfilling
Review: Nobody would doubt the potency of Dave's tale. The facts are hideous and how a child could survive such torture is a comment on the sheer courage and determination of the writer. But as a literary work I was disappointed by this book, and I'm surprised Dave's editor didn't pull him up on a number of things before it went to print. The fact that the writing style is average can be forgiven, for after all, the facts speak for themselves. But there are fundamental bad things about this book; there is no hint as to why his mother committed these heinous crimes, for example. At first we see her as a kind loving mother, but then suddenly, in the space of one chapter, she is a monster. What happened there? There is no attempt to explain her motivation. Did something happen in her life that tipped her over the edge? Or was she just a nutcase since birth? The father is the same ... no attempt to explain his abominable behaviour while his wife treated his own son like a dog. Worse still, there is no resolution in this book. By the end you are desperate to find out what happened to the mother and father. Instead, the reader is left hanging, and we are told to "buy the next book in the trilogy." That's a little deceitful considering the whole story centres around this woman. We want to KNOW what happened. Not completing this tale like this is akin to getting to the end of an Agatha Christie and the last page says: "Buy the next book to find out whodunit!" I give this book three stars on the subject matter alone, but it didn't need much work to make it a five-star effort. Disappointing.
Rating: 
Summary: Unbelievably heartbreaking.
Review: I bought the book and had it read in 1 day. The book was unbelievably touching. There were some cases where I had to put the book down because it was to hard to sink the words in my head. Never in my life would I have ever thought that a mother would abuse her child that way. I believe that everybody who has a hard stomach for this type of thing should read the book. They won't be able to put the book down.
Rating:
Summary: A disturbing look at child abuse.
Review: This is an absolute must read book. It will open your eyes to a world most people do not know to exist, a world you will probably not want to know about. It is the easiest and most difficult book you will ever read.
Rating:
Summary: What the book mean't to me
Review: This would have to be the best book I have ever read. Althought the book was very disturbing it was an excellent read. It was a real eye opener as far as what goes on behind closed doors. I found it unbelievable that David J Pelzer managed to survive when his own family gave up on me. I loved the book and recommended it to many of my friends that also enjoyed. I look forward to reading the seqeals. The best book I.ve ever read!!
Rating:
Summary: What a Powerful Book
Review: This book is good. I have the entire trilogy plus the self-help book, Help Yourself. Dave Pelzer nearly died at the hands of his mother. His case was one of the worst cases of child abuse ever in the state of California.Dave's mother was the complete opposite of what a mother should be. The Mother, as Dave refers to her in the book, starves him for days on end. She forced him into a closed bathroom with amonia. At one point, she stabs him in the stomach. His mother refuses to take him to the hospital. He was forced to live in the garage. He wore the same clothes for years. His classmates teased him because of his appearance. Eventually, some staff members and a teacher rescued him from his mother. How Dave survived is a miracle!
Rating:
Summary: Best Book I've Read In A While!
Review: In my mind this book is the best i have ever read. I became one with the main character. I was an abused child also and to read this book I could "feel" the pain. crying was done while reading through the pages. Not to spoil anything for anyone but this book is really the story of a triumphant man. I have also read the second and third part to this book. ( A lost boy, and A man named Dave) and to hear the way this Man comes out I just feel like I'm proud of him. Although I've never met the man I feel as though I already have. I give this book a rating of 5 stars and there is no doubt in my mind that if one can read this book and not feel any type of feelings at all. It's just ridiculous.
Rating:
Summary: So Sad a story
Review: I can't begin to put into words how I feel right now. Totally spooked/angry/confused are just some of the emotions I feel. Davids story is the most upsetting but compelling story I have ever read. How he manages to come through all this horrific abuse is unbelievable. He is a truly compassionate man. The mother in me just wants to hug him and tell him that there is hope in the world and that somewhere here is another life, one that is good and kind and loving. I can't wait to read the sequal to find out how the next few years of his life turn out and what if anything has happened to the rest of his family.
Rating:
Summary: something happened - but what?
Review: if your reading this review you have either already read this book and want to find out if i thought it was as brilliant as you did, OR you have heard about this book and want to make sure its as good as everyone says it is (if it was otherwise, you would have seen the five stars above the review and gone swiftly ahead until you find a review with fewer stars - keep looking...)
so ill tell you what you want to hear... it is brilliant. its impossible not to recognise the strength and courage of so young a child. people have their sucpicions that pelzer has built his story entirely on retrospect and therefore none of the childs emotions are accurate, they are constructed by pelzer to fill in the gaps.
but im afraid the general reader doesnt care much about such things, what difference does it make whether the story was real or constructed, the same emotions would be released by the reader... anger, pity, shock, love, frustration, etc. the reader would still sigh at every torture that the child went through, and the same "dear god" and "jeezus" would be mouthed countless times throughout the book.
people have advised that this book is not for the faint hearted, i disagree, this book was designed to strengthen hearts, david pelzer teaches you to strengthen the heart and mind.
very emotive, very good
Rating: 
Summary: A Very Powerful Read
Review: Readers of this book have labelled it as depressing, and I agree; it is terrifying to know that this brutal treatment exists in our seemingly civilised society. I found it unbelievable that a human being, namely David's mother, could be capable of inflicting such torture and find such satisfaction in it. David has written about his mistreatment in a factual manner, and although this has been criticised by some reviewers who say the book lacks any emotional depth, I find that this factual approach is effective as it presents the reader with a shockingly detailed account of his mother's behaviour. The book is depressing, but the author's decision to mix up the time scale, beginning the book with his escape to freedom, reassures us that despite all this despair there is a happy ending, as we have already been told of it. Overall, the book evoked feelings of intense anger in me. These feelings were directed towards his mother, but also towards his father who failed to help David and allowed his wife to continue torturing him. I think the saddest moment of the book is when David is stabbed by his mother, only to be told by his father to carry on with the dishes so not to upset his mother any further. The author does not tell us what happened to his parents, whether they were sent to prison, but I would have been interested in knowing their punishment. Furthermore, I do not doubt that this story is a true account of David Pelzer's childhood, yet I find it hard to understand why it took so long for David to be rescued. I also wondered why David never made the decision to run away from home. I admire the author for having the courage to retell this harrowing story of his childhood, as it must have been incredibly painful. I also admire him for using his experiences to benefit other victims, showing that child abuse is a reality, and that more help must be given to help those who are affected. David's story is remarkable in the sense that he survived the impossible, and managed to put the past behind him, living the rest of his life to the full. This book is a real eye-opener. I found it very powerful, and suggest that you read it. I will definitely be reading David Pelzer's other books which follow on from 'A Child Called It', to read further about how he overcame his unfortunate experiences.
Rating:
Summary: very good
Review: i thought this book was wonderful, i was realy touch and i even got my mother to read and i must say she is not a fan of reading, but if i got her to enjoy it, this book must be good, i even got her to read the sequel so i am telling you to go get this book, its a keeper
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