Rating: 
Summary: Abuse so horrible I felt sick just reading about it
Review: This book was a captivating read. Someone else commented that the descriptions were really graphic, and I agree a hundred percent. In terms of the ability to evoke the feelings of fear and even anger that the young child must have felt during the "games" and the abuse from "the mother", Dave Pelzer does a fantastic job. Just when you think the abuse can't get any worse, something else comes up which just makes you feel nauseus after reading it. However, I felt that even though Dave Pelzer was trying to write from the point of view of a child aged below 12, I personally felt that the words used and the way the "child" spoke seemed a bit too "mature". Also, there were many unanswered questions such as exactly when the discipline turned into torture and whether there were any possible reasons why that may have happened, eg was there a "breaking point"? Did something happen to cause the child's mother to suddenly drink more? Perhaps that's because the person "speaking" is a young child who just has no answers. But personally I wish there were. All in all though, it's an easy to understand book that can be read at one go. For me, once I started I just couldn't stop until I finished it. And when I did and finally went to bed, I actually had a nightmare. Hmmmmmm.... maybe this book deserves 4 stars....
Rating: 
Summary: The most powerful book I have ever read
Review: As a teacher, I can say that all educators MUST read this book. Its graphic detail of the horrific abuse he suffered will make you look closely at the children around you. His only lifelines in the demented world in which he lived were his teachers. After years of trying to get him removed from his terrible circumstances, his teachers and administrators were finally able to see him placed in foster care. Although our foster system is not perfect, Dave credits the system with his survival.This book will have you hooked after the first five pages. You will not be able to put it down regardless of the sickening abuse stories. The desire to see this little boy "win" will keep you reading. Do not stop here, though. Please finish his story by reading "The Lost Boy" and "A Man Named Dave." After finishing these three books, you will want to meet Dave Pelzer and give him a big hug. He is truly a testament of God's ability to turn a tragedy into a triumph! God bless you, Dave. May you always know that our Heavenly Father had a plan for your life and your willingness to fulfill that plan has been a beacon of hope to millions of others! I don't know you, but I think of you fondly and pray for you and your family. (Your son is very blessed.)
Rating:
Summary: Crying my eyes out STILL
Review: As a 21 year old reader I found this book so hard to put down. I found myself feeling everything Mr. Pelzer felt. When he was describing the pain, emotion and lack of love i felt it. I could not put the book down and I saw it helped alot of my friends whom were abused deal with their pain and emotions. I am aware of the pain children go through while and after being abused. My friends family and boyfriend were abused and we have had many conversations and they all read this fantastic book and give it all the highest rating in all the books they have ever read. I strongly feel that everyone should read it. BUT BEWARE it is VERY GRAPHIC. Somepart I felt my stomach churn and found my self being sickened. It was horrifying to an extent and No child should read it until the parents feel they can handle feeling and expirencing mentally what he went through, i will never forget this book as long as I live.
Rating:
Summary: Strength and Courage
Review: Dave Pelzer shows his strength and courage by just surviving his childhood, a childhood that is so unbelievably cruel. His writing captivates the reader making them feel the pain and suffering that he felt growing up. As a reader you want to reach out to him and tell him everything will be alright. I highly recommend this book to any parent, child, educator or any social worker. It's a book that you will read more than once. You will cry, and you will cheer over his triumph.
Rating: 
Summary: Somethig to think about?
Review: I really liked this book. To tell you the truth it was one of the best books I have ever read. Though the books story and context is horifing the book was a real eye-opener;although, this book made me sick to my stomach. The thought of how a mother would and did treat her son is astonishing. Burning him over a gas stove, making him take spoonfuls of amonina, putting dirty dipers in his mouth and no one in his family was helping him. This book really makes a person look at the word family and how one person can have complete controll over a family. David's father wanted to help him but was afraid of David's "mother" so he just looked the other way. After reading this book I took a long hard look at my life and realized that I have a really good life. To be in David's position is unimaginable. To go through life everyday knowing that the person that should love you the most in life despises your very exsitance. David's courage sets him apart from the rest of the world. I know a lot of people and not one of them holds the mental strength that David has. For David to keep on going through everyday knowing that he is going to be brutaly beaten and not give up on life. After reading this book one should know that God has made a special person called David.
Rating:
Summary: Puts the Aw in Awesome!
Review: Once you pick it up you won't want to put it down. Most of us don't relize how good we do have it compared to kids like Dave. He has so much courage. I couldn't imagine living my life like that. I guess i would say I have alot of friends and I am popular. That book really changed my view on things everywhere..At school..at home...at the mall..anywhere. With school the kids that are picked on just because they look differant are the ones that now I talk too. People may think differant of me but I could care less. The book was AWESOME. It puts the Aw in awesome! If I could only take one book with me it would be that one. It talks about how much it hurt for him to think that no-one loved him. I just wish I could shake his hand and meet him in person. He is so wonderful. He has the most courage compared to anyone I know. Everyone should read it at one point or another. I gaurenty that you will treat your family and friends better.
Rating:
Summary: Awsome! This will make yo cry.
Review: A Child called it was a magnificent, incredible book. It was alos creative,realistic and fascinating. And this book will engage you. Besides his vivid in the conception of image formed in the setting, plot and character development. I reccomend this book to readers and writers of the Chicken Soup
Rating:
Summary: "A Child Called It"
Review: "A Child Called It" grabbed my attention from the beginning. I started reading this book for a project I had to do for my Psychology class. Dave Pelzer really goes into detail explaining what had happened to him. He starts off by telling a counselor what had happened, and it was a pretty good beginning. This book has really helped me realize how children these days are brutually abused. People don't realize how bad some children are abused, therefore I think this book would help them realize how much children are abused.
Rating:
Summary: A Child Called It
Review: A Child Called It was a very interesting book that I could not put down. I only read true stories and this one only took 2 days to read while camping in the mountains. Anyone that likes to read sad stories of survival MUST read this. The story is about a boy named David Pelzer who becomes A Child Called It. His mother puts him through stuff like I could not imagine doing to my son. It made me glad that I treat my son the way that I do. I don't wish his treatment on anyone. There has got to be some eyes opened to the abuse that is even going on now in the world. Maybe this book will help us see the signs. This is definetly a GREAT book to read.
Rating:
Summary: if you only ever read one book again, read this one.
Review: I bought this book in an airport terminal coming home from a holiday. I had gone on holiday to do some soul searching as I am in the middle of a painful divorce. I have struggled all my life with feelings of low self worth, and divorce certainly does'nt do much for your sense of self esteem. However I can truly say I hung my head in shame after reading the account of Dave Peltzer's childhood. His childhood made mine seem like a sunday School picnic. I finished the book before I left the terminal(grateful that my flight was delayed by three hours!)You will cry,you will weep when reading this book. I would love to meet Dave now, if only to say how much hope he has given me for the future, and how his book may have changed my life for the better.Thanks Dave, for letting us see how a pearl can form from a piece of sand getting into the oyster's shell.
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