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

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Summary: Very gripping, makes you think of others around you.
Review: Every time I do the dishes at home or go outside or to the park,I think of what David Pelzer went through and how lucky I am that I have the things I do today, and that my abuse could have been a lot worse. I am glad that he was victorious over his mother especially when she burned him on a gas stove and stabbed him. I was touched that he let all of his foster parents get close to him. I was angry when he got blamed for starting that fire when he was only trying to put it out.

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Summary: Realistic portrayal of a child's suffering
Review: This book itself was incomplete as far as story plot is concerned. Transition was poorly made, such as how one chapter covered 'the good times', and then in the next chapter, the mother turned into the wicked witch, with not even a clue as to why. There should have been a follow up, at least, of what happened to the family members involved. But the depiction of David's everyday suffering was so REAL, it sadly took me back to my childhood, where both my twin sister and I, suffered our days with a mother MUCH less severe than David's, but just as psychotic. This book was therapeutic for me, because as I read, I cried. I cried for David, my sister, myself, and all the innocent abused children in the world. I witnessed my sister having to eat her own regurgitation (I swear to God that before I read this book, I thought we were the only ones to ever endure this vile punishment); I suffered other severe incidences, much like David's. You do not ever fully recover from this type of thing. Thank God, my sister and I have come out as two good, upstanding humans, but the sadness of the past creeps up at all and unexpected times. With the crippling fear we lived under, and the constant abuse, I felt many of the same thoughts David did. People who have not experienced abuse of this magnitude, I'm sure, read this book and thought it was exaggerated. But as another survivor of this type of child abuse, I assure you, it is not. David, it is inconceivable, and thus, a miracle, that you came out of this, a loving person. There is no greater accomplishment in this world than lovingly and responsibly raising a child. May your future days with your family bring you back happiness, a thousand times greater than the pain you endured. My thoughts are with you, and all those who suffer.

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Summary: This amazing account will continue to touch many lives...
Review: As a teacher of seriously emotionally disturbed adolescents, I've found this book invaluable. Yes, there are many unanswered questions, but I think that if the reader "reads between the lines" many answers will be found. If the reader has experienced abuse themselves or is close with someone who has, they will be able to make inferences and understand what Mr. Pelzer has experienced. I have just finished reading this book to my students and have begun "The Lost Boy". I can't begin to tell you what a powerful healing tool this has been for my class. The boys were so moved by Mr. Pelzer's story that they have written to him personally. Thank you Dave for your courage to share your story with others!!

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Summary: People who disbelieve haven't "been there"
Review: Sure there are a lot of unanswered questions; why was David singled out? (I suspect he may have been the son of a different father or an unwanted child) Why didn't his brother's suffer (but of course they did, anyone living around that abuse suffers) As for why the teachers didn't do anything: well, someone called Child Protective Services, and called his mother but the system didn't help. That's the way it was in the 1970's. I know this from personal experience. I, too, was abused. I called the police. They came, they did nothing. The neighbors certainly saw and heard a lot, as did random passers-by watching my father *beat* (or whip) me with a belt alongside a highway. They saw him smash his fist into my mother's face. Teachers saw my tattered clothing and my mother's bruises. A Sunday School superintendent talked to me about stealing change from other children's coats. Ministers and teachers saw me in tears, run sobbing and panicked from classrooms and church. Shopkeepers caught me stealing food and underwear. I prayed that someone would intervene and thought of doing something on my own behalf, but the one experience of calling the police convinced me that it wouldn't do any good. How did I survive? Occasional breaks, the love of my grandmother and the knowledge that someday I would grow up and go to college. It doesn't happen overnight, but it happens from within.

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Summary: THIS BOOK WAS GREAT!!!
Review: I must say that this is by far the best book I have ever read. I could not put it down once I had started. Reading soem of the reviews, I have found that many readers have the same questions as myself. What happened to your siblings and your parents? How do your former teachers feel about your book? Do they feel bad about not having done anything at the time? I'm glad that this book has been written to enlighten those how are ignorant about those things that happen right next door. Good Luck!

Rating:
Summary: sorry, this is not a good book
Review: I am sorry to say that this is NOT a good book. I saw the Author on a talk show recently and thought he was an interesting man with quite a story to tell. BUT i literally could not recommend anyone purchase this book. It is badly constructed as a story. It is like reading the memoirs of a Titantic survivor who doesn't say a whole lot more than i was on the boat, it sunk, that was really bad and i'm alive today to tell the story. I personally want to know HOW someone survives an ordeal, that's what gives inspiration to others. Not THAT you survive but HOW. I was reading this book and the horrible abuse David was suffering and I turned the page after reading that he basically hopes to die and the next chapter has him standing at the ocean as an adult who has survived the abuse!!!!!! What the heck happened in between? Sorry, I won't buy the sequel to find out. My money doesn't come from a money tree in the backyard and I can't keep buying $10.00 paperbacks that hopefully finish a story that could have been finished in the first book. Way too many unanswered questions in this book. Why did his mother single him out? how could he go to school month after month with the same smelly, torn clothing and no food and not one teacher say "hey there's something strange here, his brother's aren't smelly, hungry and ill-clothed?" If he really wasn't given food as often as he says he would've been nothing but skin and bones. Shouldn't a teacher, neighbor or relative have noticed that? I am very disappointed in this book and will not buy anymore of David's books. I will listen to him on talk shows, but a writer he isn't. David himself is interesting and worth listening too, I am sorry David that this was not a good book, with a little help from a good editor you could've really written a GREAT book.

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Summary: a story about a courageous and fourthright child
Review: I have read and rearead both books and to me David has a sprit that few people do. I know his mother was sick but to to strip David of his dignity as a boy son and HUMAN BEING show was nothing less the barbaric and the fact his farther a FIREMAN could not even stand up to his wife I have less Stephen is Worse. The only thing I have ask is whatever happened to his biological Farther Mother and Brothers

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Summary: Amazing. This was a hard book to read.
Review: I was flipping through the channels late in the afternoon one day last week and caught myself watching the Montel Williams show. The topic for the day was child abuse and one of the guest's was a gentleman by the name of David Pelzer. It was mentioned that he had written a book about his childhood and the abusive relationship he had with his mother. "A Child called It" was an amazing story. I've heard a number of stories in my lifetime regarding the topic of child abuse. As I was growing up my mother was earning her Ph.D, writing her dissertation on this subject. It was common to find books about it around the house and hear her talking about it with her friends. But I have never read anything so upsetting as "A Child called It". Last night I went out and bought the sequal "The Lost Boy" and hope it is as good as the first. Thank you David, for the story of your life.

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Summary: Suspected child abuse should always be taken seriously
Review: I read David's book in a matter of three hours. I just couldn't put it down. I grew up in a home with two strict parents. They never abused my sister and I, but I always thought that at times they were unfair. After reading David's book, I fell on my knees and thanked God for giving me the parents that I have. David's mother was just totally unreasonable. How could she do the things she did to him? At times while reading, I had to put the book down because I was becoming nauseated. David paints a very vivid picuture of his abuse. He is a survivor and a very brave person. I think that his persistence to live certainly paid off. As for his mother, I hope that she got some help. Frankly, they should have locked that woman up and thrown away the key. To David, God bless! You are a truly inspirational author. Your children should be very proud of you.

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Summary: FANTASTIC AND POWERFUL
Review: I'M A TEACHER'S AIDE AND WHEN I READ THIS BOOK I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT A CHILD TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS AGONY YOUR BOOK HAS MADE ME SEE THE KIDS IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL AND I COULDNT HELP BUT WONEDER THERE WERE ALOT OF KIDS THAT I KEPT ASKING MY SELF DO THEY EAT WHAT DO THEY GO THROUGH I CRIED THROUGH THE WHOLE BOOK I COULDNT PUT IT DOWN ALL MY COLLEAGUES ARE IN LINE TO READ IT I WISH WE COULD MEET YOU YOU HAVE OPEN OUR LIVES ALOT NOT JUST ME PUT MY CO-WORKERS I AM SO SORRY WHAT YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH BUT YOURE FREE AND GO ON LIVING I LOVED IT