Status
Available
Call number
Call number
B Pel
Series
Collection
Publication
HCI (1995), Edition: Reissue, 184 pages
Description
This book chronicles the unforgettable account of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. It is the story of Dave Pelzer, who was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother: a mother who played tortuous, unpredictable games--games that left him nearly dead. He had to learn how to play his mother's games in order to survive because she no longer considered him a son, but a slave; and no longer a boy, but an "it." Dave's bed was an old army cot in the basement, and his clothes were torn and raunchy. When his mother allowed him the luxury of food, it was nothing more than spoiled scraps that even the dogs refused to eat. The outside world knew nothing of his living nightmare. He had nothing or no one to turn to, but his dreams kept him alive--dreams of someone taking care of him, loving him and calling him their son.… (more)
Original publication date
1995
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User reviews
LibraryThing member lit_chick
A Child Called It is the autobiographical account of one child's horrific experience at the hands of his alcoholic, and I would venture to say sociopath, mother. I do not know how it is possible that he survived the physical abuse, and the emotional battery and marginalization are beyond anything
There is a great deal of controversy about the “non-fiction” genre applied to Pelzer’s work. Far be it from me to question whether a child has been abused, but A Child Called It is certainly sensational. It is also very poorly written – little more than a lengthy list of tortures. Is it exaggerated and sensationalized for entrepreneurial purposes? Only Pelzer can answer that.
Pelzer writes about his later life in two sequential novels: [The Lost Boy] and [A Man Called Dave]. I do not intend, at this point, to read on.
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I've read. Equally as haunting for me were the weak-willed alcoholic father who lived complacently in the house as his son was tortured, and the amoral "mind your own business" 1970s society which, by its silence, condoned the unacceptable. Eventually, Dave was removed from his mother, but she went unpunished, and retained custody of four other young sons. There is a great deal of controversy about the “non-fiction” genre applied to Pelzer’s work. Far be it from me to question whether a child has been abused, but A Child Called It is certainly sensational. It is also very poorly written – little more than a lengthy list of tortures. Is it exaggerated and sensationalized for entrepreneurial purposes? Only Pelzer can answer that.
Pelzer writes about his later life in two sequential novels: [The Lost Boy] and [A Man Called Dave]. I do not intend, at this point, to read on.
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LibraryThing member Bentonreader
Not my favorite book, I did not find it well written. There were gaps in the story and too many unanswered questions the big one being why did the mother only abuse one child?
LibraryThing member PortiaLong
I mooched this book because I had seen it on a list of books that were most frequently NOT returned to the library (which seemed to imply that they were SO good that people were willing to STEAL them rather than part with them.) I didn't particularly enjoy reading it for several reasons -
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disturbing and grim topic, felt rather like a homework assignment , left many questions unanswered. I think that the value of this book lies in it's apparent ability to open the eyes of a number of readers (perhaps who have been running around with blinders on) as to the existance and horrors of child abuse. Show Less
LibraryThing member Salsabrarian
Narrated by Brian Keeler. For the first five years of his life, David is part of a loving family with a mother who strives to enrich her children's lives with positive, learning experiences. That all changes when she begins drinking and abusing David over her other sons. The scenes of abuse are
11/10 Reread this again after six years and while it's now apparent to me that the mother suffered a mental illness (never described or explained, and probably addressed in the sequels), I still find his account relentlessly outrageous. I recall some news buzz years ago about the veracity of his story. His story succeeds in reaching out to victims of abuse and raising awareness but relies far too heavily on lurid sensationalism to do it.
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constant, relentless, horrifying and literally life-threatening. More disturbing is that David's father and brothers do nothing to intercede. Teachers seem inexplicably unaware that David is being starved at home. Another problem I had with this story is that there is no satisfactory explanation for his mother's sudden change of behavior. I can't believe drinking was the sole root of her issues.11/10 Reread this again after six years and while it's now apparent to me that the mother suffered a mental illness (never described or explained, and probably addressed in the sequels), I still find his account relentlessly outrageous. I recall some news buzz years ago about the veracity of his story. His story succeeds in reaching out to victims of abuse and raising awareness but relies far too heavily on lurid sensationalism to do it.
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LibraryThing member BeeQuiet
Hmmmm...
The low rating is not an insult to the guy, more the actual book.
The low rating is not an insult to the guy, more the actual book.
LibraryThing member athenamilis
This disturbing book by Dave Peltzer is an autobiographical account of his abuse at the hands of an alcoholic mother. He is outright tortured by his mother physically and emotionally for years until a school teacher saves him by reporting the abuse to the authorities. This book has many strengths.
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First, students find this book fascinating and easy to read. The straightforward prose allows the reader to see, hear, and experience what it was like to be Dave. I consider this book a high interest low difficulty book. In fact, this book is the most checked-out book at our school. Dave Peltzer has a home in our area and has come to our school to speak on several occasions. I am glad I finally got a chance to read his book.The book may be useful in classrooms that discuss child abuse or for students researching child abuse for a project. Show Less
LibraryThing member phenske
A courageous autobiography of survival against the odds
LibraryThing member HeatherLee
The book isn't a literary masterpiece and doesn't try to be. It is easily read, but it also leaves the reader with a few questions that aren't answered, in any of the three books. However, it is a tale of strength and hopefully it gives parents the will to be the best parents they can be, and
This book will break your heart many times over and maybe even make you cry, but it will eventually make you feel humble and appreciative that you never had to go through an ordeal like this.
It is about a young boy whose mother is an alcoholic and whose father is mostly at work, and is a passive/aggressive pushover. The mother and the son, Dave (the author). In the beginning of the story, she is a loving, wonderful mother and his family is the picture of perfection.
After time, problems in their marriage and problems from work bog down the mother and she begins to let out her anger and frustration on Dave (none of the other kids go through his ordeal for some reason, until after he becomes a foster child, and the mother has no one else to abuse).
The way he is treated and the abuse this woman inflicts upon him is unthinkable. You really couldn't even fathom some of the stuff she does to him or makes him do. Breathing in and drinking Bleach and Ammonia, are just the beginning.
Dave Pelzer was treated like a dog by the people he loved most, but has overcome it all in the end. He’s a true inspiration.
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responsible adults to other children.This book will break your heart many times over and maybe even make you cry, but it will eventually make you feel humble and appreciative that you never had to go through an ordeal like this.
It is about a young boy whose mother is an alcoholic and whose father is mostly at work, and is a passive/aggressive pushover. The mother and the son, Dave (the author). In the beginning of the story, she is a loving, wonderful mother and his family is the picture of perfection.
After time, problems in their marriage and problems from work bog down the mother and she begins to let out her anger and frustration on Dave (none of the other kids go through his ordeal for some reason, until after he becomes a foster child, and the mother has no one else to abuse).
The way he is treated and the abuse this woman inflicts upon him is unthinkable. You really couldn't even fathom some of the stuff she does to him or makes him do. Breathing in and drinking Bleach and Ammonia, are just the beginning.
Dave Pelzer was treated like a dog by the people he loved most, but has overcome it all in the end. He’s a true inspiration.
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LibraryThing member DF1A_SarahH
this book was so sad but so good all at the same time. i felt like i actually knew dave and what he was going through. everything that happened to him made me feel sick to my stomach. i was horrified with what he had to go through as a little boy.
LibraryThing member deam67
This book was very sad. The author went through hell with his mother, and was able to clearly convey it on the pages of this book.
LibraryThing member Heidi_Pe
Made me really seriously consider adoption just to help a child in need. I could not put this book down. I used to be a Guardian Ad Litem and some of this stuff is just shocking.
LibraryThing member callmejacx
This was a disturbing book. The story needs to be told. I am even more aware of what can happen in child abuse cases. No human, never mind child, ought to experience what this child did. It's time we opened out eyes and help these children, before it's too late.
LibraryThing member danconsiglio
Well written and disturbing and all, but I worry about how this book may change the way that readers think about child abuse. All other cases of child abuse seem minor compared w/ Pelzer's life. We don't want to trivialize the all too present abuse of children in this country. Read this book as a
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single example of a horrible epidemic, not as benchmark for comparison. Show Less
LibraryThing member Spoo
A really sad story. To think that some parents can be so cruel. Glad Mr. Pelzer is leading a happy life now.
LibraryThing member soylentgreen23
Really I should give this five out of five, but I feel depressed every time I think back to reading Pelzer's first book. It is the very definition of catharsis - his story of childhood abuse at the hands of his mother betrays very few signs of anger, which is astonishing considering the horrors he
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was put through. I should read his other books sometime, but it's hard - this one was so sad I don't think I could stand to read any more. Show Less
LibraryThing member kelcat283
A Child Called “It” was a REALLY good book. I loved it because I love reading survival books. This book is not for people who can’t handle detailed child abuse. This story is very touching and is true. It is told by David Pelzer who is the child being abused badly by his mother. I think he
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now understands how important it is for kids to get help about this topic and for them to know about it. I also think If a kid who is being abused should read this to know that if he can survive torture this bad anyone can survive minor torture. He has written two other stories about this called The Lost Boy and A Man Named David. I have also read the other two books of the trilogy The Lost Boy and A Man Named Dave and highly recommend them as well. Show Less
LibraryThing member supermanlver
This book is really really sad. I did enjoy it. But if you are the type of person who can't take reading stories about seriously detailed abuse, then this may not be the type of book for you. This book is very heart wrenching. It really helps you to understand what some kids indure when they are
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abused. The reality of it hits you hard, and it remains with you. Show Less
LibraryThing member bushybabe
This book was so sad, but it actually held my attention and I was interested in it. I Don't like reading books that make me bored. This wasn't that long and I loved it. This kid is one of the healthiest people today, so when you read it don't feel so sad.
LibraryThing member Heather19
A VERY intense, horribly disturbing, deeply unnerving true story of abuse beyond anything I'd heard of before. Very well-written, but soooo sad.
LibraryThing member mscricco
this story is absolutely heart wrenching. It is a memoir of a young boy who was living in a horrible situation but managed to get out. The pain inflicted on him is utterly horrible but his will to survive gives the reader a sense of hope. Reflecting on his childhood Pelzer himself seems to wonder
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how he survived stabs, burns, chemicals and more original forms of torture. But in the end he made it through and lived to tell his tale. Show Less
LibraryThing member nm.fall07.adoucet
This was possibly one of the grossest books I have ever read this book is about a unstable and drunken mother who beats and does horrible things to this little boy like beat him and leaves him half dead. I Loved This Book Because This boy never lost hope and or faith it also makes you feel better
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about your on parents Show Less
LibraryThing member hsreader
a child who get abused by his mother each time he does something very bad and the school notices that he comes in with a new bruse each day. His mother makes him eat after the dog and he sleeps in the basement in a cot with a little sheet and she doesn't call him her son she calls him 'it" and he
M.W.
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doesn't get treated as well as his other brother does unless his dad is there in the house. M.W.
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LibraryThing member nm.fall07htraum
this was an amazing book and it was really really sad because it is about a little boy who abused by his family and that’s not okay and I am totally against that but he finally gets help at the end which was the best part of the book, this was one of the only books that has actually made me cry.
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I really enjoyed reading this even though it is really messed up and sad. I recommend for people of the ages of thirteen and up to read this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member nm.fall07.mcabrera
A child called it is a real story and david pelzer, the author is the one it happened to.Which makes it even sadder.I have only gotten a few chapters into the book but so far i found out that the child is abused by his mother while his father is gone. She has 3 kids and treats her two little ones
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well but hates the other. I dont know how a mother can treat there child like that. She gave birth to him so why would she want to hurt him? Show Less
LibraryThing member shorty412
Dave wants to be loved, but his mom keeps abusing him by playing her little "games" with him. So he trys to escape the hurt by being with teachers and others people around the neighborhood.
Pages
184