A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive (Dave Pelzer #1)

Reader reviewed by Razz

A book that was an emotional whirl-wind. As it started out, I was horrified. Every time a hit was delivered, every time a punishment was recieved, I felt myself flinch. When the stench of his clothes was described, I felt myself gag. I wondered, How could anyone do this? As the book grew on, and things got worse and worse, at times I wanted to cry. A book about things so horrible and undescribable, yet written so well. This book opened my eyes to the types of horrors this world holds.

Reader reviewed by Christy

Wow... this book was really good. At the beginning, I was starting to think that it was gonig to be really boring but then it got into his life. I had no idea what was going on but I realized that this boys life was falling apart. Well, it seems like its falling apart then you learn that its only getting better. To be honest, that boys mother deserves to die...

sorry for being so blunt

Reader reviewed by undercover reader

Little David was always in a constant struggle day in and day out to survive. His alclholic, sick, cruel, and abusive mother played such severe games with David. At times David wasn't sure if his mother was going to kill him today or tomarrow.


Although young, to survive his horrid lifestyle, where he slept in the basement with no covers for warmth, went days without food, and had bruises through out his whole body. He learned to think like an adult in order to survive his mother's rage and abusive "games". A teacher at his school finally reports Davids scars to the police. David was finally told what he wanted to hear most of his entire life
"She will never hurt you again"

Although this story was so horrifying, at the end, the happy ending made it worth while. Can't wait to read the lost boy.

Honestly, I would'nt reccomend it to faint hearted readers.

Reader reviewed by Jess

This is an amazing story of one childs courage to live and survive. I was heartbroken when I read this book and I recommend it to anyone who hasnt read it yet. You will be amazed at what parents will go to for amusememt. This wasnt abuse, this was a vicious crime. My heart goes out to david for his willingness to survive this torture.

♥,
jess

Reader reviewed by Jania

I first encountered the book A Child Called It when I was 14 and suffering from low self esteem. David Pelzer's tale of abuse both horrified and energized me to action and I can safely say led me to my career in youth services at my local library.

This book is the first in a series of four books that follow David throughout his life. While his descriptions of abuse are very violent and may unsettle many readers, David's ability to rise above his mother's anger is inspiring.

I recommend this book to anyone I encounter at the library where I work, teens most of all. I give book 5 out of 5 stars and hope someone else finds the book as inspiring as I did!

Reader reviewed by Jocey

A Child Called It was one of the most heartbreaking yet inspiring books I have read in my life. It recounts the abusive childhood that Dave Pelzer endured in California from Dave Pelzer himself. Years later, it was determined that Daves case was one of the most gruesome child abuse cases in all of California in that time period. Although it is a shorter book, it does not for one minute seem quick. Every chapter is a new aspect of his life and how he managed to overcome so many obstacles. It is written directly from the heart, so every emotion that he feels during the book inspires the same feelings inside of you. The long and terrible sufferings that David survived from his psycho mother and ignorant brothers is horrifying. Half of the tortures that he survived seemed superhuman to me, it was unbelievable how he somehow managed to have hope and fight back against his enemy. There were several instances while reading the book where I had to remind myself that it is not fictional, that these sad memories are true and real. What was even more disturbing is the fact that children are still abused all over the U.S and world today. Hearing the first hand account of a survivor is an eye-opener to what our society is trying to battle. I never realized before this book what kinds of nightmares exist out there in our world. I now not only feel informed on the matter, but inspired to help others.

Reader reviewed by Laura

This book stuck with me, even remembering how brutal it was. This book was horrible yet i loved it... besides the fact that Dave was beaten he was also forced to eat his own vomit, swallow soap, ammonia, and Clorox. This is a true story and I feel badly that a child would have to go through this torture but yet i wanted to know more and to keep reading. I would recommend this book to someone with a strong stomach because at times it is truly horrifying.

Reader reviewed by Alyssa

One of the greatest most inspiring books I read this year was A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer. It really opened up my eyes to the reality that not everyone is as fortunate as me to have parents like mine. It made me appreciate many things more being invited into a world where an innocent child was deprived of many of the little things I take for granted everyday. In this autobiography Dave Pelzer describes his life growing up with an alcoholic mother. He goes from being a normal little boy to being harshly beaten and starved. While his brothers get to live their lives as normal kids Dave is stuck washing dishes, cleaning and living in the garage. He doesnt understand what he did to make his mother not love him anymore. He relies on his dad to try to help escape his mothers beatings but even he is scared of her. Through this book you discover Daves everyday struggle to survive, as each beating teach him new ways to escape his mothers torture. You will learn to take even the smallest things that you receive everyday into account as his mother denies him food and love. Going many days without food he sometimes has to go to desperate measures to keep himself alive. As his days in this harsh life go on his mothers punishments become more severe and he sometimes finds himself on the verge of death, as the beatings increase his will power to not give into his mother increases. A book like this can really change your perspective on things. You find the poor boy struggling to survive and youre just moved by the incredible book and change to boy goes through.

Reader reviewed by Zach

A Child Called it is a sensational story of a small child who lives with and overly abusive nut job mother. The story captures the day to day struggle of not just living with and abusive mother but living in General! The day to day stuff this child has to live with is unimaginable. I can't believe this child lived through these tough times. If that were me I would of ran away to anywhere the second I got the chance. To even think that there are people out there that live with this life daily is just torturous to think about. This is a book that I think everyone sometime in their life should read. It isn't a book for just young or old people it is a book for everyone. When I was reading it I wanted to jump into the story and help the poor kid. This is one of the only books I have ever read that is extremely hard to put down. I just wanted to keep reading and reading it. While you're reading the story you get really into it and want can't help to wonder what is going to happen next. The things that happen to him just keep getting worst and worst.
The worst thing about it is that this isn't a made up story that someone with a twisted mind made up. This is the real thing! This really happened to this poor child. I can't even tell you how much I recommend this story. I guarantee it will change the way you look at the world and it without a doubt changed the way I look at the world today.

Reader reviewed by Jax

Can you imagine being called IT, by your own mother? This gripping and horrifying memoir allows us to see the horrors that no one wants to talk about, domestic violence and abuse.

This story is the true story of one young boy exposed to tragedy that one can only begin to imagine. From making him breathe in toxic fumes to burning him on the stove, his mother punished him, but was perfectly normal to his brothers and sisters. It was absolutely horrible, the things that she did to him, scarring him for life. However, out of fear, he kept it a secret from everyone else, until he gathered the courage to finally run away.

This story will leave the weak in tears, and the horrible waiting for more. This intense tale tells all, and is an eye opener for those who have never experienced abuse of neglect. The reader is one with the author, and it is amazing to experience such a gripping read.

Warning: I only recommend it if you're strong enough to handle a few tears and maybe a nightmare or two. It's absolutely intense, but a worthwhile and necessary read if we hope to someday avoid this horror of domestic abuse.