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

Reader reviewed by Beth

I didnt enjoy this book. It was way way way to sad. It was to hard to read. it made me want to cry when I was reading it. It would be a horrible ay to live. I would not recommend this book to anyone because it would probably make them cry. Very well written but not enough that i would want to read it again.

Reader reviewed by BooksObsession

This was one of the most depressing books that I have ever read. It's extremely sad and the end didn't seem to bring any hope to the poor boy's future. Since it's also based on a true story, it made it even more upsetting. The ways that the mother treated her son and punished him was almost unhuman! I found myself holding back tears, and other times wanting to just punch the book because I was so mad about something that had happened. I think that the book would've been much better if there was just a little bit more spark at the end to hint to some hope.

Reader reviewed by Nic

Dave Pelzer's memoir of childhood abuse will certainly cause tears and disbelief in all but the most hard-hearted reader... unless they've heard the comments from his family members and acquaintances that cast a shadow of doubt on the whole situation. If it's all true, this book is a story of horrific child abuse carried out by a cold, cruel, emotionally disturbed mother on an innocent young boy; his tales of her tortures and sick "games" are gut-wrenching. The writing itself is sub-genius and cliched, but makes for easy reading. If you like being depressed, this is the book for you.

Reader reviewed by Jenna

Very sad story about child abuse and the effects of it. Not for the faint of heart!

Tales of torture and starvation haunt this intense piece of literature. The boy watches as his siblings get treated kindly while he is forced to wear the same clothes every day and sneak food from the school just to stay alive. A very intense book based on true events.

Reader reviewed by Bettina

David Pelzer's mom abuses him alot. His mother only abuses him, not any of his other brothers. David's mom makes him do all of the chores and if he doesn't do it right he is punished by not getting any food. His mother also punishes him for no good reason, like hitting him. David always tries to get more food but his mom is determined not to let him get any but food she gives him. David is determined not to let her get him down.

I thought this book was disgusting but it will keep you wondering what David will do next.

Reader reviewed by Calamander

This book is grousome and yet you must read more. The story is about a boy who's was later tagged the worst child abuse. He is still living thankfully. His mother abuses him with pouring bleach on his face to eating his own vomit. Check this book out!

Reader reviewed by Ed

H'okay, so. This is a book about a boy's survival of child abuse. Which is a good thing; hurray. But, well... If you'd like to see the miracle of how he overcame his tragic upbringing, read the two sequels; "The Lost Boy", then "A Man Called Dave". Reading this book was like watching a horrible action/thriller movie; my reactions went along this line:

"...Ooh! Owww... Holy *~!#, that's horrid- !...Ugh, thank heavens, it's over... Augh, she did it again- !?"

I found myself just exhausted after finishing the book. Just one heart attack after another. I'd skip this one and move onto the other two, ladies and gents.

Reader reviewed by Jennifer

David J. Pelzer's mother, Catherine Roerva, was, he writes in this ghastly, fascinating memoir, a devoted den mother to the Cub Scouts in her care, and somewhat nurturant to her children--but not to David, whom she referred to as "an It." This book is a brief, horrifying account of the bizarre tortures she inflicted on him, told from the point of view of the author as a young boy being starved, stabbed, smashed face-first into mirrors, forced to eat the contents of his sibling's diapers and a spoonful of ammonia, and burned over a gas stove by a maniacal, alcoholic mom. Sometimes she claimed he had violated some rule--no walking on the grass at school!--but mostly it was pure sadism. Inexplicably, his father didn't protect him; only an alert schoolteacher saved David. One wants to learn more about his ordeal and its aftermath, and now he's written a sequel, The Lost Boy, detailing his life in the foster-care system.

Though it's a grim story, A Child Called "It" is very much in the tradition of Chicken Soup for the Couple's Soul and the many books in that upbeat series, whose author Pelzer thanks for helping get his book going. It's all about weathering adversity to find love, and Pelzer is an expert witness.