| View Larger Image | A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive | Paperbackby Dave Pelzer (Author)
| List Price: | $11.95 | | Price: | $8.60 | | You Save: | $3.35 (28%) | | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
| | Binding: | Paperback | | Publisher: | HCI | | Page Count: | 195 Pages | | Publication Date: | September 01, 1995 | | Sales Rank: | 745th |
|
FEATURES | - ISBN13: 9781558743663
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
- Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices
|
ACCESSORIES |
|
EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product 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. |
Amazon.com Review
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. |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 1984 reviews)
|
An Incredible, Moving Story of Pain and Triumph by W. Olson (Seattle, WA)  5 Stars
November 20, 2009
I read many of the reviews here, and many stated that once they opened the book and started reading they could not put the book down. How true this was for me also. I read the book cover-to-cover in just a few short hours. This book should be read by the abused, soon-to-be parents, teachers, social workers, police officers and those who try to understand and connect emotionally with people who have been abused. Dave Pelzer is truly an amazing person to have experienced such a horrible childhood and to have somehow managed to keep his spirit intact and shine for others to get so much inspiration. This book will take you through incredible waves of emotion. You will not want to put it down, and the experience of reading it will go with you the rest of your life.
I bought this book in an attempt to understand the trauma of my spouse, who underwent a very similar experience in her childhood. For years I failed to truly understand what she went through with her own mother. We had a very troubled time in our early years of being together. We argued constantly, and I often felt like I was constantly being tested to prove my love for her. I also wanted to know why after all the abuse and torture she experienced she would still somehow maintain any sort of relationship with her mother. I have met her mother, and I can say without a doubt she is the most evil person I have ever laid eyes on. After reading this book, I now understand.
In the simplest terms, this book gives you the closest experience you can ever imagine to feeling what it is like to be abused. From the very first page it captured my mind and soon I was shedding tears and wishing I could go back and rescue this poor boy from his monsterous mother and the father who failed to protect him. The one question this book does not provide an answer for is "Why?". We do not learn of his mother's background. There are no clues as to why she would turn from a loving, caring parent into the most horrible creature the world can imagine. There are no answers as to why she chose Dave to abuse, but treated her other children normally. There is no answer that explains why his father turned a blind eye and failed to stop it.
As much as I learned in this book about child abuse and the nature of the feelings of the abuser, I have so many questions that remain unanswered. The story is hearbreaking and disturbing, yet so very profound in the lesson that it teaches. The human spirit and the desire to survive can withstand horrific challenges. It also teaches us that the world can be a very dark place and that there are horrible things happening right now as I write this and you read it. Somewhere out there is a child or perhaps even an adult that is suffering great pain at the hands of another. They are so alone and cannot reach out to others to ask for help. If help is ever to arrive for these silent victims, it has to start by waking up and being more alert to what happens around us. The story of this poor child being tortured at the hands of his mother could be playing out right next door to your very own house.
| |
A heartbreaking story of triumph by Adrianna Dillard 5 Stars
November 13, 2009
This is a heartbreaking memoir about a young boy looking for love. His violently abusive mother beats him constantly, with the stench of alcohol in her breath, while his so called "hero" of a dad and four brothers refuse to help. After David runs to school every day, because his mother won't give him a ride. The school nurse examines him one day and notices all of his cuts and bruises. Even though the nurse thinks that his mother is abusive, David, out of fear, will not tell the family's secret. One day, David's mother pulls his arm out of his socket. When she takes David to the hospital, she lies and says he fell out of bed but that she was too late to try to catch him. It seems that the more she hurts David, the better liar she gets. But that's not even the half of it. David's nightmare is the worst case of child abuse I have ever heard of.
Even though the book was sad, it had to be one of the most inspiring memoirs I have ever read. David Pelzer must be the BRAVEST person I will ever hear about! Out of five stars, I would definitely give this book five, even though I want to give it more! I think this book should be for kids 12 + because it is violent and really sad. It could scare little kids and they might not really understand it. For people that are over 12, you will love it! I've only read it once, but I could read it over and over again.
Another memoir of a chaotic childhood that leads to triumph, which I absolutely loved (I bought it after seeing Dave Pelzer's endorsement on the cover) is I Love Yous Are for White People: A Memoir (P.S.)
| |
Very good book by Excited Aunt (Tacoma, WA, USA) 5 Stars
October 27, 2009
A Child Called "It" was a very good, fast read. It is a very thought provoking story that made me stop and think about how greatful I have been to lead the life I have and not have to go throught all the punishment that this boy did that he didn't deserve. Had wanted to read this story for quite sometime, but when they had this book on my daughter's list of books they were going to read in class I knew I had to read it. I am soo glad I did.
| |
ripped page, really? by J. D. Richards  1 Stars
October 27, 2009
half a page was ripped and I missed part of the story.
delivery took a long time.
book not really in sell-able condition as advertised.
| |
A Must Read....... by Sharon R. Shaw 5 Stars
October 25, 2009
This book,is one that I could not put down.I was done with this book in 4 hours.A GREAT book.Everyone should read it.Dave Pelzer is very inspiring and I commend him for sharing his life with the world.Can't waite to read the rest of his books.I rate this book 10 Stars.
| |
SIMILAR PRODUCTS |
| The Lost Boy: A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family
by Dave Pelzer (Author)
"The Lost Boy" is the harrowing but ultimately uplifting true story of a boy's journey through the foster-care system in search of a family to love. This is Dave Pelzer's long-awaited sequel to "A Child Called "It". The Lost Boy" is Pelzer's story--a moving sequel and inspirational read for all.
| 
| A Man Named Dave: A Story of Triumph and Forgiveness
by Dave Pelzer (Author)
The inspiring conclusion to A Child Called "It" and The Lost Boy"All those years you tried your best to break me, and I'm still here. One day you'll see, I'm going to make something of myself."--Dave Pelzer, from A Man Named Dave These words were Dave Pelzer's declaration of independence to his mother, and they represented the ultimate act of self-reliance. Dave's father never intervened as his mother abused him with shocking brutality, denying him food and clothing, torturing him ...
| 
| The Privilege of Youth: A Teenager's Story
by Dave Pelzer (Author)
From A Child Called "It" to The Lost Boy, from A Man Named Dave to Help Yourself, Dave Pelzer’s inspirational books have helped countless others triumph over hardship and misfortune. In The Privilege of Youth, he shares the missing chapter of his life: as a boy on the threshold of adulthood. With sensitivity and insight, he recounts the relentless taunting he endured from bullies; but he also describes the thrill of making his first real friends—some of whom he still shares...
| 
| A Brother's Journey: Surviving a Childhood of Abuse
by Richard B. Pelzer (Author)
The story of Dave Pelzer is a legend of our times: the shattering tale of the child called 'It' who was forced to live in the basement. His mother was the perpetrator of the horror, but she had a willing accomplice. It was Dave's brother Richard - the author of this book. When Dave was twelve the police removed him from the household, but the cycle of abuse continued. Mrs Pelzer had a new target for her crazed, alcoholic wrath. The hunter became the hunted - at the age of nine. This is his...
| 
| Help Yourself for Teens: Real-Life Advice for Real-Life Challenges
by Dave Pelzer (Author)
From the preeminent inspirational speaker and memoirist of our time comes a stirring self-help book for teenagers. Dave Pelzer continues his tireless crusade against despair with Help Yourself for Teens, an uplifting new book written specifically for young adults. Sharing stories of his own adolescent struggles—fighting for his life against his alcoholic mother and enduring outrageous oppression at the hands of bullies and false friends— Pelzer imparts advice to help...
|
|
|
