Product Description

Dave Pelzer was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother, a mother who played tortuous, unpredictable games - games that left one of her three sons nearly dead. She no longer considered Dave a son, but a slave; no longer a boy, but an 'it'. His bed was an old army cot in the basement, his clothes were torn and smelly, and when he was allowed the luxury of food it was scraps from the dog's bowl. The outside world knew nothing of the nightmare played out behind closed doors. But throughout Dave kept alive dreams of finding a family to love him. This book covers the early years of his life and is an affecting an inspirational book of the horrors of child abuse and the steadfast determination of one child to survive.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14563 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Amazon.co.uk 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 but not to David, her son, 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.--Christine Buttery

About the Author
Dave Pelzer is recognised as one of America's most effective and respected communicators. His unique accomplishments have garnered personal commendations from Ronald Reagan and George Bush. He has dedicated his life to helping others help themselves.

Customer Reviews

Upsetting with a happy ending.
Im a 24 year old male. and am not into reading books, infact this is the first book ive read since school. - On a recent night out i got chatting to some old friends and while we were drunk they told me about Dave Palzer amazing story, i was so intruged i bought the book. I started reading it and couldnt put it down till i finished. Dave Palzer (the innocent victim ) is a model for any human being and goes to show anyone can triumph over any bad experiance. How his mother could go from been a normal person to an evil monster is anyones guess, but it is truly remarkable how Dave Palzer could manage to find the will to stay alive and not take the easy way out and kill himself is a lesson for everyone. I will be buying his follow up books asap. Dave - Wherever you are now, i salute you. you are a true hero.

Be prepared to wonder at the survival of a small boy
I initially borrowed this book from my brother-in-law, who warned me that it would be hard reading, but worth it.

He was not wrong. At the start of the book, Mr Pelzer apologises for using graphic detail and somewhat childlike descriptions during his prose. He need not have bothered apologising, the description of events were written in the style of the young child he was whilst suffering (and surviving) what can only be dscribed as harrowing conditions.

I had the luxury of spending the entire day alone reading this book, something I heartily recommend. There were often times that I put the book down, picked it back up, put it down again, searched for tissues and then read until I finished the book. It was not easy, it was amazing, harrowing, painful and astounding... how such a young child could survive using only his wits in such conditions, how a parent can change so dramatically... and how little was done to help change the situation.

I have seen the adverts on the television about childhood abuse, but reading this book brought it home to me in a clear and concise manner.

Do not be confused, this is not a "poor me, look what happened to me" book, this is an exceptionally strong book, written by a man who has not only survived a difficult childhood, but has come through it to become an exceptional parent in his own right. This is a story of survival and a testimony to David Pelzer.

If I could shake that man's hand I would, gladly.

P.S. I bought the book, and the others in the series, The Lost Boy and A Man Named Dave. The story goes on... and it must never happen again.

A Child Called it
This is probably the most depressing yet the most inspiring book I've ever read. The abuse this brave little child endured at the hands of his own mother was so far beyond belief that I actually thought it was fiction.

This is thought-provoking, anger-inducing and truly heartbreaking.

I encourage everybody to read it at once.