A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive (alkuperäinen julkaisuvuosi 1995; vuoden 1995 painos)

5/5 ( )

This book follows the story of a young boy during the 70s who is beaten, starved and tortured repeatedly by his mother. Despite everything that happens to him, he finds a way to overcome his struggles and turns his life around. He uses positivity, faith and determination to overcome and survive his mother’s abuse. ( )

Heartbreaking, if you think your life is hard, NOPE! Literally the most frequently stolen book from my library. ( )

SUMMARY: ...is 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 torturous, 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"....This compelling story will awaken you to the truth about child abuse -- and the ability we all have to make a difference. (from back of book)

REVIEW: This is a very hard book to read -- because who could imagine anything like this happening to a young boy especially by his mother. I'm glad the book started with the ending of the story that he is finally rescued from his circumstances. The next chapter tells of the family life before these odd events begin...a regular family, a loving mother, and a happy childhood. Then the horror begins as his mother turns vicious and cruel toward Dave and just Dave. The other boys escape her wrath and as they grow older join in on the ridicule and torture learning from their mother. The father does little things in the beginning to help make things tolerable but does nothing to stop the abuse and in the end leaves not being able to handle his wife or the degraded family life any more. I'm confounded as to why it takes so many years to get someone to help Dave's situation. He is the only one in the family that goes about unbathed, in ragged clothes, and starved appearance. Even with his mother's excuse that he has been a bad boy....the punishment is way beyond what would be considered normal. It finally takes one brave teacher to start the process that removes Dave from his home....but the story is left at a "what comes next" point which thankfully is addressed in his next book THE LOST BOY and a few other titles after that which tells of his journey to adulthood. I haven't read these books yet, but they are on my "to read" list.

Dave Pelzer is not a public speaker and has dedicated his life to helping others help themselves.

This book is based on the child's life from ages 4 to 12 (8 years of torment from beatings, burnings, bleach fumes, starvation, etc.

It is so improtant for them to know that I'm not a bad boy. I want so much to be liked, to be loved. (p11)

When asked, I had my ready-made excuses Mother brainwashed into me (p47)

I could sense her heightened confidence, and her new confidence made me fear for my life. (p54)

I came to believe if I were to survive, I would have to rely on myself. (p58)

At that moment I hated Mother to no end, but I hated Father even more. The man who had helped me in the past, just stood like a statue while his son ate something even a dog wouldn't touch. (p67)

Sometimes at night I would wake up and try to imagine I was a real person, sleeping under a warm electric blanket, knowing I was safe and that somebody loved me. (p68)

Even though I had heard the same words over and over again, this time the word "It" stunned me like never before. She had stripped me of my very existence. (p140)

My dark past is behind me now. As bad as it was, I knew even back then, in the final analysis, my way of life would be up to me. (p156)

Child abuse has a domino effect that spreads to all who touch the family. (p164) ( )

Oh my fucking Christ is this a depressing story. ( )