Richard B. Pelzer is the younger brother of David Pelzer, author of the incredibly inspirational story of survival detailed in his personal memoirs, beginning with "A Child Called It".

Richard's memoir is a must read for anyone who has been moved by the story of his brother David, as it provides an important point of view in this story of horrific abuse--that of a sibling who first participated in the family's abuse of David, and then after David was removed from his abuse environment, as the new recipient of his mother's alcohol fueled rage. Unfortunately, there is no dramatic resolution at the end--although he is able to escape from his emotional attachment to his abusive mother, physically he was not able to escape from the nightmarish environment she provided.

What is so incredibly shocking is that the Social Service system would have allowed that mother to continue to raise any children in the house after they deemed her unfit to have any contact with David. Certainly, the abuse that Richard suffered could have and should have been prevented by authorities who knew better. ( )

This might be a good suggestion for readers who can't get enough of Dave Pelzer's stories. This book retells the Child Called It story and continues afterwards. Richard Pelzer discusses witnessing the abuse of his brother and then having the abuse turned towards himself. The pace is slower and it is not as well written. It still offers an interesting perspective. ( )

I found it quite appalling that the brother of "A Boy Called IT" could get financial remuneration in the form of his tale. He tries to make you feel sorry for him and his tale of woe, yet for those people who know what his brother went through it doesn't quite work.
While Richard listened to his lunatic of a mother and treated his brother in the mose dispicable way, his brother became a nothing, treated like less than garabage.
I believe Richard Pelzer wrote this book to ride on his brother's coattails and try to help extinguish his guilt from when he was a child.
Shame on you, Richard Pelzer. ( )

A chilling tale of abuse, told in a compelling and credible fashion. Readers will likely be reminded of Pelzer's horrors each time they spot a bottle of Tabasco sauce. ( )