HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

Privilege of Youth by Dave Pelzer
Loading...

Privilege of Youth (edition 2007)

by Dave Pelzer

Series: Dave Pelzer (4)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
770928,745 (3.74)9
The author reveals the story of his struggle through the challenges of adolescence, detailing the taunting he endured from bullies, the joys of making his first real friends, and his quest to escape his difficult home life.
Member:rebprincess83
Title:Privilege of Youth
Authors:Dave Pelzer
Info:Dutton (2007), Kindle Edition, 240 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:***
Tags:None

Work Information

The Privilege of Youth: A Teenager's Story by Dave Pelzer

None
Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 9 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 9 (next | show all)
I read this book after "The Lost Boy" so as to read the story of Dave Pelzer's life in a more chronological order. I enjoyed hearing about the true friendships he made as a teenager after having such a rough start in life and always feeling like he wasn't good enough. I enjoyed hearing about his wife and son. Of course the book was heartbreaking as well, but I don't like to give spoilers, so be prepared for some sadness amidst all the teenage shenannigans. I'm really glad that I picked up "A Child Called It" again and then continued to read the works of this brave man. ( )
  MynTop | Apr 8, 2016 |
Still living in foster homes, being bullied at school and trying to put his tortured past behind him, teen-aged Dave Pelzer suddenly finds himself living in a neighborhood that will come to mean 'home' to him in so many ways. Dave meets and befriends 2 boys, David and Paul, and the 3 share many typical boyhood adventures some of which are just plain dangerous. Although Dave loves his 2 new best friends it is the adult males in the neighborhood that Dave clings to. Never really getting to know his biological father very well Dave is starved for attention from a father figure and he fortunately meets up with 2 who will help him shape his future. One is Paul's father, Dan Brazell, who is the center point of the neighborhood and has the home, or more accurately, the garage where the other neighbors gather to chat. His knowledge of engines and anything mechanical initially attracts Dave to his side. Michael Marsh is the next door neighbor to Dave's foster family. Marsh is known as "The Sarge" by the teen boys as he readily will recount his exploits as an Army Ranger and heavily influences Dave's eventual decision to join the Air Force. In this small neighborhood Dave finds love and acceptance, two things he craved from his own family but never received.

As with Pelzer's other books this one strives to be inspirational and to teach that one can overcome any odds to achieve what is most desired. This book, however, reads more like a teen memoir of fun and escapades in the California sunshine. While enjoyable to read, and heart-warming to know that he had found such happiness in that neighborhood, I didn't feel it was up to the standards of his other books.
( )
  Ellen_R | Jan 15, 2016 |
Another frank and insightful look at the life of Dave Pelzer. When one of the men who mentored Dave during his teen years dies, Dave thinks back to the neighborhood where he made his first real friends and had his first introduction to normal, loving families.

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/6026465/ ( )
  wareagle78 | Jan 23, 2014 |
Covering his teenage years, David Pelzer's completes the autobiographical account of the difficulties of his childhood and growing up. It concentrates on the time he spent in Duinsmoore Way, Suburban Park, both for the period he lived there in foster care and then regularly returned after he moved to another foster home.

It is a moving account and paints a picture of an awkward, resourceful, at times desperate, young man longing for acceptance. Figuring significantly in helping him in coming to terms with himself are some of the residents of Duinsmoore Way including the two younger friends David and Paul he makes there but more significantly his friends' parents and the colourful Sarge.

Pelzer takes us through a number of his sometimes wild adventures with his two friends David and Paul, his efforts to save for the time when he will be ejected by the welfare system, and the encouragement he received from the more mature residents of Duinsmoore Way. He also records the constant teasing and bullying he suffered at school. It is however a very positive account, and at times quite moving. The book concludes with several testimonies from some of those who featured in David's young life.

The Privilege of Youth is very well written, and makes for a very colourful account of Pelzer's youth. Most enlightening I found was the episodes of the teasing and bullying he suffered at school, providing some insight into the thinking and actions of the victim. It is however very selective, while there is much about his time in Duinsmoore Way (I cannot find that name on the map, is this perhaps Dunsmuir Way?), it tells us almost nothing about his foster parents, and although he moved from school to school he tells of his troubles at just one. I came to this without reading Pelzer's earlier writings, A Child Called "It", The Lost Boy and A Man Named Dave, three books which on completing this I instantly ordered. ( )
  presto | Apr 22, 2012 |
This book, as well as those before it, made me cry SO much, that my mom came in from gardening to see what was wrong... she wouldn't let me read more than a chapter at a time after that... but still, really good book... :,(
  jaziwaite | Oct 17, 2011 |
Showing 1-5 of 9 (next | show all)
This book was amazing! He greatly described all the things he has been put through in his life and moved you through his words alone. Though his life was hard, he pushed through and made it to the successful writing career he has now. The book walks you through each point of his adolescence and tells, in great detail, the horrific story of his childhood. I recommend this to anyone interested in emotional connection through reading.
added by Nadia7037 | editLibraryThing.com, Nadia Hendrix
 
This book for me was a hit! I loved reading about the situations that he went through, and I loved taking my own look at the title and learning about the privilege of youth from his book. The book really was an inspiration from start to finish. As a young person about to transition into the adult world, I loved reading about how he moved into this new world and how he dealt with all of the stress and worries of life. Overall, the book was so great! From reading about the death of his father figure to the reading of his times in schools, the book kept me intrigued the whole time.
added by Kenzie85101 | editLibraryThing.com, Kenzie Jordan
 

» Add other authors (2 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Dave Pelzerprimary authorall editionscalculated
Gelder, Eny vanTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed

Belongs to Series

You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Dedication
As always, without my lovely wife, Marsha; my incredible son, Stephen; and God, I am nothing. I have been blessed by their love and encouragement. My family sacrifices so much to allow me to do the work I do. I am grateful beyond words for giving me such a wonderful life.
The book is also dedicated with deepest sincerity to:
David Howard and Paul Brazell, life-long friends and brothers-in-arms in the promotion of unimaginable chaos in our search for days of adventure that we prayed would never end.
Mr. Dan Brazell, the father I never had. Not a day goes by that I do not think of you. I've passed many of the life lessons you've taught me on to my son.
Michael A. Marsh, truly one of the most extraordinary individuals I have ever known, whose vast knowledge, guidance, and love literally changed the course of my life. Thanks, Sarge.
Mrs. Beth Ann Brazell and Dori, for putting up with me and allowing me a glimpse into your loving family.
Sandy Marsh, the sweetest lady I know, for your gentle guidance and everlasting inspiration.
The Marsh Boys: William and "Moonraker" Erick thank you both for all the years of love. Both of you made me laugh when my heart cried for the brothers I missed so much.
Mrs. Jacqueline Howard adn daughter Sheryl, for treating me as one of your own. "Mrs. H," you've always been one classy dame. Thanks for everything, "Mom"!
John and Linda Welsh, thank you for allowing me into your foster home and introducing me to the wonderful world of Duinsmoore.
The Neyland Family, Mr. and Mrs. Jolly, and anyone else within the confines of Suburban Park, for tolerance, patience, and forgiveness. I meant no harm.
The tolerant and even saintly men and women of the Menlo Park Police Department, especially Detective Joe Ochella. I've learned my lesson now: fight for truth. honor, and lower speed limits with fewer automotive shenanigans.
An finally, to Ronald, Stan, Russell, and Kevin: good men, all, who too endured and made their lives all the better.
First words
It's been a long four days.
Quotations
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

None

The author reveals the story of his struggle through the challenges of adolescence, detailing the taunting he endured from bullies, the joys of making his first real friends, and his quest to escape his difficult home life.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Haiku summary

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (3.74)
0.5
1 1
1.5
2 7
2.5 2
3 21
3.5 1
4 20
4.5 2
5 21

Is this you?

Become a LibraryThing Author.

Penguin Australia

An edition of this book was published by Penguin Australia.

» Publisher information page

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 203,239,160 books! | Top bar: Always visible