David J. Pelzer

When I finished this book, there was one clear thought in my head.

Why the hell didn't Mom go to jail? I mean, seriously.

As I read this story, I wondered how Mommy could have transformed into 'Mother' and then 'The B*tch'. I don't care of she was an alcoholic or had mental problems, treating a child like this is simply inexcusable, and that Dad passively stood by just made me want to cry and rage. It's simply heartbreaking to see how Dave was singled out and his brothers treated normally. show more What twisted logic brought Mother to single David out. Heck, when he gets stabbed in the chest, she doesn't take him to the hospital!

I'm glad that David was eventually rescued, but the severity of his case should have caused the police to investigate the home. Sure, it was a different time (1970's) but if I were one of the people working with/rescuing David, I would be wondering if his siblings were being treated the same. It just disappoints me that even today, some parents can still get away with abusing their children. I'm surprised that David didn't go after his mother when he became an adult, but that's just me. And the sad thing is, while David got rescued (eventually) some other children don't, and they die without any justice or hope. That parents could ever do this to their children (or owners to their animals) still disgusts and saddens me even today, nearly ten years after I read this book. show less

Well written and disturbing and all, but I worry about how this book may change the way that readers think about child abuse. All other cases of child abuse seem minor compared w/ Pelzer's life. We don't want to trivialize the all too present abuse of children in this country. Read this book as a single example of a horrible epidemic, not as benchmark for comparison.

Id like to hope that a lot of this is exaggerated and emphasized simply to show how bad it was and not the 100% factural story that it was presented as. A lot of the factual things feel a lot like more than one child could handle... does that make it untrue? Idk only Pelzer knows.... but im frustrated that a lot of this comes off as trauma porn and the horror sells kind of narrative. I really wish this had started and was viewed more through the lens of someone who did the therapy and can show more clearly see more of the truths and hidden reasons. The fact that there was nothing as to how things actually ended up after this, ie... a court case or presses charged or was there prison time or just justice?? How did the 3rd worst documented cases actually changed how child abuse was handled... something other than just the depths of the horror and his tangible rage he has for his mother. Im also personally outraged and horrified that all of the blame is placed on his mother and not the others in the home that ignored what happened (even if it was for their own survival's sake) its hard not to excuse them.... and in the effect of researching things later, its beyond shocking to hear he forgave his dad.... and the number of times he called his mom a bitch.... and knowing this book was pushed *HARD* when I was kid on to kids as required reading. I can appreciate exposing child abuse as reality that it is for some children. But I wish it was shown in a healthier way. show less

I have wanted to read this book for as long as I can remember and I finally read it my senior year of high school for a Child Development class. It sickened me to no end but I could not, for the life of me, put this book down. I can't believe no one outside the home knew what was going on. I wish that lady a horrible, painful death. She deserves nothing less.

It's difficult to rate this book. I'm not sure if I enjoyed reading it, but it is one of those books that I believe everyone should show more read in order to prevent these atrocities from happening again. show less