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This book chronicles 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 tortuous, 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."Dave's bed was an old show more army cot in the basement, and his clothes were torn and raunchy. When his mother allowed him the luxury of food, it was nothing more than spoiled scraps that even the dogs refused to eat. The outside world knew nothing of his living nightmare. He had nothing or no one to turn to, but his dreams kept him alive--dreams of someone taking care of him, loving him and calling him their son.
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PortiaLong Disturbing memoirs - I disliked them both for the same reasons (so someone else may LIKE them for those same reasons).
21
JenniferRobb Berry's book is fictional while Pelzer's is his true story, but many aspects of the abuse the child suffers is similar. Thanfully, Pelzer's story turns out better than the fictional one does.
Member Reviews
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. 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 show more 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
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. 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 show more 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
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 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 show more 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 read this as part of a project for a psych class in college. This book was fucking horrifying and I remembering not understanding at -all- why someone would write as their damn memoir. I was so, so disturbed. -Nobody- came to his aid, and his mom stabbed him at the end as his siblings danced around joyfully, singing that he was doing to die. There are never any consequences for the cruelest among society, which is why I don't believe in the Rule of Three or karma or anything.
As someone that "was there" and also grew up in a multitude of foster-homes, I accepted this book from well-meaning friends, that were trying to tell me that there were people out there that had lived a worse childhood than I had. Instead, as I read Dave's story, it was more like reliving my own. My heart went out to child Dave as I felt his fear and hunger, his loneliness and even hope. There were several times throughout this book that I caught myself saying out loud, "I think my dad and your mom should get together and have a tea party. I think they would get along famously." All I have to say is, Kudos to Dave, for letting the world know what those of us have to go through, so that they can finally understand. And thank you for show more giving me hope. show less
This book was well-written, and horrifying. I really wonder what in god's name was wrong with his mother, that some switch flipped in her and suddenly she turned into a monstrously abusive beast, towards just one of her sons. Don't read if you're easily disturbed. A couple incidents nearly had me heaving, and the entire thing is just, boggling. It's...not pretty. But it does paint a terrifying picture of what a child of abuse may live through.
Minus one star for the fact that he split the story up into three novels (and I doubt if the other two are much longer). This was only 169 pages (plus excerpts from the other two), and with wide margins and spacing, and it stops the moment the school gets the cop there who takes him away. It show more doesn't even continue with the temp. foster care while he awaits the trial (or even the hospital visit they stop to make first, which is in the excerpt from book 2), or anything. The second book really ought to have been part of this one. show less
Minus one star for the fact that he split the story up into three novels (and I doubt if the other two are much longer). This was only 169 pages (plus excerpts from the other two), and with wide margins and spacing, and it stops the moment the school gets the cop there who takes him away. It show more doesn't even continue with the temp. foster care while he awaits the trial (or even the hospital visit they stop to make first, which is in the excerpt from book 2), or anything. The second book really ought to have been part of this one. show less
This book is not for the faint-hearted. Nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, it is extremely disturbing and describes child abuse in graphic detail. It is the victim’s story, which was identified as one of the most gruesome and extreme cases of child abuse in California history back in the early 1970s.
As a mother, I cannot fathom how someone could do what this sadistic woman did to her own child. My heart ached reading this book, and the only thing that got me through it was wanting to find out what happened to his parents. I don’t know what is worse: the abuser or the parent who stood by and let it happen and never stopped it. I find myself feeling sicked by the mother and very angry at the father.
I have now discovered that the victim show more has written a total of seven books. Apparently, one of the victim’s brothers also wrote a book about how he was abused after Dave was taken away. The author’s website is here: http://www.davepelzer.com/.
As much as I do want to find out what happens in the rest of the books and hopefully see some justice, I cannot stomach reading any more about child victims. I read too many of them this month: Boneman’s Daughters, Room, and now this book. I need to take a break from these sad stories.
MY RATING: 4 stars! show less
As a mother, I cannot fathom how someone could do what this sadistic woman did to her own child. My heart ached reading this book, and the only thing that got me through it was wanting to find out what happened to his parents. I don’t know what is worse: the abuser or the parent who stood by and let it happen and never stopped it. I find myself feeling sicked by the mother and very angry at the father.
I have now discovered that the victim show more has written a total of seven books. Apparently, one of the victim’s brothers also wrote a book about how he was abused after Dave was taken away. The author’s website is here: http://www.davepelzer.com/.
As much as I do want to find out what happens in the rest of the books and hopefully see some justice, I cannot stomach reading any more about child victims. I read too many of them this month: Boneman’s Daughters, Room, and now this book. I need to take a break from these sad stories.
MY RATING: 4 stars! show less
This book chronicles the author’s awful childhood, suffering relentless abuse at the hand of his deranged mother. Weirdly, it almost takes on a pornographic quality—virtually every page features some description of the tortures he endured and there’s very little aside from that. The characters don’t really have any qualities bedsides being participants in, or witnesses to, his misery.
It’s tricky critiquing a book like this because you don’t want to discount his experiences but as a reader I found it disturbing in ways the author may not have intended.
It’s tricky critiquing a book like this because you don’t want to discount his experiences but as a reader I found it disturbing in ways the author may not have intended.
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Author Information
Some Editions
Awards and Honors
Awards
Distinctions
Series
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- A Child Called "It"
- Original title
- A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive
- Original publication date
- 1995
- People/Characters
- David "Dave" Pelzer; Peter Hansen; Stephen Joseph; Catherine Roerva; Ronald; Stan (show all 11); Russell Pelzer; Kevin; Stephen Pelzer; Stephen E. Ziegler; Aggie
- Important places
- Daly City, California, USA; Thomas Edison Elementary School, Daly City, California, USA
- Dedication
- This book is dedicated to my son Stephen, who, by the grace of God, has taught me the gift of love and joy through the eyes of a child. This book is also dedicated to the teachers and staff members of Thomas Edison Elementary... (show all) School to include: Stephen E. Ziegler, Athena Konstan, Peter Hansen, Joyce Woodworth, Janice Woods, Betty Howell, and the School Nurse. To all of you, for your courage and for putting your careers on the line that fateful day, March 5, 1973. You saved my life.
- First words
- March 5, 1973, Daly City, California - I'm late.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I'm free.
- Original language*
- Anglais (Etats-Unis) (Etats-Unis)
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- Biography & Memoir, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 362.76092 — Society, government, & culture Social problems and social services Social Welfare Child welfare Sexual Abuse
- LCC
- HV883 .C2 .P45 — Social sciences Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Protection, assistance and relief Special classes Children Destitute, neglected, and abandoned
- BISAC
Statistics
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- Reviews
- 320
- Rating
- (3.87)
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- 14 — Chinese, Czech, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Icelandic, Indonesian, Japanese, Lithuanian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 63
- UPCs
- 1
- ASINs
- 21