A Remarkable Tale of Brave Boy (A Child Called 'It' - Dave Pelzer)

Member Name: Beth21

Product:	A Child Called 'It' - Dave Pelzer
Date:	27/09/09 (48 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: heartwarming, true

Disadvantages: the fact that this poor chils dealt with such horror

I remember being in a year 9 English lesson and my class mates were talking about this book, years later i found the book in a charity store and thought i would give it a read.

A child called it, is the true story of Dave Pelzer. Pelzer was the subject of extreme child abuse which at the time was the third worst case of child abuse ever in the United States. The abuse was performed by his drunken once respectable mother, and was years later uncovered by his school teachers.

The story is brutal and eye-opening. It made me feel disgusted that a parent could subject such abuse to a child, and instead of feeling sorry for Pelzer I felt happy that he made it through such bad times, he created his life from scratch going on to write the book, expose his mother, reaveal the truth and have a happy family of his own. Pelzer's book lets the reader bare witness to the courage and strength this man has, which no-one can do any less that respect as he's a remarkable man.

The abuse that Pelzers mother put him through was sickening, the way the books reads, in my opinion the mother felt neglected by the father, and David appeared to be the fathers favourite leading the drunken mother to abuse him. The abuse begun as hitting, moving on to the starvation, which led David on to stealing food, getting trouble at school which led to more starvation and worser beatings, such as being put on a stove, gas champers, nappy rubbed in his face, he was even stabbed. Years later teachers finally picked up on the abuse david was receiving at home and he was taken away, however pelzer was still afraid and whether he testified about his mother goes on into the next book, The Lost Boy.

I believe this remarkable story is one that should be put on school curriculums to help children understand the reality of what happens to other children, also children who are abused at home and who are afraid to speak up, this story can give them courage and allow them to understand that there is hope.

A great and brave book to write, and a remarkable story to read.

Summary: A devastating story of courage.