A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer

The book “A Child Called It” by author Dave Pelzer quickly became for many reasons but the most important was because it taught me that sometimes people don’t appreciate the wonderful things they have in life, until it’s too late.

Reading is a huge part of my everyday life and has given me many hours of enjoyment. I read to gain information, for relaxation and entertainment, like reading the daily newspaper allows me to find out what is happening around the world, in other countries and in our local area, allows me to relax and offers a few laughs.

I love finding new and interesting books to read, so one day when I asked my sister for suggestions in finding a book to read, she told me to read “A Child Called ‘It’” by author, David Pelzer.

I read in this book, about one of the worst cases of child abuse, ever reported in the state of California, which has been documented by the child, in this book.

David Pelzer provides a very detailed outline of his terrible life after growing up as a son of an alcoholic mother and a father, who stood by and watched the abuse.

The story takes a circular trip around the many years of abuse of the boy. He begins by telling us what ended the torment and pain, and continues through the pages, telling us about the haunting years that followed.

In one section of the book, Pelzer speaks of the unthinkable horror his mother put him through by explaining that when he was younger, Dave and his family were considered the “perfect” family but one day his mother and father began drinking and developed problems in their relationship.

Dave began experiencing the worst treatment, imaginable. His mother quickly began  treating him as a nobody or an “It”. His dad wouldn’t address the problems that reeked havoc in his life, which caused Dave to hate him.

Dave’s mother did many horrible things to him that he will never forget. He was singled out for abuse by his mother, since he had two brothers that never received their mother’s harsh beatings and cruelty.

David’s mother would starve him for weeks at a time, without giving him even a morsel of food, so he had to steal food from stores and the school, in order to survive.   One day he stole hot dogs from the school cafeteria and someone caught him. When he got home his mother made him puke it up and then eat it, again. She was so cruel that she almost went to the extent of making David eat his baby brother’s feces.

Another incident occurred  when David was cleaning the kitchen floor for his mother. She suddenly stormed into the kitchen and started yelling at him, “You’ve made my life a living hell! Now it’s time I show you what hell is like!”

She took him by the arm, turned on the gas stove, and burned the flesh right off his arm. She proceeded to make him take off his clothes and lay on top of the flames.

She tortured him for no other reason, other than her own sick pleasure. She also made him drink ammonia, wear tattered clothes and sleep in the garage. She even had the nerve to stab David and never took him in for medical help.

Not only was David banned from the family, but from the public, as well. Pelzer was granted only one change of clothing a year, which he wore daily, to school.

He was unable to bathe and was often viewed  as a disgrace, by neighbors and school officials. This touching story ended with David reciting the “Lord’s Prayer” and praying for God to save him from his life of abuse.

Finally, a caring policeman shows up and frees David from the prison he has endured for too many years.

The sequel to this book is called “The Lost Boy.” This story offers detailed claims of the horrible abuse that David’s mother had inflicted upon him but nothing can help you to understand why someone could cause such terrible pain for their own child, especially when the other two brothers are treated with respect.

We learn in this book about the struggle for survival, after David’s mother tries to turn everyone against him. She became successful at convincing everyone around David and since they believe that she is a good mother, no one believes him when he cries for help and each attempt at receiving help, he fails.

It’s really sad to know that David’s dad never tried to help him and to watch as his dad is terribly controlled by the woman, who abuses him.

This intense child abuse seems unbearable, especially for a young child. David’s story about survival, brings a queasy feeling to one’s stomach and stabs at the heart. Pelzer dedicated his life to pleasing his mother, fearing death that come to him, at any moment. His never ending hope kept gave him just enough strength to recover from the last painful fight.

Pelzer had lived in, what looked like from the outside world, an average American family, who took vacations, ate dinner as a family and spent the holidays together, with the one exception of `The Boy` that was continually beaten down, both mentally and physically.