A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive (Dave Pelzer #1)

A Child Called “It” was one of the best books I have ever read. It was impossible to put it down. It was similar to a car accident, something extremely gruesome and horrifying, but also something that you can’t take your eyes off of. It absolutely succeeds as an effective memoir. Dave Pelzer’s survival story is extremely inspiring and amazing considering he fought for his own life against one of the most abusive parents in history at such a young age. The vivid details in Pelzer’s writing allowed me to feel his pain, hatred and helplessness. It is written in a young boy’s point of view, making it a fast and easy read. It is effortless to get into the mindset of the character by the way he describes his mother’s actions and his own feelings. It made me want to step in and help him, and turn in his mother for doing such horrible things to a child. The details about the different ways she would abuse him, like forcing him to eat out of his brother’s dirty diaper, made me feel sick, emotional, and like I truly hated his mother just as much as he did. I was hopeful throughout the entire memoir, that he would overcome this and escape her wrath. He constantly reminded himself that he was in control, and only he could decide his future. He came close to giving up, but fought through it. This added a lot of suspense and really pulled some heart strings.
Reading this memoir has influenced me to write more personally. I normally write very formally, rather than using my own voice. It has taught me to write from the heart; that way, it will be much more engaging and relatable to the reader than just stating the facts. It also helped me to incorporate musing into my writing. The way Pelzer reflected on the things that happened to him wasn’t distractive to the plot. He added details about how he felt, and what his plans for the future were. It showed that he knew he was worthy of something, and wouldn’t let his life continue this way. This book should be offered again. It is an extremely intense memoir that makes you appreciate your life much more. I greatly admire David Pelzer for having the courage to share his story and using this dark period of his life to enlighten others.

Reader reviewed by devon

This book portrays the life of an abused child. It is sad, so if you don't mind crying and some emotional pulls then you will love A Child Called It. The child in the book is the author and he also writes two other books that tells the life that he lives as an adult.
This book is a great read if you are into real life abuse problem. He goes through so much through out the book. Read it and find out how he gets out.

Reader reviewed by f00lishchick

This book was pretty intense because i have never met anybody in my life who had experienced this kind of abuse. what made it more surprising was the fact that the author was writing about his own, personal past; this was an autobiography. this book was fun to read because each page kept me on edge because i kept wanting to turn the page and know what would happen next.in my opinion it was a pretty good book and i would recommend everybody to read and experience what it feels like to be Dave; even if it is only for one day

Reader reviewed by f00lishchick

This book was pretty intense because i have never met anybody in my life who had experienced this kind of abuse. what made it more surprising was the fact that the author was writing about his own, personal past; this was an autobiography. this book was fun to read because each page kept me on edge because i kept wanting to turn the page and know what would happen next.in my opinion it was a pretty good book and i would recommend everybody to read and experience what it feels like to be Dave; even if it is only for one day

Reader reviewed by Rachel Connell

This book is wonderful. It wil make you gasp, cry, and take your breath away. If you can't take gruesome injuries I wouldn't recommend this book to you. This book makes you think about those kids at your school who people make fun of and always wear dirty clothes. It makes take a second look at other people's situations and makes you appreciative of your own. One day Dave's mother snaps and starts hating him. He undergoes starvation, beatings, poisonings, burnings, and much more. Crying out for someone to help him and no one pays attention. This would be a book that everyone should read at least once.

Reader reviewed by Shannon

This book is about a boy. Who struggles through life. Wondering why and what it is that he has done. To deserve the unending abuse. His mother inflicts upon him. He endures unmentionable conflicts with his mother. Where she retaliates with stabbing him to setting him necked on a lit stove when he was four. He becomes more of a warrior fighting for his life. Then a child seeking his mother's love. At the brink of life and death. He finds no reprieve but, only guilt at being rescued an abandoning his brothers. This book may shock you. It shows the most shocking and gruesome details into the life of an abused child. It will open your eyes to the world around you.

Reader reviewed by Amy

I really like this book, even though I did not enjoy reading it at the time. It is a hard book to read because of the subject matter, and the book is very graphic and descriptive which can be upsetting at times. It was extremely worthwhile, but I think that I was a little young to read it at the time- I would say 18 and up would understand and be able to cope with reading this book.

Reader reviewed by pjrenick

This book is one that you can't put down once you've started it.  It is graphic - and it's definitely not for everyone - but it's a great book about how someone can survive torture worse than most of us can imagine.  Many of my students (7th grade) have read this book and every single one of them have requested the follow-up book to read next.

Reader reviewed by PJR

"A Child Called It" is a unique book. It tells the story of Dave Peltzer's childhood. The horrors that this man suffered as a child are worse than most things we can even imagine.

I teach 7th grade reading and try to keep a WIDE variety of books in my classroom library, but this one is just too graphic for many young readers.

Reader reviewed by Christy

Wow... this book was really good. At the beginning, I was starting to think that it was gonig to be really boring but then it got into his life. I had no idea what was going on but I realized that this boys life was falling apart. Well, it seems like its falling apart then you learn that its only getting better. To be honest, that boys mother deserves to die...

sorry for being so blunt