A Child Called “It”

A Child Called “It”

by Dave Pelzer

Plot:

“It”, was starved, beaten and thrown into a world of abuse.  “It’s” name was David.  Being raised by abusive parents, and turning alcoholic, Dave’s “mother” quickly repeated the cycle, by turning all her rage and fury on him.  Punishments started off “small”, such as screaming and minor injuries for things “done wrong” to months later where Dave, was starved and severely beaten.  His dad soon became his savior, but spent most of his time at work avoiding life and his monstrous wife.  Dressed in rags and taunted by other students, school became Dave’s safe place where he was safe from his mother’s wrath.  In a dark and isolated world, fighting to survive, Dave’s only way of lasting, is to not give up on his will to live.

My thoughts:

I decided to read this book after learning from the librarian, that it was a true story about a boy forced to endure child abuse.  Easy to read, this novel kept me up until early hours, the intensity building, forbidding me to put it down.  Dave Pelzer was victimized daily by his mother.  As if trapped in a nightmare, he always seemed to be within her grasp, fear keeping him from running out of it and exposing the “family secret.”  From stabbed, to burned, his mother’s punishments were endless.  This novel is eye opening, provoking readers to become aware of child abuse, which often goes unnoticed.  The book makes readers feel several emotions, causing them, in a way, to feel the pain of being neglected.  

I highly recommend reading this book, as it is, attention grabbing and mind-altering.  People who are interested in intriguing true stories should read the novel, A child called It, by Dave Pelzer.

reviewed by M.L., Grade 10 Scona student