A Child Called "It"

http://www.davepelzer.com/

This book will forever be with me. A Child Called "It" by David Pelzer is a memoir of David's childhood. It tells about how much his childhood was ruined from an alcoholic parent who abused him physically and mentally.

I became interested in this book when Mrs. Basko told the class of all the new books she had bought. In my family there has been minor cases of child abuse among my older sisters, so this book immediately appealed to me. Mrs. Basko said how it was one of the worst cases of child abuse in California history, but nothing could warn me of how intense this book was. I knew when I started this book that it was a memoir, and so the boy, David, would survive... But it was still comforting to have the beginning show him getting rescued and be able to know that he escaped from this horrible childhood.

As soon as I read of Davids rescue, I had to know how he got to where he was that that point. I couldn't put my book down. It is a very quick read because of the font and just the storyline itself makes you want to read it. I finished this book in less than a week. Throughout the whole book I couldn't stop relating it to myself. I was so proud of David for thriving after he got out of the awful situation he was in. I know it takes a lot to strive after this because I have seen my sisters struggle through getting over it. I had to wonder throughout reading this book what it was like to be the other boys in the family and watching this abuse because like them, nothing happened to me... but unlike them I never knew about it. Unlike their father David's siblings could do absolutely nothing to stop it, probably for fear they would then be the ones abused. I wonder if they ever felt bad for David or at least wanted to help him in anyway. I cannot believe some of the things his mother did to a child... let alone her own flesh and blood. One of the worst parts about reading this book was trying to struggle through some of the abuse scenes. I had to put the book down sometimes and come back later.

As if the abuse of his mother was bad enough I feel it would be as equally depressing for David to know that at the end of his awful childhood life, his father gave up on him. His father just left. I don't know where my family would be if my mother wasn't as strong as she was and instead didn't step in. I am so proud of my mom for being as strong as she was and I just wish every person who knows of any abuse would just step in a do something about it. They won't understand how amazing the outcome will be.

I love this book so much. I would recommend this book, but with precautions. If you can't stand abuse and anything of that  sort do not read this. When I wanted to tell my mom about what I was reading she wouldn't listen because she cannot stand to hear about any form of abuse. If you like survivor stories, memoirs, or abuse cases this is an amazing book to read. I can't wait to start the next book in the series, The Lost Boy.