A Child Called It

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Jess18, January 1, 2012 (view all comments by Jess18)
Great book!! Very sad but keeps your attention threw out the story!! If you like books that are real life you will love this one!! Best book ever!!

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so.sweete, May 12, 2011 (view all comments by so.sweete)
To say that I had enjoyed reading A Child Called It would be an unrealistic statement. The book illustrates the horrors of child abuse and paints a clear yet disturbing image into the reader’s mind of one boy’s past with abusive perents. The first chapters describe a typical happy family: Mom, Dad, two older brothers, and Dave. Somewhere along the way, Pelzer describes his parents getting drunk and angry, and their relationship seemed to be falling apart. His father was never in the house, and his mother spent the days drunk on the couch. Inevitably, things went down a negative path. Pelzer describes how his mother and brothers acted toward him by reliving his past. “Mother smacked, punched and kicked me until I crumpled to the floor.” When talking to Dave’s brothers, his mother would refer to him as, “It” and, “The Boy.” Reading about Pelzer’s own childhood was saddening and sickening at the same time. The events were detailed in raw emotion and it was obvious. However heartbreaking the story is though, I think it was poorly written. The organizational structure didn’t flow and some parts seemed awkward and repetitive. Although descriptive, his stories did not provoke emotion in me. I felt bad for Pelzer, as anyone would, I just didn’t feel his pain in my heart as I know he would have felt. I’m interested in this subject and spreading awareness, which Pelzer does exceptionally, but for entertainment purposes it is not high quality. Unfortunately, this book would not be on my summer reading list.

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so.sweete, May 12, 2011 (view all comments by so.sweete)
To say that I had enjoyed reading A Child Called It would be an unrealistic statement. The book illustrates the horrors of child abuse and paints a clear yet disturbing image into the reader’s mind of one boy’s past with abusive perents. The first chapters describe a typical happy family: Mom, Dad, two older brothers, and Dave. Somewhere along the way, Pelzer describes his parents getting drunk and angry, and their relationship seemed to be falling apart. His father was never in the house, and his mother spent the days drunk on the couch. Inevitably, things went down a negative path. Pelzer describes how his mother and brothers acted toward him by reliving his past. “Mother smacked, punched and kicked me until I crumpled to the floor.” When talking to Dave’s brothers, his mother would refer to him as, “It” and, “The Boy.” Reading about Pelzer’s own childhood was saddening and sickening at the same time. The events were detailed in raw emotion and it was obvious. However heartbreaking the story is though, I think it was poorly written. The organizational structure didn’t flow and some parts seemed awkward and repetitive. Although descriptive, his stories did not provoke emotion in me. I felt bad for Pelzer, as anyone would, I just didn’t feel his pain in my heart as I know he would have felt. I’m interested in this subject and spreading awareness, which Pelzer does exceptionally, but for entertainment purposes it is not high quality. Unfortunately, this book would not be on my summer reading list.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9781558743663

Subtitle:

One Child's Courage to Survive

Author:

Pelzer, David J.

Author:

Dave

Author:

Pelzer,

Author:

Pelzer, Dave

Publisher:

HCI

Location:

Deerfield Beach, Florida

Subject:

General

Subject:

California

Subject:

Biography

Subject:

Abuse

Subject:

Abused children

Subject:

Foster home care

Subject:

Child abuse

Subject:

Specific Groups - Special Needs

Subject:

Children of alcoholics

Subject:

Family violence

Subject:

Adult

Subject:

Foster home care -- California.

Subject:

Abusive mothers.

Subject:

Child of Impaired Parents.

Subject:

Abuse - General

Subject:

General Self-Help

Subject:

Pelzer, David J.

Subject:

Abused children - California - Daly City

Subject:

Biography - General

Subject:

Self-Help : General

Copyright:

1995

Edition Description:

Paperback

Series Volume:

3340

Publication Date:

September 1995

Binding:

Paperback

Grade Level:

General/trade

Language:

English

Illustrations:

Yes

Pages:

195

Dimensions:

7.5 x 5 in 0.5 lb