A Child Called It

A Child Called "It" is Dave Pelzer's memoir of his early childhood years living with his mother in California during the 1970s. The book recounts his experiences at home and at school from ages 4-12. The narrative focuses on the relationship between Pelzer and his mother, who subjects him to escalating mistreatment while his father remains largely absent. Through straightforward prose, Pelzer describes his daily reality of surviving in an unstable household while trying to maintain a normal appearance at school. At its core, this memoir examines human resilience and a child's drive to survive against severe odds. The work stands as a testament to the importance of intervention in cases of child abuse and highlights how the actions of key adults can impact a child's fate.

Readers report feeling devastated and emotionally drained by this memoir of child abuse. Many say they had to put the book down multiple times to process the content. Readers appreciate: - Raw, straightforward writing style - Raising awareness about child abuse - The author's resilience and survival - Educational value for teachers/social workers Common criticisms: - Questions about accuracy and truthfulness - Writing quality feels amateur - Too graphic/disturbing for some readers - Lack of deeper reflection or context Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (823,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (7,300+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Everyone should read this book to understand the reality of abuse." -Goodreads "The writing is basic but the story needs to be told." -Amazon "Found myself wondering if parts were exaggerated." -Goodreads "Important subject matter but too traumatic to finish." -Amazon

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The Lost Boy by David Pelzer This sequel to A Child Called It follows Dave's journey through the foster care system after his rescue from his abusive mother.

📚 "A Child Called It" was initially self-published by Dave Pelzer in 1995 before becoming one of the first memoirs to make the New York Times Best Seller list. 🏆 The book has been translated into more than 40 languages and has sold over 1.6 million copies internationally. 👥 Dave Pelzer's case of abuse was considered one of the worst cases of child abuse in California's history at the time, and his story helped bring attention to the issue of child abuse in America. 🎖️ At age 18, Pelzer joined the U.S. Air Force and served in the Gulf War. He later received commendations from Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Clinton for his work as a motivational speaker. 📊 After the book's success, studies showed that approximately 80% of readers who reported childhood abuse to authorities cited "A Child Called It" as their inspiration to seek help.