Graphic Account of Child Abuse

Author David Pelzer's first book, "A Child Called It", details his early years of child abuse that he received at the hands of his downright evil mother. I read this book completely, from cover to cover, without stopping. This is a definite page- turner that will keep your attention from beginning to end. Each page stimulates your interest further, keeping the reader in a state of anxious anticipation, wondering what will happen next.

Pelzer suffered extreme abuse, like no other account I have ever read. Be prepared for some very graphic, disgusting stories and be equally prepared for the emotional roller coaster ride that awaits you. You will experience sadness, frustration, grief, anger, sympathy, etc. Pelzer was forced to sleep on the floor, covered only in newspapers; forced to eat his younger brothers' feces; forced to drink ammonia and bleach; and forced to perform a host of other degrading, dangerous, and repulsive acts.

The one frustrating thing about this book is that it leaves so many questions unanswered. For example, why was David the only child to receive this abuse? He had several brothers, but they were all left alone. Second, what circumstances motivated the mother to commit such hideous acts against her son? The book mentions that alcoholism was a problem for both parents. But simply abusing alcohol would not, by itself, cause a parent to abuse his/her children in such a terrible way. There had to be some deeply rooted psychological problem, but the book makes no attempt to explain this.

Another thing I cannot figure out is the lack of intervention by David's father. On one hand, he seemed to love David and he did stick up for him from time to time. But why was he so passive and helpless around David's mother? Why didn't he make a greater effort to protect his son? And why did all of this abuse suddenly take place when it did? Pelzer says that things were great in the early years of his childhood. Then, without warning, his mother turned into a vicious, evil witch, delighting in the suffering that she was inflicting upon her son. What caused this sudden change in his mother?

Pelzer's account of his childhood will grip you with emotion, leaving you confused and angered. The book seems so unreal that you will wonder if you are really reading a fictional novel. Unfortunately, this is a true story of abuse and it should serve as both a warning of the signs of child abuse, and a source of inspiration. David Pelzer triumphed over his awful childhood and, in the end, he escaped the abuse. He now gives motivational speeches around the country, dedicating his time to helping others. David Pelzer, we salute you!



Be Sure to Click the Links Below to Read More Reviews of Other Books in This Series:

The Lost Boy
A Man Named Dave