| A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive |  | Author: David J. Pelzer
Publisher: Turtleback Books Distributed by Demco Media
Category: Book
Buy Collectible: $37.95
Collectible (2) from $37.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  1913 reviews
Sales Rank: 2043021
Media: Turtleback
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.8 x 0.5
ISBN: 0606227814
Dewey Decimal Number: 362.76092
EAN: 9780606227810
ASIN: 0606227814
Publication Date: February 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Trade Paperback. out of print.looks unread.tight clean pages.slight cover wear.name inside only marking.*reliable seller*.fast shipping.personal service (bio)
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Accessories:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
David J. Pelzer's mother, Catherine Roerva, was, he writes in this ghastly, fascinating memoir, a devoted den mother to the Cub Scouts in her care, and somewhat nurturant to her children--but not to David, whom she referred to as "an It." This book is a brief, horrifying account of the bizarre tortures she inflicted on him, told from the point of view of the author as a young boy being starved, stabbed, smashed face-first into mirrors, forced to eat the contents of his sibling's diapers and a spoonful of ammonia, and burned over a gas stove by a maniacal, alcoholic mom. Sometimes she claimed he had violated some rule--no walking on the grass at school!--but mostly it was pure sadism. Inexplicably, his father didn't protect him; only an alert schoolteacher saved David. One wants to learn more about his ordeal and its aftermath, and now he's written a sequel, The Lost Boy, detailing his life in the foster-care system. Though it's a grim story, A Child Called "It" is very much in the tradition of Chicken Soup for the Couple's Soul and the many books in that upbeat series, whose author Pelzer thanks for helping get his book going. It's all about weathering adversity to find love, and Pelzer is an expert witness.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 1908 more reviews...
 What an emotional read! July 25, 2008
This is the story of David. A little boy who started out with what seemed to be the perfect family. Gradually as his mother starts drinking more and more, she ends up not caring about herself and feeling angry all the time. That anger was taken out on David. Through this book you read about the horrific things that his mother did to him and how his will to survive kept him going. This book made me cry, made me angry and most of all made me think. I know a lot of people do not believe his story. But before you have doubts, read his books "The Lost Boy" and "A Man Named Dave" and then read his brothers book "A Brother's Journey" and decide for yourself.
 Not worth the time to read it. July 13, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I, too, like several others, started this book, and was immediately taken aback by the poor quality of the writing, AND the relentless onslaught of horrific, somewhat unbelievable, scenarios described by the author.
I don't doubt that he endured some form of abuse, probably severe, but it's hard to feel much sympathy for the story when there are so many holes, inconsistencies, and it's very poorly written.
Disappointed that I spent money on this.
Do not perpetuate a lie July 13, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Check out "Dysfunction For Dollars" written July 28, 2002 for the NYT Magazine. The author, Pat Jordan, notes that "...In Pelzer's case, how much he is healing or how much he is swindling is unclear..."Peter Vegso, from his former publisher, Health Communications Inc, is quoted in the article. He says "David's always complaining we don't appreciate him, David's a professional victim. I haven't a clue if his abuse stories are true, but we kept his book in stock when it wasn't selling. Then Dave got on Montel Williams, and there was an instant demand." The author also notes that "Pelzer frequently purchases his own books for his signings at a discount and then sells them at list price." His brother, Stephen, was interviewed. He denies the abuse and says "David had to be the center of attention. He was a hyper, spoiled brat."
If this isn't enough to convince you, check out "Dave Pelzer, The child-abuse entrepreneur" by David Plotz posted Friday, Sept. 29, 2000 on Slate. He writes "Pelzer, whose most insistent piece of advice is "don't dwell on the past," dwells on it very profitably." Describing Pelfrey's depiction of his mother Plotz says she "becomes more cartoonish, more Cruella De Vil. In the first book, she's horrible but erratic. By the third she is the incarnation of pure, calculating evil, saying things like, 'You gave me no pleasure, so you were disposed of.'" Plotz continues "his (Pelfrey's) dialogue, which is full of such over-the-top lines, is sometimes suspicious. Though it's reconstructed 20 or 30 years after the fact, it is eerily precise."
Memoirs like this and James Frey's novel, A Million Little Pieces, (another Oprah interviewee) should never have made it as far as they did. It's a sad commentary that they have.
AWESOME BOOK ONE OF THE BEST I HAVE EVER READ! July 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I loved this book I read it in one day I Have read "The Lost Boy" I suggest if you buy this read the other one too! I could not put it down it was scary to think that someone could grow up being abused like this and lived to share his story with everyone!
A Journey with a Child July 4, 2008
This was a very real study of emotions in the mind of a very young child.I wanted to know how this story would end. I felt that since it was the author's life story,he made it to adulthood,but at what cost?
I was so haunted by the actions of the parents ,I wanted to take some kind of action to see that these parents were punished for the damage that they had done to him.In my mind I wrapped my love around him to try and ease the hurt in his heart,mind and soul.
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
