A Child Called "It"
written by Dave Pelzer
Stories which uncover a child suffering of abuse tend to bring any reader to the edge of their seat while taking them on an emotional rollercoaster. A Child Called “It”, written by Dave Pelzer, will do just that. This novel is well worth spending the time to read, as it draws you in like a fly to a lamp. Although a seemingly short book, Pelzer does not fail to bring his readers to the verge of tears as he recalls his own brutal childhood memories. In this novel Pelzer describes how with a stretch of undeniable luck he survived a severely abusive and unstable mother, Catherine, who did not even consider Dave as a boy, but as an “It”. As a child Dave’s mother forces him to endure many torturous “games”, which often leave Dave holding on to life by only a thread. The only thing keeping the struggling boy alive was his dream of one day being allowed into a home where people would care for him and love him as their own. When reading this novel you will find yourself going through all of the pain and suffering right by Dave’s side. You will find yourself wishing that the parents who caused this little boy so much pain, will rot in prison for the rest of eternity.
It becomes a routine for the little boy to be sent to the nurse’s office and be inspected for bruises. When injuries are found on the boy’s body he is questioned right away. Dave in turn recites the story that his mother has forced him to tell everyone, in order to keep their home life a secret. Eventually the nurse has had enough and contacts the police who take Dave away to never return home. Beginning the novel by unveiling the ending, Pelzer allows the reader to know that despite all the torture the young boy does find the will to survive.
Pelzer’s childhood was not always filled with abuse and torture. Dave was one of four boys in the Pelzer family. The early years of his life were filled with joy and pleasant times. These glory days were soon over when his mother took a turn for the worse. Dave’s father never seemed to be around because his job as a fireman kept him away from his family for long periods of time. Catherine would drunkenly “fool around” with Dave. She would repeat that if he did not finish his chores she would kill him. One day while forcing Dave to clean the kitchen, though he had not eaten for days, Catherine began waving a kitchen knife around to scare the boy. Soon enough she tripped and stabbed Dave in the chest. Dave’s Mother denied him any medical treatment to his wounds and would just let them heal on their own. Police reports and Teacher interviews offer evidence that support Pelzer’s novel.
Back in the sixties, when Dave was growing up, people in the suburbs kept their home lives on the “down low”. Fortunately now we are aware that children like Dave do exist and it is our mission to remove these children from abusive households. I strongly recommend taking the time to read this story and guarantee that it will grab you in as you become numb with fear and courage for this child’s survival.