A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer

A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive by Dave Pelzer

Synopsis: Amazon.com Review

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.

Grade: A-

Review

A Child Called "It" is a different breed of horror story. This book goes to show how one's life can go from seemingly perfect to a wretched nightmare. I found myself, at times, wanting to cry, scream, and/or quit reading the book altogether. Never have I read a book that has evoked so much emotion from me the way this one did. Dave Pelzer wrote so vividly that I could see everything happening. I can't even imagine what it must have been like to write this, though I can guess it wasn't easy. I think everyone should read this book and help shed a light on the problem of child abuse.

Overall
Heartbreaking story of one boy's struggle to survive. Not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.

Cover: A+
I can't really think of anything I would change about the cover. It fits the book perfectly.