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    A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive
    A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive
    A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive
    Ebook132 pages2 hours

    A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive

    By Dave Pelzer

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    This book chronicles the unforgettable account of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. It is the story of Dave Pelzer, who was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother: a mother who played tortuous, unpredictable games--games that left him nearly dead. He had to learn how to play his mother's games in order to survive because she no longer considered him a son, but a slave; and no longer a boy, but an "it."

    Dave's bed was an old army cot in the basement, and his clothes were torn and raunchy. When his mother allowed him the luxury of food, it was nothing more than spoiled scraps that even the dogs refused to eat. The outside world knew nothing of his living nightmare. He had nothing or no one to turn to, but his dreams kept him alive--dreams of someone taking care of him, loving him and calling him their son.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHealth Communications Inc EB
    Release dateJan 1, 2010
    ISBN9780757396076
    Author

    Dave Pelzer

    Dave Pelzer has experienced a truly adventurous extraordinary life. At age 12, Dave was rescued and placed in a series of foster homes until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at age 18. As a member of the armed forces, Dave was hand-picked to midair refuel the then highly secretive SR-71 Blackbird and the F-117 Stealth Fighter. Some of Dave’s distinctive accomplishments have been recognized through several prestigious awards, as well as personal commendations from four U.S. Presidents. In 1993, Dave was honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans, joining a distinguished group including John F. Kennedy and Walt Disney. In 1994, Dave was the only American to be honored as The Outstanding Young Persons of the World! In 2005, Dave was the recipient of the National Jefferson Award, which is considered the Pulitzer Prize of public service.   Unbeknownst to the general public, from 2006 to 2010, while at extreme risk plus using his own time and expense, Dave spent weeks at a time visiting the troops in the Middle East and South West Asia, providing counseling and comedic presentations to embedded troops. For nearly a decade, when not on the road speaking, performing radio presentations, or offering counseling services, Dave serves his community as a volunteer Fire Captain for two separate districts. He has served in many explosive fires, floods, and other natural disasters. For his efforts, Dave was twice selected as Volunteer Firefighter of the Year. Dave is the author of nine inspirational books. Dave’s first book, A Child Called “It” was on the New York Times Best Sellers List for a record setting six years. His books were on the same Best Sellers List well over twelve years. Dave was the first author to have four # 1 International Best Sellers and to have four books simultaneously on the New York Times Best Sellers List. Dave is a living testament of a self-made man who has dedicated his life to helping others . . . to help themselves. He is the host of the podcast, The Dave Pelzer Show, providing humor, advice, and tools to help listeners make positive, productive changes. Visit: www.davepelzer.com.

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    Reviews for A Child Called It

    4/5

    2,554 ratings157 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I read this years ago and saw it in the library yesterday and decided to revisit it. The author tells about his life of extreme child abuse at home while a young boy from the age of 4 to 12 years old before being rescued by a school teacher and put into foster care. His mother in his very early years was a nurturing and loving mother, but turned into an abusive alcoholic who forced him to wear worn out clothes, beat him severely, starved him and forced him to eat feces from his brother's diaper, his own vomit after stealing frozen hot dogs from school and puts him in the bathroom with a ghastly mixture of clorox and ammonia.It is gut-wrenching, riveting, but also inspirational as he is determined not to let his mother take control of him and turns is label of "bad boy" and is motivated to overcome whatever trials he is faced with and rise above it.
    • 4/5
      A difficult read, but one cannot help but admire the courage Mr. Pelzer demonstrated as a child and later as an adult.
    • 5/5
      CB: Realistic FictionThis is a book about a young child who suffers from abuse from his mother with a father who is complacent and careless. He is faced with many obstacles between abuse, neglect, and family violence. This is a great book for troubled students to read on how to get out of an abusive life style.
    • 5/5
      Definitiv kein Buch für schwache Nerven - es ist schon Jahre her, dass ich es gelesen habe, aber ich bin noch immer erschüttert, wenn ich daran denke. Nahezu unglaublich finde ich, dass ein einziger Tag, in dem sie sich um ihn kümmerte dazu ausreichte, dass er gegenüber der Frau vom Jugendamt sagte, er wäre glücklich - und nur Minuten nach deren Weggang bereits wieder misshandelt wurde....
    • 5/5
      David Pelzer book A Child Called 'It' takes you into a world of child abuse that you never thought exist. It is a very heart-wrenching tale of young David's life at the hands of his mother. hard to put down and a sad page turner that not only gives insight into the world of child abuse, but how other people view it and may or may not help until it is too late.
    • 5/5
      I first read this book in the sixth grade and I loved it! I've read it many many more times after that! Great book about child abuse. Too bad it really happened!
    • 5/5
      Book review by Danielle S., posted by CA Library:"The book A Child Called It is a fantastic book written by David Pelzer. I loved the way he wrote down his everyday life with such detail throughout his childhood years.It is a very heart compelling book. I would definitely recommend this book to teens and adults. I would also recommend this book who like stories about abused and beaten kids with happy endings. The way he wrote A Child Called It makes me feel as if I knew him or like he was family. The book starts off in the future and then redirects back into the past. I can not wait to read the other books and see how his life continues after he went to the adoption agency. The story made me realize how bad some people have it and that sometimes no one, not even family notices. Or that so many kids don’t speak up about abuse; even when they are beaten almost to death. The only complaint I would have is that I do not have any complaints. I would rate the book a tem out of ten."
    • 5/5
      This book REALLY made me appreciate everything I have. This book made me realize what I have to be grateful for the things I have in my life. The fight the boy had to go through makes us love him more and more. 5/5 DR (9th grade) I chose this book because it was recommended by a friend. AG
    • 5/5
      This book is about David Pelzer who faced horrible abiuse. I read this book just recently my mom was a social worker and told me to read it. This book is so sad the mom was a good mom at the begining but then she really became a horrible monster, she would submerge David in freezing cold water, make him sit on a burning stove, stabbed him, made him eat his throw up and etc. This book is not for someone who is very weak minded. My Personal Reaction: This book saddened me because kids really do live this way and are sometimes not saved for many years. Although it was a great book it is not for Elementary students to read more for High school aged children and up. I have also read the sequels to this book and they are just as amazing!Classroom extensions: Could be for high school students to write how this book made them feel.
    • 5/5
      This story broke my heart, reading about the abuse that took place. Maybe this book well help some people who suffer from abuse or ones that are the abusers.
    • 4/5
      Dave Pelzer had a loving family (mom, dad, brothers) when he was little, but something in his mother changed when he hit about 4 or 5 years old. Suddenly, she would single him out and beat him savagely... He was ordered to sleep in the garage or basement – he was only allowed inside to do chores, he was treated as a slave. He was “punished” often and cruelly, he would often not be fed (for days at a time). And there's more! Only Dave was singled out for this treatment, not his brothers. He was an outcast in his own home. His father was no help. This is his story from when he was little until he was finally “rescued” by his teachers in grade 5.This was horrifying, I don't even know what else to say about it. This is the first in a trilogy of Dave's life. My one “complaint” about the book – his story could probably be told in one book, rather than three. However, it was very fast to read because it was so short.
    • 5/5
      > Read for a class during my Education degree.
    • 5/5
      I was asked to read this book while I was training to be a CASA (court appointed special advocate) volunteer several years ago. This book has reamined in my mind ever since. Although a disturbing read I believe everyone should read this book in order to fully appreciate how a child thinks when going through something as traumatic as child abuse. It truly shows that no matter what an abusive parent does to a child that child still loves and yearns for acceptance from their abuser/parent. Not for the faint of heart but an essential read all the same.
    • 4/5
      This was a really strong book. but it was good. it tells you about how the little boy had to live in a abusive home with his drunk mother. and no one at school pays any attention. but finally someone does and they want to tell the cops but the boy is to scared to tell them, cause then he will get beat even more. when you read this book you will be really shocked, because you will see that no matter what a drunk/abusive parent does to their child, the child will still love and want to be loved by that abusive parent. i cried so much while reading this book. i understand exactly why he wants to still show love and wants to get love back from his mother, because i am going threw what he went threw to. so i understand why he is trying so hard to get his mothers love. every child wants the love of their parent, even if the parent is abusive and drinks alot.
    • 5/5
      This is a tragic but inspirational story of a young boy who was abused by his mother and how he survived and escaped his tormented childhood. It may make you cry, maybe even angry that a mother could be so cruel to her child, but it will definitely make you smile at the courage of this young boy. There are additional titles that detail the life of this boy through adolescence and adulthood; an inspiration human being. I would definitely recommend.
    • 4/5
      Obviously this was a very hard book to read... yet it was written for younger readers so it was horrible, yet not graphic. I think he did a great job of relating the pain, anger, and fear of his childhood in a way young people today will understand and be outraged by without being so specific and graphic as to scar readers for life. Overall, it's quite a book.
    • 4/5
      this book was a sad book and is a good book.the good things was how the writer used good discription and the story kept me reading.
    • 4/5
      Memoir. Makes you question whether we should in fact have some sort of application process for childbearing, because obviously some people should not be allowed to have children. What Dave Pelzer endures as a child is remarkable.
    • 4/5
      A Child Called "It" is a story about a boy who is abused by his mother growing up. It's a really good book, but I think only older teens should read it. It has a lot of swear words in it.
    • 4/5
      It is good it is about a boy who gets abused so if you like those books then read them.
    • 4/5
      This book is shocking on so many levels. The first thing is- how could this slip past authorities for five years? It's somewhat shocking that he didn't die. How, when school authorities did know what happened, was it that his mother was never locked up? People need to read this- to know what's out there, and to stop it from happening again.
    • 4/5
      Wow, how sad. How can a parent put any human being, never mind their own child through that?? Sad, sad, sad, but good.
    • 3/5
      This book was very sad. The author went through hell with his mother, and was able to clearly convey it on the pages of this book.
    • 4/5
      What I liked about this book was the story line that just happened to be based on a true story. It was sad and this book could make you feel the little boy's suffering and pain, but it made you not want to put the book down. I thought I was going to cry at times reading certain parts, and in other parts, I didn't want to eat because of the gross description it had given you. You could feel like you were there when all these bad things were happening.
    • 3/5
      A child called it is a real story and david pelzer, the author is the one it happened to.Which makes it even sadder.I have only gotten a few chapters into the book but so far i found out that the child is abused by his mother while his father is gone. She has 3 kids and treats her two little ones well but hates the other. I dont know how a mother can treat there child like that. She gave birth to him so why would she want to hurt him?
    • 5/5
      Dave wants to be loved, but his mom keeps abusing him by playing her little "games" with him. So he trys to escape the hurt by being with teachers and others people around the neighborhood.
    • 5/5
      This book is about a child being abused by his mother. This takes place when the child was 4 to 12 and in Daly City, California. It begins on the day of March 5, 1973. This is the story of Dave Pelzer. The characters are very, very believable. I dont like any of the characters because they are abused or they are very messed up. I don't relate with any of these characters. I havent felt as bad as the main character. The conflict in this story is that the child is being abused. His mother does bad things to him. The problem in the story is never resolved,but it get worser. I dont like the ending because it is still the same like it was in the middle. The worst thing that happened in this story is when his mother is washing dishes and gets frustrated at him and stabs him with the nife. This story wasn't very nice story but it makes you think. The very first think that I would change in this story the way the main character is. The thing that I learned from this story is that child abuse is very very bad. Very one that is mature should read this book. It made me cry.
    • 5/5
      I read 128 pages. David Pelzer's story showed how someones life can change in a matter as one day. One day, he had a loving Mom, the next day, alcohol made her mad. He was abused in so many ways you wouldn't even think about. The abuse he's been through are so unimaginable. When teachers found out about it, Mother had a made up excuse. The abuse continued and later, it seemed as just a game of survival to Dave. He was brainwashed into thinking he deserved to be hit by his mom. At as young as age 7, David thought that it was NORMAL. And no one could do anything about it. His mom controlled everyone; his brothers, and his father. They couldn't do anything to help. He had no family, friends, food, nothing. To survive, he stole food, but later his mom found out and made him throw up as evidence. Every time a teacher would question the mother about Dave, she makes up excuses but Dave is too afraid to speak up. Even when the child services talk to Dave he is too afraid to speak. All he wants to do is get away, but he's afraid his mom will be waiting for him with a punch or worse. David is very determined to get things done, but hes frightened to say what he thinks because he knows whatever he does, will have a consequence. I'm just like him. Im determined to get things done, but sometimes, i can be afraid to speak my mind because of what other might think. I already recommended this book to most of my family. I think people who like biographies, or want to know more about the world would enjoy reading this.
    • 3/5
      A really sad story. To think that some parents can be so cruel. Glad Mr. Pelzer is leading a happy life now.
    • 5/5
      When I read this book I thought that if anyone touched the book itself that the child would die. That is how much his drunken mom beat him........ It was almost to death!! I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good book to read anyday!!!!!!!

    Book preview

    A Child Called It - Dave Pelzer

    CHAPTER

    1

    The

    Rescue

    March 5, 1973, Daly City, California—I’m late. I’ve got to finish the dishes on time, otherwise no breakfast; and since I didn’t have dinner last night, I have to make sure I get something to eat. Mother’s running around yelling at my brothers. I can hear her stomping down the hallway towards the kitchen. I dip my hands back into the scalding rinse water. It’s too late. She catches me with my hands out of the water.

    SMACK! Mother hits me in the face, and I topple to the floor. I know better than to stand there and take the hit. I learned the hard way that she takes that as an act of defiance, which means more hits, or worst of all, no food. I regain my posture and dodge her looks, as she screams into my ears.

    I act timid, nodding to her threats. Please, I say to myself, just let me eat. Hit me again, but I have to have food. Another blow pushes my head against the tile counter top. I let the tears of mock defeat stream down my face as she storms out of the kitchen, seemingly satisfied with herself. After I count her steps, making sure she’s gone, I breathe a sigh of relief. The act worked. Mother can beat me all she wants, but I haven’t let her take away my will to somehow survive.

    I finish the dishes, then my other chores. For my reward I receive breakfast—leftovers from one of my brother’s cereal bowls. Today it’s Lucky Charms. There are only a few bits of cereal left in a half of a bowl of milk, but as quickly as I can, I swallow it before Mother changes her mind. She has done that before. Mother enjoys using food as her weapon. She knows better than to throw leftovers in the garbage can. She knows I’ll dig it out later. Mother knows most of my tricks.

    Minutes later I’m in the old family station wagon. Because I’m so late with my chores, I have to be driven to school. Usually I run to school, arriving just as class begins, with no time to steal any food from other kids’ lunch boxes.

    Mother drops my oldest brother off, but keeps me for a lecture about her plans for me tomorrow. She is going to take me to her brother’s house. She says Uncle Dan will take care of me. She makes it a threat. I give her a frightened look as if I am truly afraid. But I know that even though my uncle is a hard-nosed man, he surely won’t treat me like Mother does.

    Before the station wagon comes to a complete stop, I dash out of the car. Mother yells for me to return. I have forgotten my crumpled lunch bag, which has always had the same menu for the last three years—two peanut butter sandwiches and a few carrot sticks. Before I bolt out of the car again, she says, Tell ‘em … Tell ‘em you ran into the door. Then in a voice she rarely uses with me, she states, Have a nice day. I look into her swollen red eyes. She still has a hangover from last night’s stupor. Her once beautiful, shiny hair is now frazzled clumps. As usual, she wears no makeup. She is overweight, and she knows it. In all, this has become Mother’s typical look.

    Because I am so late, I have to report to the administrative office. The gray-haired secretary greets me with a smile. Moments later, the school nurse comes out and leads me into her office, where we go through the normal routine. First, she examines my face and arms. What’s that above your eye? she asks.

    I nod sheepishly, Oh, I ran into the hall door … by accident.

    Again she smiles and takes a clipboard from the top of a cabinet. She flips though a page or two, then bends down to show me. Here, she points to the paper, You said that last Monday. Remember?

    I quickly change my story, I was playing baseball and got hit by the bat. It was an accident. Accident. I am always supposed to say that. But the nurse knows better. She scolds me so I’ll tell the truth. I always break down in the end and confess, even though I feel I should protect my mother.

    The nurse tells me that I’ll be fine and asks me to take off my clothes. We have been doing this since last year, so I immediately obey. My long-sleeve shirt has more holes than Swiss cheese. It’s the same shirt I’ve worn for about two years. Mother has me wear it every day as her way to humiliate me. My pants are just as bad, and my shoes have holes in the toes. I can wiggle my big toe out of one of them. While I stand clothed only in my underwear, the nurse records my various marks and bruises on the clipboard. She counts the slash-like marks on my face, looking for any she might have missed in the past. She is very thorough. Next, the nurse opens my mouth to look at my teeth that are chipped from having been slammed against the kitchen tile counter top. She jots a few more notes on the paper. As she continues to look me over, she stops at the old scar on my stomach. And that, she says as she takes a deep swallow, is where she stabbed you?

    Yes, ma’am, I reply. Oh no! I tell myself, I’ve done something wrong … again. The nurse must have seen the concern in my eyes. She puts the clipboard down and hugs me. God, I tell myself, She is so warm. I don’t want to let go. I want to stay in her arms forever. I hold my eyes tightly shut, and for a few moments nothing else exists. She pats my head. I flinch from the swollen bruise Mother gave me this morning. The nurse then breaks the embrace and leaves the room. I rush to put my clothes back on. She doesn’t know it, but I do everything as fast as possible.

    The nurse returns in a few minutes with Mr. Hansen the principal, and two of my teachers, Miss Woods and Mr. Ziegler. Mr. Hansen knows me very well. I’ve been in his office more than any other kid in school. He looks at the paper, as the nurse reports her findings. He lifts my chin. I’m afraid to look into his eyes, which is mostly a habit from trying to deal with my mother. But it’s also because I don’t want to tell him anything. Once, about a year ago, he called Mother to ask about my bruises. At that time, he had no idea what was really going on. He just knew I was a troubled kid who was stealing food. When I came to school the next day, he saw the results of Mother’s beatings. He never called her again.

    Mr. Hansen barks he’s had enough of this. I almost leap out of my skin with fear. He’s going to call Mother again! my brain screams. I break down and cry. My body shakes like jello and I mumble like a baby, begging Mr. Hansen not to phone Mother. Please! I whine, Not today! Don’t you understand, it’s Friday?

    Mr. Hansen assures me he’s not going to call Mother, and sends me off to class. Since it’s too late for homeroom class, I sprint directly to Mrs. Woodworth’s English class. Today’s a spelling test on all the states and their capitals. I’m not prepared. Usually I’m a very good student, but for the past few months I gave up on everything in my life, including escaping my misery through my school-work.

    Upon entering the room, all the students plug their noses and hiss at me. The substitute teacher, a younger woman, waves her hands in front of her face. She’s not used to my smell. At arm’s length she hands my test to me, but before I can take my seat in the back of the class by an open window, I’m summoned back to the principal’s office. The entire room lets out a howl at me—the reject of the fifth grade.

    I run to the administration office, and I’m there in a flash. My throat is raw and still burns from yesterday’s game Mother played against me. The secretary leads me into the teachers’ lounge. After she opens the door, it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust. In front of me, sitting around a table, are my homeroom teacher Mr. Ziegler, my math teacher Miss Moss, the school nurse, Mr. Hansen and a police officer. My feet become frozen. I don’t know whether to run away or wait for the roof to cave in. Mr. Hansen waves me in, as the secretary closes the door behind me. I take a seat at the head of the table, explaining I didn’t steal anything … today. Smiles break everyone’s depressed frowns. I have no idea that they are about to risk their jobs to save me.

    The police officer explains why Mr. Hansen called him. I can feel myself shrink into the chair. The officer asks that I tell him about Mother. I shake my head no. Too many people already know the secret, and I know she’ll find out. A soft voice calms me. I think it’s Miss Moss. She tells me it’s all right. I take a deep breath, wring my hands and reluctantly tell them about Mother and me. Then the nurse has me stand up and show the policeman the scar on my chest. Without hesitation, I tell them it was an accident; which it was—Mother never meant to stab me. I cry as I spill my guts, telling them Mother punishes me because I am bad. I wish they would leave me alone. I feel so slimy inside. I know after all these years there is nothing anyone can do.

    A few minutes later, I am excused to sit in the outer office. As I close the door, all the adults look at me and shake their heads in an approving way. I fidget in my chair, watching the secretary type papers. It seems forever before Mr. Hansen calls me back into the room. Miss Woods and Mr. Ziegler leave the lounge. They seem happy, but at the same time worried. Miss Woods kneels down

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