My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A Child Called “It” is probably one of the saddest, most upsetting books that I have ever read. This book was amazing, and I can say that it definitely changed my life forever. A Child Called “It” is about one of the worst child abuse cases in California history, written by the child who actually experienced it, David Pelzer.
At some points in the story, it is so hard to imagine that it really happened. At some points, what this child goes through is so horrific, that you really sit back and think, I have it good. Reading this book most definitely made me so much more thankful for what I have, and how lucky I am to have the parents that I do. I had to remind myself at some points that he survived. I actually thought that he was going to die on many occasions, and seeing that he made it gave me so much hope. This child had the strength to make it through all of this, and make something of himself. He was brave enough to stand up and say, I will not let this stop me. I will survive.
David’s mother played harmful, nasty games with him, that left him hurt, both physically and emotionally. She started beating and starving him at the age of four, and whenever something really bad would happen, or she would hurt him to the point that he could not function enough to do chores, she would try to make light of it. She dislocated his shoulder once, and waited until morning to tell him that he had fallen out of the bunk bed, and took him to the ER with that same story. As he got older, the beatings and “games” got more severe. If he “misbehaved” he would be locked in the bathroom with a bucket of ammonia and Clorox mixed, and have to stay in there for hours, vomiting blood afterwards. David’s mother was once so drunk that she commanded him to lay on top of the gas stove so she could watch him burn. She said that he made her life a living hell, so she wanted him to know what hell felt like. Thankfully, on that night, he stalled her enough to get away when his father came home. This was when David realized that he could beat her at her own sick games, and he could win.
At some points, even David wished that he didn’t have to keep going on. In one particular part of the book, he “would have been relieved if she had returned with a knife and ended it all.” When this quote was taken, Dave had just brought home a wonderful letter from his teacher saying that his parents should be proud of him for naming the school news paper. After seeing this letter, his mother replied, “Well, aren’t you special.” Her voice changes to a sneer, cold as ice. “Get one thing straight, you little son of a bitch! There is nothing you can do to impress me! Do you understand me? You are a nobody! An It! You are nonexistent! You are a bastard child! I hate you and I wish you were dead! Dead! Do you hear me? Dead!”
Eventually, around 5th grade, David confided in his school nurse. He showed her all of the bruises, and even the scar from when she accidentally stabbed him (she dropped a steak knife and it fell on him, but she spent the whole night cleaning him up, letting him play with his brothers, giving him hugs and staying by his bedside, but eventually letting things return to normal-the next day). The school nurse had a conference with the principal, and a few of David’s teachers, and then called the police. David was taken away from his mother finally. His hard effort, determination, and strength paid off. An officer escorted him from the school to get his belongings, and head out of town.
“Dave Pelzer,” the officer says, “you’re free..... You have nothing to worry about. Your mother is never going to hurt you again.”
David sits back, a tear running down his cheek, and thinks, “I’m free?”
I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone. This book is a classic, that will change your outlook and value of your life. Be prepared to cry, as this book is definitely a sad one. You have a rare look into the life of an abused child. You think back to when you were a child, and how much better your life was then this poor kid. You also think, how many kids have I met that were abused that just kept their mouth shut? Child abuse is a terrible thing, but unfortunately, an estimated 1 in 5 children are physically, emotionally, or sexually abused in the United States, and the number is growing. In 1990, over 2.5 million child abuse cases were reported. in 1991, the number increased to more than 2.7 million. As of the writing of this book (1993 originally)--over 3 million. In 2009, there were also 3 million cases. It is estimated that every 13 seconds, a child is abused. People need to become more informed of this awful crime, and put a stop to it. Many people think that Dave Pelzer made this whole story up, that he was delusional, but I do not think that this is true.
I think that whoever reads this book should go into it with an open mind, and heart, because you will need both. You will realize many things, and feel the pain of this poor child, and know that you want a difference to be made.
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AWESOME!
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