A Child Called It
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.
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Dave Pelzer recounts the years his alcoholic mother starved, beat, and dehumanized him in a Bay Area suburb. He slept on a basement cot, ate from the dog's bowl, and learned to play her unpredictable games to survive each day.
Yes. A Child Called It is Dave Pelzer's autobiographical account of severe child abuse he says he experienced from his mother in California during the 1960s and 1970s. The book has faced challenges to its accuracy from some family members, but Pelzer maintains his account is true.
Yes. Dave Pelzer followed it with The Lost Boy and A Man Named Dave, which together form a trilogy following his life through foster care and into adulthood. He has since written additional motivational and memoir works.
A Child Called It contains graphic depictions of child abuse, starvation, neglect, and emotional manipulation. The content is intense and not recommended for younger readers or anyone sensitive to depictions of abuse.
A Child Called It was written by David J. Pelzer, published in 1987 by BCA.
A Child Called It is 168 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, A Child Called It takes most readers 3 to 4 hours to finish.
A Child Called It is a standalone novel by David J. Pelzer, not part of a series.
A Child Called It is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.
