“A Child Called ‘It”’ is a true story written by Dave Pelzer. The book is a memoir, which means it tells about the author’s real life. In this book, Dave shares the painful story of his childhood and how he survived many years of abuse from his mother. The story is very emotional and shows how strong a person can be even in the hardest situations.
Early Life
At the beginning of the story, Dave’s life seems happy and normal. He lives with his parents and brothers in Daly City. His mother used to be kind and caring. She cooked big meals for the family, kept the house clean, and took the kids on trips. Dave remembers celebrating holidays and feeling loved by his parents.
However, things slowly begin to change. Dave’s mother starts to act very differently. She begins to treat Dave much worse than his brothers. Over time, her behavior becomes very cruel. She punishes Dave often and refuses to give him enough food. Sometimes he has to search for scraps just to survive. She also forces him to do hard chores and punishes him in painful ways.
As the abuse continues, Dave’s mother stops calling him by his name and instead calls him “It.” This makes Dave feel like he is not even a person anymore. His father sometimes sees what is happening but does very little if anything at all to stop it. Dave’s brothers also stay quiet because they are afraid of their mother.
At school, Dave struggles because he is always hungry and tired. His clothes are dirty, and he sometimes has injuries. Some teachers begin to notice that something is wrong. Dave tries his best to act normal, but it becomes harder to hide the truth.
Positivity
Even though Dave’s life is extremely difficult, he never completely loses hope. He begins to believe that if he can just survive long enough, someone might help him. After years of suffering, many teachers and school staff members realize that Dave is being abused. They contact the authorities to investigate the situation. Eventually, Dave is rescued by child protective services. For the first time in many years, he is taken away from his abusive home and placed into foster care. Although his life is still challenging, it is the beginning of a safer and better future.
“The ending is clearly put in the beginning so that the reader knows Dave escapes his abuse, ” added Danielle Allen, veteran English teacher. “It bothered me at first, but after I finished reading the book I understood why Peltzer wrote it that way. I think I would have be emotionally distraught if he had saved it for the end. Arranging it the way he did reassures us that he made it through and we can make it through terrible situations.”
“It”
Overall, A Child Called “It” is a powerful and emotional book. One thing readers may like about the book is how brave Dave is. Even though he goes through terrible experiences, he keeps fighting to survive. Some readers may find parts of the book difficult to read. The story includes many sad and upsetting moments. Because it is based on real events, the emotions can feel very intense. Some readers might also wish the story included more details about Dave’s life after he was rescued. Another thing people may like about the book is that it raises awareness about child abuse because of how in depth it in. It shows how important it is for adults, teachers, and communities to pay attention when a child might need help.
In my opinion, this book is very powerful and important. It shows how strong the human spirit can be even during the worst situations. While it can be a hard story to read, it teaches important lessons about kindness, courage, and helping others who may be suffering.
