Has anyone read 'A Child Called It' or the other Dave Pelzer books?

[niks81]

It's a true story about the 3rd worst case of child abuse in California ever--told by the child that was abused. It's really unbelieveable...I read it in a couple hours. I'm not a mom yet so I don't have that perspective about the things you would do for your kids, etc--but to read how this child was abused is heartbreaking!

The review from Amazon:
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.
Though it's a grim story, A Child Called "It" is very much in the tradition of Chicken Soup for the Couple's Soul and the many books in that upbeat series, whose author Pelzer thanks for helping get his book going. It's all about weathering adversity to find love, and Pelzer is an expert witness.


There are some sequels to this book as well but I haven't gotten to them yet.

So, has anyone else read it?

 

[grinningghost]

My daughter read it. I wanted to read it after her, but she went and lent it out and we haven't seen it since. It sounds really disturbing, but she read it in one day.

 

[piglet too]

I have always been intrigued by the story. However, I just don't know if I could read it as it would be so hard to not cry most of the time as I did read it. Maybe I will pick it up this weekend anyways, I need some soul searchhing material about now.

 

[wdwnutze]

I read all the books he wrote(I think there were 3 of them). A Child Called "It" was very disturbing. It broke my heart to read it. It is horrifying to think that anyone would treat a human being like that let alone their own child. My son had to read this book in 10th grade. Someone I know was going to let their 11yo dd read it but I suggested the mother read it 1st. I wouldn't let my 11yo read it because it is so graphic and disturbing. I will say that if you read 1 of the books, it is worth reading all of them. They are pretty quick reading.

 

[TarraLee]

I've read all 3 of them. The only word I can think of to describe them is heart-wrenching. But defenitely worth the read, and makes you think and appreciate.

 

[niks81]

However, I just don't know if I could read it as it would be so hard to not cry most of the time as I did read it.

I've never cried when reading a book, nor did I think it was possible to. When I read this book I teared up quite a bit. I don't understand how someone could do these things to another human, let alone a child. They were cruel and undeserving...and to be quite honest, I don't know how he made it out of there alive. It really is heartwrenching, but worth the read.

Did anyone else think that part of the cruelty involved in the abuse was her just choosing him to abuse and treating the other boys just fine? I can't imagine how hurtful that must have been at such a young, vulnerable age.

 

[BrerMom]

If this book was interesting to you, you'd probably also like books by Torey Haydn. She was (is?) a special ed teacher and in the process of helping these kids, you get a glimpse into the homelife that sometimes caused the behaviors.

This one was just as sad to me as They Cage The Animals At Night. Can you tell I've studied psychology?

 

[poohandwendy]

I have read his books, everything but the last one. OMG, what a heartbreaking story. Definitely read the other ones, they are inspirational and you get some closure. That man gives strength a whole new meaning.

 

[Kallison]

It seems like every kid in our middle school is fascinated with his books. I'm a bit skeptical as are some of the other teachers. I think he may have embellished to sell books, but that is just my opinion.

 

[poohandwendy]

Did anyone else think that part of the cruelty involved in the abuse was her just choosing him to abuse and treating the other boys just fine? I can't imagine how hurtful that must have been at such a young, vulnerable age.

I cannot clearly remember if this was ever clarified in the subsequent books, but I DO wonder what caused her to single him out?

Did he have a differnt father than the other kids or something? Was there a bad pregnancy/postpartum experience? I can't remember the details....

It was also disturbing how passive the father was in all of this!

 

[poohandwendy]

I think he may have embellished to sell books, but that is just my opinion.

I undertsnad your skepticism, but I would think that his siblings (or others)would have come forward to repute his story, if that were the case.

 

[antbritt]

Originally posted by poohandwendy
I cannot clearly remember if this was ever clarified in the subsequent books, but I DO wonder what caused her to single him out?

Did he have a differnt father than the other kids or something? Was there a bad pregnancy/postpartum experience? I can't remember the details....

It was also disturbing how passive the father was in all of this!

I read all of these books a while back and as far as I can remember the mother was abusive to everyone but one day just decided that Dave was not a child but just an IT She made him sleep in the basement. She did abuse the others but not to the extent of what she did to him as it was not just Physical and emotional abuse but she demoralized and dehumanized him .
It was terribly hard to read these books but I wil say that the message I got from them was that even after the horrific life he had and the unsurmontable odss against him he still survived and not only survived but thrived and continues to do so. He wrote the books to send the message out they we are stronger then we sometimes believe we are. I remember I think it was in either the third book or the self help book he wrote that when the evil woman who gave birth to him was dying she asked for him and I guess some part of his heart thought that she was going to try and apologize but she didnt she was sooooooo pure evil that she wanted to hurt him agiaan . So he did not forgive her at least not to her face and not while she was alive. . .. She was a monster and so pure of evil it makes me sick to think what her went thru ( I mean didnt she stab him one night?) But look at him now!!! You know he old saying what does not kill you makes youstronger?? He is incredible!

 

[poohandwendy]

He is incredible!

He sure is...but why did she single him out? What set him apart in her mind? Was that ever really answered? I cannot recall...

 

[niks81]

It was also disturbing how passive the father was in all of this!

I have a word for a father like that. I better not post it LOL

quote:
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I think he may have embellished to sell books, but that is just my opinion.
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I undertsnad your skepticism, but I would think that his siblings (or others)would have come forward to repute his story, if that were the case.

ITA Wendy

he wrote that when the evil woman who gave birth to him was dying she asked for him and I guess some part of his heart thought that she was going to try and apologize but she didnt she was sooooooo pure evil that she wanted to hurt him agiaan

Crap, I should go back and put spoilers in the title LOL

She was a monster and so pure of evil it makes me sick to think what her went thru ( I mean didnt she stab him one night?) But look at him now!!! You know he old saying what does not kill you makes youstronger?? He is incredible!

Yes, she did stab him and yes, he is really incredible!

 

[niks81]

He sure is...but why did she single him out? What set him apart in her mind? Was that ever really answered? I cannot recall...

I don't know if he really ever answered it? I haven't read the other books but my mom has, and she went to his book signing. She told me that its an illness--something about singling one out for no reason, but usually one that's smaller or weaker and easier to pick on. What is so weird is how motherly and loving she was for the first few years of his life, and then it was like one day she turned on him.


I can't imagine that

 

[cabmom]

When he first wrote his books he was on all the talk shows. What a horrible life to have lived. He is definitely a survivor. I read it within the last 10 yrs and I'll never forget it!

 

[poohandwendy]

The amazing thing is that she really did pretty much everything possible to break his spirit. I mean, the woman was inventive in her evil, sadistic ways. I cannot recall ever reading a more horrific story of abuse, with the exception of 6 yo Lisa Steinberg, who died as a result of her abusive parents (Hedda Nussbaum/Joel Steinberg)

...and yet, he overcame all of that to become a successful and inspirational adult.

 

[phamton]

Originally posted by poohandwendy
I undertsnad your skepticism, but I would think that his siblings (or others)would have come forward to repute his story, if that were the case.

Pat Jordan wrote a feature article in the July 28, 2002 New York Times called "Dysfunction for Dollars" that apparently challenges the veracity of Pelzer's memoirs.

It would cost actual money to get the article out of the NYT archives, so I haven't read it, but it is discussed here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,3605,774950,00.html Apparently, Pelzer's brother challenges his view of events.

There are several things that do not match up with his later accounts in the second, third and fourth books. For example, in the first book, he wrote that his mother was pregnant with his younger brother when he was in the second grade. Since he was held back a year, this would make him eight or nine when his brother was born. Yet in another chapter, which describes a particularly horrible event that took place when he was ten, he describes his younger brother as being four or five. In the second book, he gives the account of running into his brother when he was thirteen or fourteen. He describes his brother as being an older kid, but he wouldn't have been older than six at the time.

In the first book, when he went to the doctor after his mother popped his arm, he says that he could tell that the doctor knew it was no accident. Yet in the fourth book, he says that the same doctor laughed and smiled with his mother, and he describes the feeling of defeat he felt that no one could help him since everyone thought his mother was so nice.

I'm not trying to nit pick, but it seems odd to me that the story changes throughout the series. I'm not suggesting that Dave Pelzer wasn't abused, I just have a hard time with the accounts that don't match up.

My impression was that the major events were probably true (or at least were an accurate reflection of his recollection decades later) but that the details were filled in to make the book more storylike. Which could explain some of the inconsistencies.

 

[niks81]

The amazing thing is that she really did pretty much everything possible to break his spirit.

And guess what, she didn't succeed. Lookat him now....good for him!

 

[niks81]

phamton--I see what you are saying....there are some details that could be mixed up or something, but considering its the 3rd worst in CA history, I doubt that the major accounts are "mixed up". Perhaps some of the details in between are....not sure. Also, keep in mind that there were teachers and foster parents that saw how things were between him and his mom. I believe the day he was turned into Protective Services, the reason was because the teacher noticed he had skin burned off his arm.