A Child Called It

A Child Called It: One Child’s Courage to Survive by David Pelzer has become a classic because of its compelling story. Unfortunately this is memoir of unspeakable child abuse. The child is innocent and the mother is an alcoholic crazy person. The father is apathetic and the brothers helpless to do anything but watch. It will turn your stomach, yet you can’t stop turning the pages. This book does have a sequel which is worth the read as well entitled The Lost Boy: A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family. Pelzer did somehow miraculously survive this revolting abuse by his strength of spirit. How the mother even came up with the ideas to do the things she did to a child are completely beyond a rational human being. This book is like watching a car accident, you can’t stop looking or reading. It is fascinating in its horrific detail.

Reluctant readers like to read this A Child Called It, as do kids who don’t especially appreciate their lives. After reading this however that does change making this a powerful read. There is some press out there saying that Pelzer made some of this stuff up, but I personally don’t see how he could have and the brothers do admit to abuse in the home. One teacher was vocal about her concerns luckily, which seems to be why Pelzer was able to write this book. The book is easy to read and is written in the child’s point of view while the abuse is unthinkable, and I think that is why this book appeals to readers who are difficult to appeal to. Readers grow sorrier and sorrier for Pelzer as they read, but realize what kind of admirable inner strength he must have had as a child, not only write this book but to live at all.

195 Pages
Lexile: 850L