Preview

Book Report on 'a Child Called It'

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
579 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Book Report on 'a Child Called It'
Book report
‘A child called it’ by Dave Pelzer

This book is based on 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 scruffy. 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, these dreams of someone taking care of him, loving him and calling him their son. What happens when the only hero you have is your dad, and he leaves? What happens when your mother doesn’t even bother to feed you? What do you do when you have to wear the same ripped clothes everyday, when your brothers get new clothes? What would you do if your brothers were treated with care, and you were abused? What happens when the school nurse checks your body and see’s cuts, bruises, and bite marks? What are you suppose to tell her? What do you do when you can’t tell anyone what’s happening to you? What would you do in those situations? Would you tell someone? In Dave’s case, he couldn’t tell anyone. If he did, his mother would abuse him more than he was already abused. Those terrifying questions were part of one little boys threatening life. It ends with his heroic survivor experiences as he grew up.

I don’t really read a lot of books but I had to read this book for Psychology and originally thought I don’t want to read this book as its going to really upset me. When I started to read it though, I was immediately drawn to it

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    The father begins spending less and less time at home, resulting in Dave getting even more beatings from his mother because she is blaming him for the issues in her marriage. That summer the family goes on a vacation and it seems as if Dave and his mother are getting along better until one day he is playing with his brothers and she scolds him for being too loud and is not allowed to go with them to the slide. Dave's mother punishes him even further by taking a dirty diaper and smearing it in his face, trying to get him to eat it. When he refuses she hits him and then the abuse stops long enough for her to tend to the baby and then she rubs another dirty diaper into Dave's face and tells him again to eat it. Just in time, the family returns and the abuse stops with his mother throwing a washcloth at him to clean himself up and then forces him to sit in the corner for the remainder of the night. The next chapter has Dave's father coming home even less, but when he does he helps Dave to wash the dishes. When his mother scolds his father saying the boy should not be helped, Dave's father becomes rarely seen at…

    • 1633 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Antwone never had anyone to talk to or someone to listen to his problems. Dr. Jerome Davenport is the first person to hear Antwone Fisher’s story and guides this young man to find light in his life. Dr. Davenport hears all about Antwone’s rough life, from his father being killed before he was born and his 17 year old prison inmate mother giving him up for adoption. He got stuck in a foster home where he had to endure emotional and physical violence, and his foster ‘auntie’ abused him sexually, verbally and abusively.…

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The book A Child Called It is an autobiography about a boy whose mom starved him nearly to death. This book was extremely sad has and has made me realize how well I have it. I get fed every single day morning and night. But in the book Dave didn’t get food for three days even stabbed him. How does a mother do this to her own son. I wish his dad would try to step in and help him more often. Yes I know that he helps, but I don’t think that he helps nearly enough. on average he went a full 10 days without food at one point. It sad how his mom thinks this it’s a game. She was a very mean, wicked, sick mother who actually gave her own son ammonia and Sometimes Dave’s dad helps him load the dishwasher and give him motivation…

    • 260 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In California in 1973, Dave's life story was identified as one of the most gruesome and extreme cases of child abuse in then history. Dave had stated in his book, A Child Called "It" that "his mother would punish him, for "Mouthing Off" by making her special batch of ammonia and Clorox and locking him in the bathroom." ( Pelzer, 1995, p. 142). At the age of 12 he was finally rescued and in and out a series of foster homes. Then at the age of 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.…

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Who Is Edmund Kemper?

    • 1312 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Edmund Kemper was born in Santa Cruz, California in 1948. Edmund was born into a dysfunctional family and his parents divorced when he was nine years old. After his parents’ divorce, Edmund lived with his mother who grotesquely mistreated him. Edmund’s mother employed an authoritarian parenting style and punished him with severe punishments when he failed to meet her standards. For instance, Edmund’s mother locked him in the basement for significant periods of time. Edmund’s harsh punishments left him with feelings of inadequacy and a deep hatred towards his mother (Wright & Hensley, 2003).…

    • 1312 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer. Dave was a survivor of the third worst case of child abuse in California history. He has recapped no some of his abuse in this book. David’s story was so sad but interesting cause of all the things that has happened. I would recommend this book to other people because it puts your life in a different prospective.…

    • 453 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The tale starts with The Rescue, March 5, 1973. Having had his head smashed into the kitchen counter that morning for some minor offense, the 12-year-old Dave is sent to the school nurse upon arriving at school. It is a familiar routine for the child; he lies to the nurse about the bruise on his head, spouting the ridiculous explanation his mother has instructed him to recite. The nurse, once again, doesn't believe him and checks her file on the boy. Bruises, cuts, malnutrition, and, of course, the stab wound: it's quite a thick file.…

    • 2120 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Pelzer is recognized as one of the nation’s most effective and respected communicators, addressing corporate groups, convention and human service professionals. His book A Child Called “It” describes from his viewpoint about the severe abuse he suffered as a child. In the story, Pelzer tells the readers about the abuse of his Mother and how she would starve, torture, and beat him until the point where he couldn’t get up. Until 1973 at the age of 12 he was sent to a foster family. “It is important for people to know that no matter what lies in their past, they can overcome the dark side and press on the a brighter…

    • 757 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Laurie Halse Anderson

    • 843 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The main character goes through so much and ends up overcoming things others said put on him. I think I connected with this book on a personal level and this pushed me to do things I wouldn’t originally planned…

    • 843 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the story ‘ Schroeder’s Stepfather’ we meet John Schroeder a thirty six year old married man, who has suffered from identity, verbal, and sexual abuse from his stepfather and his mother since he was eight until he left home at sixteen. John Schroeder was not his real name.…

    • 760 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In more serious cases Dave was pretty lucky to make it through his childhood some kids are killed by their parents. There are several other books by authors telling their own abuse stories from their life’s. Dave wrote sequels to this book the next book is called “Lost Boy” it’s about his life in foster care. The last book is called “A Man Named Dave” it’s about the rest of his…

    • 467 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Child Called It Summary

    • 356 Words
    • 2 Pages

    "A Child Called "It" is David Pelzer's tale of abuse and neglect as a young child. David begins his story talking about the physical hits he is taking from his mother while doing dishes and trying to find out where he can find some food. After finishing the dishes he is rewarded with the leftovers from one of his brother's cereal bowls. When he arrives at school he finds social workers there who have to interview him, and he is removed from his home. He has been rescued.…

    • 356 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    When I was presented the assignment to read the award winning novel “A Child called it” by David Pelzer I had mixed feelings. I remember last semester a couple of my friends were reading the novel for their school, family, and community class. They told me about the book they had to read and how it was disturbing and some parts were unbearable to read. They revealed it was about a boy who is abused in the worst ways, and nobody does anything about it. Once receiving the book as well as the assignment I began reading it so I could have my own interpretation about the book. While reading through the novel I felt as it I was right next to David in all the situations he goes through. I felt as if I hated his manipulating mother, spineless father, and emotionless brothers just as much as David did.…

    • 1232 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Lost Boy

    • 999 Words
    • 4 Pages

    “The Lost Boy” is an emotional non-fiction story, an autobiography, of Dave Pelzer’s difficult trials of child abuse and experience in foster care. It is a tale of a young boy who lives in isolation and fear searching for a place to call home, for a family. “The Lost Boy” encompasses themes of love, hate, and ultimate triumph.…

    • 999 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    “At the age of seven, a young boy and his family were forced out of their home. The boy had to work to support his family. At the age of nine, his mother passed away. When he grew up, the young man was keen to go to law school, but had no education. At 22, he lost his job as a store clerk. At 23, he ran for state legislature and lost. The same year, he went into business. It failed, leaving him with a debt that took him 17 years to repay. At 27, he had a nervous breakdown.…

    • 1215 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays