A Child Called "It" Is a Book You Will Never Forget! (Helping Hands Write-Off)

This review is my contribution to the Helping Hands Write-Off sponsored by bgoodday. All proceeds from these contributions are to be donated to the cause of the author's choice. Please read below the review for more information and a list of participants.

A Child Called "It" is the kind of book that you can read cover to cover in one sitting. It is one of the few books I have ever read that have held my attention in this manner.

It is a true story of the life and the terrible abuse suffered by a little boy named David Pelzer. This is the first in a series of three books about his life. This book covers his life from age 4 through 12 years of age. His tragic story is continued in two other books, The Lost boy and A Man Called Dave.

David's story begins with a very loving family who somehow turn against him and the torture and abuse begin for young David. While David's brothers were treated well, he was treated as a slave. He was made to clean up after his family while he was being starved and mistreated.

A Child Called "It" was written by David Pelzer of his own life as the child who was never called by his own name, but rather either the "boy," or "it." The story is told in a heartbreaking manner from this child who was so badly abused that you can only wonder how he managed to even survive this horrible ordeal.

I found myself in tears many times through this story. It is inconceivable that any parent could do such things to their own child as what was done to poor David by his mother. All the while, his father stood back and did nothing to prevent this abuse. He would warn David not to upset his mother, and then allow the abuse to continue. Even his brothers were turned against him by his mother, who had them all convinced that he was nothing more than a worthless piece of trash.

He was teased at school due to the torn and smelly condition of his clothing. He was starved, beaten and tortured to such extremes that it is really unimaginable. He was left for days with no food.

A Child Called "It" is definitely not a book to cheer you up, nor it it a book that you will be able to close after a chapter or two. It will truly grasp your attention from start to finish, so be prepared to sit down for a couple of hours and read it cover to cover.

I chose this book because of a friend's recommendation, and I am very glad that I did. It gives you the insight of seeing things from this child's point of view. We will never know how or why such a horrible thing could have happened. We can only be thankful for the teachers who stepped in to save this young boy from his tragic life.

All proceeds from this review will be used to help a local area family who have escaped an abusive situation. The mother and her children have fled their home to safety and the divorce is under way. In addition to any financial assistance that will result from this review, I also would like to ask you to pray for them. They can use all the help they can get.

Please take whatever time you can and read the entries in “Helping Hands” by the following people. They are all for some pretty great causes:

adjensen, adnetim, Ainsleyjo, Alwaysstubborn, Alwoolcott, amysmum, AshleyA, Bgoodday, bluehawq, bmcnichol, bops_mom, CANS4US, Char.mike, Cartman_2k, cntaur5, dearladyb, dee67, disartain, eplovejoy, fallyn96, Fostrmom2mny, FraggleMom, Frazzledspice, ggrimes1221, jankp, jdhauer, jennica, jo.com, kelly60, kminer, lildev, MariaEkaterina, nwinston, mimi369, mom2girlz, mridula, mrsocko316, PacBayStat, Pambo, quasar, rbradford, rosalyce, rugged14, shanny21, shantel575, Stephen_Murray, Sunkah, Suzer, Viper1963, Vormancian, Wanbli_Gleska, and willeftk.

UPDATE

Although the Write-Off this was originally written for has long since passed, I still feel that helping others is very important.

The proceeds from this review were donated to a local family who were victims of abuse, as mentioned above. This family now seems to be much better adjusted to their current situation.

I want to thank all who contributed to this family and the other great causes of the write=off, whether by writing, reading, cash donations, volunteering, or with your prayers. God bless you all.