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A Child Called 'It': One child's courage to survive
7 journalers for this copy...

The book was so good that I could not put it down untill I was done reading it.

got this book from a friend

Journal Entry 3 by nvangel2073 at Mailed to fellow Bookcrosser in Antioch, Illinois USA on Sunday, March 14, 2004
Release planned for Wednesday, March 17, 2004 at Mailed to fellow Bookcrosser in Antioch, Illinois USA.
sending this book to cyber-librarian.
Thank you for the trade
Thank you littlome63 for the books
sending this book to cyber-librarian.
Thank you for the trade
Thank you littlome63 for the books

I received this in the mail today from nvangel2073 in NV ... as part of a trade.
c. 1995 -- 180 pages -- Trade Paperback -- One Child's Courage to Survive -- NY Times & USA Today Bestseller -- An Inspirational Story -- Abused children -- Daly City, CA -- Biography -- Children of alcoholics -- Family relationships -- Family violence -- Foster home care -- Self-Help/Psychology/Inspiration
Author's Notes: This book, the first part of the trilogy ... is based on the child's life from ages 4 to 12.
Back Cover: "A Child Called It" is the unforgettable account of one of the most severe child abuse cases in CA history. It is the story of Dave Pelzer, who was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother: a mother who played torturous, 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 raunchy. 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 and no one to turn to, but his dreams kept him alive -- dreams of someone taking care of him loving him and calling him their son.
Through each struggle you'll find yourself enduring his pain, comforting his loneliness and fighting for his will to survive. This compelling story will awaken you to the truth about child abuse -- and the ability we all have to make a difference.
c. 1995 -- 180 pages -- Trade Paperback -- One Child's Courage to Survive -- NY Times & USA Today Bestseller -- An Inspirational Story -- Abused children -- Daly City, CA -- Biography -- Children of alcoholics -- Family relationships -- Family violence -- Foster home care -- Self-Help/Psychology/Inspiration
Author's Notes: This book, the first part of the trilogy ... is based on the child's life from ages 4 to 12.
Back Cover: "A Child Called It" is the unforgettable account of one of the most severe child abuse cases in CA history. It is the story of Dave Pelzer, who was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother: a mother who played torturous, 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 raunchy. 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 and no one to turn to, but his dreams kept him alive -- dreams of someone taking care of him loving him and calling him their son.
Through each struggle you'll find yourself enduring his pain, comforting his loneliness and fighting for his will to survive. This compelling story will awaken you to the truth about child abuse -- and the ability we all have to make a difference.


The list of previous participants:
1. cyber-librarian - IL --> mailed 4/20
2. Mamikaem - MO (International) --> received 4/23 --> mailed 7/1
3. bkwrm23 - NJ (US only) --> skipped (no response to PMs)
4. Sherria - CT (US only) --> received 7/7 --> mailed 8/7
5. KarenZero - NY (US only) --> received 8/15 --> mailed 9/3
6. SalDragski - TX (last) --> received 9/8

We finished reading this on Sunday 4/11 ... listened to it with DH and daughter. This is such a sad case of child abuse. I've heard that it isn't true to Pelzer's life. But in any case, there's cases similar to this one which are true. I can understand how the mother could emotionally snap like that ... but I have trouble understanding why she would single out Dave among his brothers to be so cruel to. I can't fathom why the father and brothers didn't do more to stop it. We are continuing with the other 2 books in the series. I'll be mailing this one soon to re-start the bookray.
My daughter (mistyjoy11) thought it was an okay book but she didn't like the style (way) that it was written.
My daughter (mistyjoy11) thought it was an okay book but she didn't like the style (way) that it was written.

Journal Entry 7 by ReadingGal79 at Bookray in A RABCK, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Released on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at Bookray in Mailed to fellow bookcrosser, Postal Release Controlled Releases.
I'm mailing this today to Mamikaem in MO ... to restart this bookray.
I'm mailing this today to Mamikaem in MO ... to restart this bookray.

Got this in the mail today! Looking forward to reading it.
UPDATE: 6/19/04 - finally starting this book today!
UPDATE: 6/19/04 - finally starting this book today!

I read this in less than a day! I'm glad I have the other 2 books in the trilogy to continue on with Dave's story. Hard to fathom, but it's sad that child abuse like this goes on in the world today.
Mailing out to sherria on 7/1/04 as bkwrm23 did not respond to my PMs.
Mailing out to sherria on 7/1/04 as bkwrm23 did not respond to my PMs.

This arrived yesterday, and I read it last nite. I had read it years ago, and wanted to read it again now that it's been "debunked". (Evidence suggests that Pelzer's story isn't true.)
The book made more sense to me, knowing that much of it was falsified. While I know abuse occurs, the things described in this book just seemed somewhat off kilter - why one child was singled out for no apparent reason (it was never explained), the apparent lack of empathy and sympathy from the other children, the father's powerlessness (what hold did The Mother have over him anyway?), the lack of action by the school for so long, etc.
Child abuse is a horrifying thing, and it makes me kind of mad that someone would exploit it to make a buck. But, if it raises awareness, then I guess that's a good thing.
Thanks for restarting this ring cyber-librarian! I'll be sending all 3 books on soon (I've finished the 2nd one, and will be starting the 3rd one tonite.)
The book made more sense to me, knowing that much of it was falsified. While I know abuse occurs, the things described in this book just seemed somewhat off kilter - why one child was singled out for no apparent reason (it was never explained), the apparent lack of empathy and sympathy from the other children, the father's powerlessness (what hold did The Mother have over him anyway?), the lack of action by the school for so long, etc.
Child abuse is a horrifying thing, and it makes me kind of mad that someone would exploit it to make a buck. But, if it raises awareness, then I guess that's a good thing.
Thanks for restarting this ring cyber-librarian! I'll be sending all 3 books on soon (I've finished the 2nd one, and will be starting the 3rd one tonite.)

Release planned for Saturday, August 07, 2004 at Controlled Release in Brooklyn, New York Controlled Releases.
Sorry for the delay in getting these out KarenZero. Hope you enjoy them!
Sorry for the delay in getting these out KarenZero. Hope you enjoy them!

I've heard about these books and have been curious to read them...thanks for sharing them!

I was curious about this book and am glad to have read it ... it was a very quick read - only took about an hour!
Thanks for sharing the book!
Thanks for sharing the book!

Journal Entry 14 by KarenZero at Post Office, see notes in New York City, New York USA on Friday, September 3, 2004
Released 20 yrs ago (9/3/2004 UTC) at Post Office, see notes in New York City, New York USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
off to Sal in Texas !
off to Sal in Texas !

Received today in a bookray which replaced my "lost" bookring. Thanks Cyber-librarian. You're a Lady & a Friend! Sal

The abuse in this book was very, very horrible but did it actually happen or did the author exaggerate alot? The abuse was so severe that I would think the child would have committed suicide or runaway (he's 12 at the end of the book). And I can't fathom why the Father did nothing. I'm thinking the child was the result of a rape. Hopefully, I'll find out in the next book "A Lost Boy".