Book Reviews
A Child Called 'It': One Child's Courage to Survive
By Dave Pelzer
ISBN: 978-1-5587436-6-3; 2001; 169 pages; Orion Books;
Reviewed by Regina Parnell
Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
This book is the first in a series of three, recounting the life of Dave Pelzer, who experienced the third worse case of childhood abuse documented in California history. From a child's perspective, the author depicts an above-average, intact family unit that spirals suddenly into a household of dysfunction. He describes, in graphic detail, unimaginable instances of physical and emotional assaults suffered at the hands of 'the Mother'. This book begins with a moving account of the day Dave was ushered into freedom, thanks to the unprecedented intervention of a group of caring adults. The reader, unlike the author, is afforded the luxury of facing the anticipated, yet unthinkable accounts of abuse from the vantage point of hope. Chapter divisions highlight how his youthful mind and body interpreted and endured an existence full of brutality. In 'GoodTimes' we see a loving and flawless homemaker mom, a strong and courageous fire-fighter father, two playful and supportive older brothers, and a life full of wonderful family traditions. By the very next chapter 'Bad Boy', Dave is only about five years old and has become the sole victim of horrific cruelty for no clearly identified reason. As the narrative progresses, both parents develop addictions to alcohol, which kindle the mother's malicious abuse 'games' and extinguish the father's tenuous resolve to rescue his son. The brothers and subsequent siblings become antagonists as well.
Later chapters contrast the mother's unrelenting urge to dominate and damage her son with Dave's childlike determination to 'best' his opponent. With every novel torture game, he becomes more skillful at creating strategies to survive the moment. Beatings were met with obligatory acquiescence, torture sessions were managed with stalling tactics, famine was survived by stealing, stashing, and gorging foodlike products. Ironically, both opponents became adept at using the environment; one to harm and diminish, the other to heal and exist. Over a period of six years, a son named Dave became in every way, a child called 'It'. More distressing than the fierce attacks on his young body were the merciless attacks on his mind. He was, without cause, ostracised from the family, not allowed to mingle with them on any occasion, unless it served the purpose of an impending torture. Even at school, he was an outcast from siblings and peers. He was a faceless, nameless, tortured slave who always fell short of his quota no matter how ambiguous the goal or how valiant the effort. Despite the severity of the abuse encountered, this child longed to be desired, loved, comforted, and acknowledged. The impact of the psychological damage was evident; each time the mother dangled a morsel of compassion before him he reached for it, ready and he thought able, to forgive the past. He learned to protect his abuser and blame himself.
This book is a must for professionals working with childhood populations. It is a fast yet emotional read that serves to sensitise adults to the plight of a child abused. Dave Pelzer closes this book by using the term 'survivor'. His stated purpose for sharing his experiences is to inform all about the impact of abuse on the child and on the community. Although an extreme case, it alerts us to the importance of being vigilant in observing children in our charge and, when indicated, swiftly intervening with the best of our resources.
