Analysis Of A Child Called It By Dave Pelzer

The autobiography, A Child Called “It”, by Dave Pelzer is a remarkable story that follows Dave as a young boy. As an outsider, the Pelzer family would seem to be an ordinary family with two affectionate parents and four playful brothers. Although, in the interior of their house is an entirely contrasting image. Dave is constantly abused by his mother. She causes severe damage to his physical health by beating his emaciated body, torturing him in the bathtub by nearly drowning him, shoving chemicals down his throat, and forcing him to complete labor despite his serious wounds. Additionally his mother manipulates his mind by demanding him to sit in a “prisoner of war” position, rejecting any praise from school teachers, and treating him as a

He describes a joyous memory with his mother when, “I felt someone hug my shoulders...I turned around and flushed with pride to find Mom holding me tightly… I never felt as safe and as warm as that moment in time..” (26). It is clear Pelzer has a strong bond with his mother, and she is a role model in his life. Prior to reading this novel I knew Dave was an abused child, so this surprised me that his mother initially showed voluntary tenderness and warmth to her son. It made me question why her parental style drastically changed, and what factors caused it to

He proves to be a strong willed person by saying, “Instead of dwelling on the past, I maintained the same focus that I taught myself years ago in the garage, knowing the good of the Lord was always over my shoulder, giving me quiet strength and encouragement when I needed it the most” (157). Overcoming suffering and torment is an incredibly honorable mental feat, and I respect his bravery and faith. Pelzer could have easily given up at any time in his life, but he chose to persevere through the pain. After reading that section I admire his forgiving attitude for turning an excruciating painful childhood into internal