The Trilogy Of Books Sparknotes

The Trilogy of books written by Pelzer identifies the effects of child abuse and foster care from beginning to end through the perspective of a child in the system. The first book focuses on Dave’s experience in his biological parents' house and details the horrific abuse he endured while living there. He expresses the defeat and anguish he felt at his father's indifference to his suffering and the devastating toll the abuse had on his self-esteem. Eventually, a report to child services was made, and Dave was removed from his house and placed into state custody. Dave, like many other foster kids, lacked stability, moving between houses often as a result of behavioral issues. Pelzer dropped out of high school and pursued a career in the air

David experienced severe food insecurity in his mother’s house, often going without a meal for days on end. At his first foster placement, Dave began to steal food, taking “slices of bread and stashing them under my (David’s) pillow” (Pelzer 52) to guarantee he would never go hungry again. He was conscious of the fact that he was safe and knew “Aunt Mary” would provide for his needs, but with his upbringing, the fear of starvation was too difficult to overcome. In a similar trauma response, in his second foster placement, David sees his mother. He begins to spiral and has an episode of what is most likely PTSD, experiencing extreme spiraling thoughts. He ranted to his foster mom about what his biological mom had put him through and seemed so disturbed that Ms. Catanze suggested he talk to “someone who is more qualified” (Pelzer 65) Even after his initial meeting with a psychiatrist, he would become distressed when his foster parents fought, and though he understood he was not in any physical danger, he “stayed huddled against the far corner of my room with a blanket over my head.” (Pelzer 140) every time they went at it. Throughout the trilogy, Dave articulates the debilitating fear, flashbacks, and nightmares he experiences stemming from the trauma he endured in his mother's house, helping the reader understand PTSD from his point of

The low expectations placed on foster kids leads to lower graduation rates for those aging out of custody because most foster children do not have a supportive adult to keep them in line when they get tired of school. The lack of stability already puts foster kids at a disadvantage and leaves gaps in learning and development that are omnipresent in their lives. The instability that marked Pelzer’s teenage years made it difficult for him to continuously readjust, and he felt that every time he adjusted to a new environment, “something happened” (Pelzer