SOURCE: A review of A Child Called 'It,' in School Library Journal, December, 1995, pp. 139-40.

[In the following mixed review, the critic describes David Pelzer's A Child Called 'It' as "unforgettable," but faults the author's writing style and suggests that the book is not a good choice for young readers.]

This autobiographical account charts the abuse of a young boy as his alcoholic mother first isolates him from the rest of the family; then torments him; and finally nearly kills him through starvation, poisoning, and one dramatic stabbing. Pelzer's portrayal of domestic tyranny and eventual escape is unforgettable, but falls short of providing understanding of extreme abuse or how he made his journey from "Victim to Victor." It takes some work to get past the poor writing and the self-aggrandizing back matter, but the book tries fervently to provide a much-needed perspective. One of the greater obstacles...