Student Essay on A Child Called "It"

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A Child Called "It"

Summary:   A review of A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer, a sad story of child abuse.

A Child Called "It"

By Dave Pelzer

Adventure, Non-fiction, Autobiography

The main theme is child abuse. The whole book is a flashback, except for the very beginning, when a policeman is taking the boy away from his mother, to freedom. The boy's mother, when he was very young, was the "perfect" mother. She taught them something new every day and took them on many fun family vacations. Then, she got hooked on alcohol and singled out one of her children to be the family slave, but it didn't stop there. She also played cruel games, just for her pleasure with the boy. Some of her favorites were the gas chamber, the dishwashing soap, and the starvation tease.

There were three main characters, Dave, (the boy,) his mom, and his dad. The writer makes me believe that these people are real by describing them in very fine detail.

I like Dave, because he seems really kind to everybody that he knows how to be kind to. Also, he tries to be honest, and is almost always hopeful and wishful. He is innocent, and smart. Here is a quote about him thinking about his relationship with his brothers:

"After the boys had carved their pumpkins, I could hear mother, in her soothing voice, telling them a scary story. The more I heard, the more I hated each and every one of them. It was bad enough waiting, like a dog, out in the backyard on the rocks while they enjoyed dinner, but having to lay in a cold bathtub, shivering to keep warm, while they ate popcorn and listened to mothers' tale made me want to scream."

I don't like Dave's mother because she is the abuser. She is very cruel and frightens her whole family. Here is a quote about her relationship with Dave, (Dave's mother is talking):

"Well aren't you special...get one thing straight you little [SOB]. There is nothing you can do to impress me! Do you understand me? You are a nobody, and "It!" You are nonexistent! You are a bastard child! I hate you and I wish you were dead! Dead! Do you hear me? Dead!"

I also don't like Dave's father because he won't get the courage to help Dave. He is afraid that his wife will hurt him. He seems like he would be a very kind father, though, if he weren't paired with Dave's mother. Here is a quote about his relation ship with Dave, (Dave and his father are talking, and Dave is thinking):

"Father! Mo, mo, Mother stabbed me!" He didn't even raise an eyebrow. "Why"" He asked. "She told me if I didn't do the dishes on time, she'd kill me." Time stood still. From behind the paper, I could hear Father's labored breathing. He cleared his throat before saying, "Well, you, uh, you better go back in there and do the dishes."

This book was set in Dave's house and school in California. He savored his time at school, because it was away from his mom. Also, sometimes he was able to steal food from other kids.

The thing that I liked best about this book is that wherever you started reading it, it hooks you in. I read it in about three hours. The thing I didn't like about this book is that the subject matter was really sad.

I think that anybody thirteen years or older that can stand a very unfair and sad book would like to read this book. It made me feel like I should do something to help stop child abuse.