Chapter 1, The Rescue Summary and Analysis

A Child Called It is a heart wrenching true story about one child's survival of one of the worst child abuse cases ever reported in California history. Dave Pelzer lived in a world of starvation, cruelty, and torture from the age of four until his rescue by courageous school officials at the age of twelve. This autobiography will both horrify and inspire all who read Dave's incredible journey through the dark insanity of his mother's rage.

March 5, 1973 began like most days in Dave Pelzer's life. Dave was attempting to finish the dishes as quickly as he could in order to be allowed to have the scraps left from his brothers' breakfast. When Mother came into the room and slammed his face against the counter for not having his hands in the water, Dave was sure that this...