A Child Called It：One Child's Courage to Survive

ThisbookchroniclestheunforgettableaccountofoneofthemostseverechildabusecasesinCaliforniahistory.ItisthestoryofDavePelzer,whowasbrutallybeatenandstarvedbyhisemotionallyunstable,alcoholicmother:amotherwhoplayedtortuous,unpredictablegames--gamesthatlefthimnearlydead.Hehadtolearnhowtoplayhismother'sgamesinordertosurvivebecauseshenolongerconsideredhimason,butaslave;andnolongeraboy,butan"it."Dave'sbedwasanoldarmycotinthebasement,andhisclothesweretornandraunchy.Whenhismotherallowedhimtheluxuryoffood,itwasnothingmorethanspoiledscrapsthateventhedogsrefusedtoeat.Theoutsideworldknewnothingofhislivingnightmare.Hehadnothingornoonetoturnto,buthisdreamskepthimalive--dreamsofsomeonetakingcareofhim,lovinghimandcallinghimtheirson.