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A Child Called “It”
By Dave Pelzer. Omaha, Nebraska: Omaha Press, 1993, 184 pages, $9.95.
Child abuse is a critical problem in today’s society. The average person is usually uninformed about this devastating phenomenon as only the unusual or extremely horrific cases are exposed by the media. However, it is estimated that one in five children are victims of abuse and this number continues to rise. The effects of child abuse are seriously detrimental to the child and even to society. In A Child Called “It”, Dave Pelzer gives a first hand and extremely personal account of child abuse.
Dave Pelzer’s account of child abuse is exceptional in the fact that A Child Called “It” is his own personal biography of his life as a child subjected to horrifying abuse. This is a significant strength in considering this book for utilization in psychotherapy as his account is true and personal. This book is also unique as the story is depicted from a child’s point of view. Those who are currently in an abusive situation may find solace in this book as it may instill hope in these individuals and hopefully even give them the courage to find a way out of their situation. Although the current victims of child abuse are in need of the most immediate attention in order to secure their safety, those who have escaped the physical pain but not the emotional pain often also go unnoticed. For those survivors suffering from the emotional scars of child abuse, this book may assist in portraying that they are not alone. Too often victims of child abuse lash out at society in negative ways and as perplexing as it may seem, many continue the cycle of abuse within their own families. Pelzer is an extraordinary role model in the fact that he appears to have overcome terrible misfortune in his past and has moved on to a healthy and bright future. Perhaps his story is capable of helping child abuse survivors to seek a more positive pathway towards the future.
This book is easy to read and written at a level that even most adolescents could comprehend. However, caution should be taken when recommending this book. It is extremely graphic and could easily be quite disturbing to the average individual. A Child Called “It” has a weakness in the fact that it may elicit very painful memories in those who have fallen victim to child abuse. Although Pelzer’s survival of child abuse is truly remarkable, another weakness to consider is that this book only touches briefly on the process of dealing with the aftermath of child abuse. Subsequent books may need to be supplied for those who also need to heal from their own personal experiences as A Child Called “It” does not directly deal with the process of healing from child abuse.
Pelzer’s description of his abuse begins with his ultimate rescue and proceeds to go back in time. The first chapter describes his liberation from abuse. The immediate description of escape helps to put the reader at ease and may serve as peace of mind when reading the following account of the insurmountable horrors that Pelzer lived through. The second chapter describes the transition of his mother from the seemingly perfect wife and mother to an alcoholic and abusive monster. It is also interesting to note that Pelzer appears to be his mother’s scapegoat as his brothers are not subjected to any of the torture that he lives through.
The next few chapters describe the awful abuse that Pelzer’s mother puts him through. He is beaten and starved for almost eight years to the point that one may wonder how he even survived. Pelzer’s mother degrades and devalues him so much that he is not even allowed the status of a human and is referred to as “It”. Daydreaming becomes his only escape. He describes how much it hurt him that his own father did not do enough to stop the abuse. Along with the abuse at home came abuse at school as Pelzer was ostracized from his classmates. He describes the few individuals who noticed trouble and tried to help but failed in their attempts.
About halfway through the book Pelzer recalls that he no longer believed that God existed and even began to give up on life. He tells readers how he lost all hope and became filled with rage and hate. Just when it appears that all hope really is lost, Pelzer is rescued. A few teachers, the school nurse, and the principal take action and Pelzer is removed from his family’s care. This is possibly the most essential part of the book as Pelzer is finally rescued after living through an incredible amount of abuse and losing all hope. In the conclusion of the book he informs the reader of resources for help and even gives information on his workshops for those who wish to attend.
Pelzer’s personal account of child abuse is quite moving and could be integrated carefully into psychotherapy with those who have suffered from abuse. It may be utilized in the beginning stages of psychotherapy as a tool to assist in therapy sessions. A Child Called “It” may support the therapeutic process in demonstrating to the patient that he or she is not alone and providing proof that one can in time learn to heal. It is critical to restate that this book does not deal largely with the healing process. It is best suited for portraying to survivors that they are not alone and possibly instilling hope that one can live through child abuse and find a positive way out of the hurt and pain.