Synopsis
In this moving memoir, Dave Pelzer recalls his childhood, when he was abused by an alcoholic mother. He recounts the strategies he used to survive the "games" she devised that reduced him from a human being to an "it." Dave somehow survives, frees himself of his mother's tyranny, and eventually finds success in the Air Force.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1995-10-01 | | Edition Description: | Reissue |
| Size | | Length: | 184 pages | | Height: | 7.8 in | | Width: | 5.3 in | | Thickness: | 0.8 in | | Weight: | 8.0 oz |
Publisher's Note
Dave Pelzer shares his unforgettable story of the many abuses he suffered at the hands of his alcoholic mother and the averted eyes of his neglectful father. Someone with no one to turn to, his dreams barely kept him alive. Through each of his struggles, readers will find themselves enduring his pain, comforting his loneliness and fighting for his will to survive. This compelling story will awaken you to the horrifying truth about child abuse -- and the ability we have to make a difference.
This is the unforgettable account of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. Dave Pelzer was brutally beaten & starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother: a mother who played torturous, unpredictable games - games that left him nearly dead. This child had to learn how to play his mother's games in order to survive because she no longer considered him a son, but a slave; & no longer a boy but an "it." Through each struggle readers find themselves enduring his pain, comforting his loneliness & fighting for his will to survive. This compelling story will awaken readers to the truth about child abuse & the ability we all have to make a difference.
Industry Reviews
Gr 9 Up 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 to healing for males is admitting that they have been victims, especially if their perpetrator is a woman. This author has overcome that obstacle and succeeded in life by such masculine norms as joining the Air Force and receiving awards for his volunteerism. However, while personal accounts of child maltreatment provide crucial information about the realities of childhood, youngsters need insight and hope in order to digest the raw material of abuse. James Deem's The 3 NBs of Julian Drew (Houghton, 1994) is a well-crafted, fictional work that effectively covers much of the same ground. Carolyn Polese, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
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