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Pelzer, David
A CHILD CALLED "IT" : ONE CHILD'S COURAGE TO SURVIVE
New York : Health Communications, 1995.
IL YA
ISBN 1558743669

(6 booktalks)

"Mother can beat me all she wants, but I haven't let her take away my will to somehow survive." That is the basic idea throughout the whole book. David's mother thinks up sick punishments for David, trying to make him break, but he never gives up totally. This book is very inspirational and a real eye-opener for people who don't know much about child abuse. The beginning is full of hope, but that dwindles and is replaced by despair, which is then replaced by hope at the very end. This book is good for people who like fast paced books about hope, however this is not for the sensitive reader. The only really "happy" part of this book (also the best part in my opinion) is when David is told he is never going to be beaten by his mother again. This tragic but inspirational piece is informative and engaging, but tragic at the same time. (Sandra, melonchollyrain@yahoo.com)

Booktalk #2

This book is about a boy named Dave whose mother beats him. The reason why his mom beats him is because she is an alcoholic. His dad left them and his mom blames him for his dad leaving.
                    The theme of this novel is that people will help others in need. The reader will "take away" the knowledge of what abused children go through.
                    I enjoyed this novel because it is interesting what Dave went through until somebody finally noticed what he was going through. It is interesting how hard the people who helped him tried so hard.  (Daniel C., Student)

Booktalk #3

                        In this novel the main character is Dave Pelzer, a young child. There is also his mother, a horrible person. It takes place in Dave's home. It's a very depressing story. Throughout the book Dave is abused until he gets help from his principal and is no longer abused.
                        The theme of A Child Called "It" is treat your children with love. You should not take responsibilities of being a parent if you cannot handle them. Another theme is always respect yourself and others. Never disrespect or abuse others. In the book the mother abuses her child. I don't think you should do that. Parents should love their children.
                        I enjoyed this book because it's impossible to believe that anyone can treat their children the way Dave's mother treats him. It's amazing to see how Dave was abused as a child and was able to turn his life around. (Nyssa S., Student)

Booktalk #4

A Child Called It is about a little boy named David. David gets beat By his mother and he has to try to survive. There is even one time when his mother tried to burn him over the stove. David doesn’t ever get full meals sometimes he doesn’t even get to eat. The story is his life and how he tries to survive.
                        The main theme is that getting beat isn't love. If you get beat tell some one show them your bruises or scars. There are different kinds of people that can help you.
                        I liked the novel A Child Called It because I got to read about this kids life and how he was trying to survive. I read how he was no longer called David he was called "IT".I't really sad but really good.  (Nicole L.,  student)

Booktalk #5

A Child Called It is about a little boy named David. David gets beat By his mother and he has to try to survive. There is even one time when his mother tried to burn him over the stove. David doesn’t ever get full meals sometimes he doesn’t even get to eat. The story is his life and how he tries to survive.
                        The main theme is that getting beat isn't love. If you get beat tell some one show them your bruises or scars. There are different kinds of people that can help you.
                        I liked the novel A Child Called It because I got to read about this kids life and how he was trying to survive. I read how he was no longer called David he was called "IT".I't really sad but really good. (Jordan G.,  student)

Booktalk #6

David’s life consists of life threatening abuse and torture. He had a good life until one day his mom got really sick and started making David do many chores. Eventually it got to the point to where almost every ten minutes he was abused. One day when David came home from school his brothers were not home yet so he was prepared for the worse she turned on the stove top and put David’s arm on the flaming stove the she was going to burn him to death but luckily his brothers came home just in time. Some of the things David’s mom did to home nearly killed him or made him so weak that he couldn’t move. Find out how David recovers from his life threatening beatings by reading The Child Called It.  (Krystal Sargeant, student, Mansfield High School)