David Pelzer’s “A Child Called It” is a book that recalls Pelzer’s abusive childhood. It describes the horrific events that his alcoholic mother put him through. He tells his story from his personal point of view. It is a story of perseverance and determination.

The story starts off with his rescue when he was 12 years of age. He had his head smashed into a counter that morning and the school nurse had noticed. Fed up with his abuse, his school principal finally contacted authorities. Soon after, Pelzer is on his way to the San Mateo Juvenile Department, never to return home. After you know how he is rescued, the story goes on to tell what he was rescued from. It follows his life up until that point describing different incidents of abuse such as denying him food for days, full force hitting for minor offenses, or forcing him to where the same dirty unwashed clothes for years. As Pelzer grows up his abuse gets progressively more severe. He is burned with oven burners and at what point stabbed by his own mother.