Dave Pelzer was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother, a mother who played tortuous, unpredictable games - games that left one of her three sons nearly dead. She no longer considered Dave a son, but a slave; no longer a boy, but an 'it'. His bed was an old army cot in the basement, his clothes were torn and smelly, and when he was allowed the luxury of food it was scraps from the dog's bowl. The outside world knew nothing of the nightmare played out behind closed doors. But throughout Dave kept alive dreams of finding a family to love him. This book covers the early years of his life and is an affecting and inspirational book of the horrors of child abuse and the steadfast determination of one child to survive.
Dave Pelzer Series
This series delves into the harrowing realities of child abuse and neglect through a deeply personal true story. It chronicles the relentless struggles of a young boy subjected to extreme cruelty by his mother. Despite unimaginable suffering, he clings to hope and dreams of a loving future. These powerful memoirs are testaments to resilience, the indomitable human spirit, and the ultimate triumph of survival against all odds.
Recommended Reading Order
The Lost Boy
- 352 pages
- 13 hours of reading
As a child, Dave Pelzer was brutally beaten and starved by his mother. The world knew nothing of his living nightmare and he had nothing and no one to turn to. But his dreams kept him alive, dreams of someone taking care of him, loving him and calling him their son. Finally, his horrific plight could no longer be hidden from the outside world and Dave's life radically changed. THE LOST BOY is the harrowing, but ultimately uplifting, true story of a boy's journey through the foster-care system in search of a family to love. The continuation of Dave Pelzer's story is a moving sequel and inspirational read for all.
A Man Named Dave
- 160 pages
- 6 hours of reading
'I don't blame others for my problems. I stand on my own. And one day, you¿ll see, I¿m going to make something of myself.' These words were eighteen-year-old Dave Pelzer's declaration of independence to his mother, a woman who had abused him with shocking brutality. But even years after he was rescued, his life remained a continual struggle. Dave felt rootless and awkward, an outcast haunted by memories of his years as the bruised, cowering 'It' locked in his mother¿s basement. Dave¿s dramatic reunion with his dying father and the shocking confrontation with his mother led to his ultimate calling: mentor to others struggling with personal hardships. From a difficult marriage to the birth of his son, from an unfulfilling career to an enduring friendship, Dave was finally able to break the chains of his past, learning to trust, to love, and to live.
Related books
The Privilege of Youth
The Inspirational Story of a Teenager's Search for Friendship and Acceptance
- 228 pages
- 8 hours of reading
The inspirational missing chapter in a story of triumph and hope Being a teenager can be a traumatic time for anyone. But when you're also being pushed between a series of foster homes, families and schools, it can be nothing short of bewildering. For Dave Pelzer, standing on the threshold of adulthood in 1970s America, his adolescence formed a crucial bridge between the shocking abuse of his childhood and the worrying world of responsibility ahead. In The Privilege of Youth, he tells the story of those years with his unique insight and sensitivity. Whilst recounting the relentless physical and emotional attacks of the high-school bullies, he also recalls the joy of exploring a new neighbourhood and encountering true friendship for the first time. Through his adventures with his new 'brothers' and their discovery of cars, girls and themselves, Pelzer introduces a fascinating cast of characters who, each in different ways, helped shape an extraordinary life and prepared him for fresh trials to come.