A+CHILD+CALLED+IT

= Background on Author = = Dave Pelzer is the author of A CHILD CALLED IT = = His official website link is [|here] = = Dave Pelzer was born December 29th 1960. He grew up in San Francisco, California. He had 4 brothers but was put up for adoption when he was 12. As a kid Dave thought he had a tough childhood but would often find that he was very fortunate to be a healthy child growing up. Dave likes to write books about his or other peoples experiences. His favorite book to write was A CHILD CALLED IT which was based on his life experiences. Below is a link to a video of his interview with Larry King. = (Wikipedia, Dave Pelzer Official Website)

media type="youtube" key="RnSntzvGteI" width="425" height="350" (Youtube)

= = (Google Images) = =

= Summary = = A CHILD CALLED IT is a famous novel written by David Pelzer. It is a true story about a boy named David. At first David has a great life living with both of his parents and his two brothers. They take family vacations often and have loads of fun. Then his mother turned to alcohol. She started drinking more and more and eventually became abusive only to David and not to the other brothers. His mom became a monster when she was drunk. She submerged him in freezing cold water, made him eat his own vomit, sleep in the basement under the stairs, he was stabbed, and forced to sit on a burning stove. David was no longer a boy, he was an “it”. The only way for him to survive was through willpower. So whenever his mom started her wicked games David would use his inner strength to make it through them. =

= Setting of the story =
 * The book takes place in Daly City, California where David lives in a middle class home during the mid 60s and 70s. **


 * ** In 1960 JFK was elected. Link **
 * ** In 1961 President Obama was Born in Hawaii. [|Link] **
 * ** In 1962 Castro threatened the US to Nuke them. Link **
 * ** In 1963 Martin luther King had his “I have a Dream” speech. Link **
 * ** In 1963 JFK was killed. Link **
 * ** In 1969 Man landed on the moon. Link **

(youtube)

= Book Trailer = media type="youtube" key="3pJau94wVkM" width="425" height="350"


 * (Youtube) **

= Genre =


 * The genre of A Child Called It is Children's Literature and Biography. Its Children's literature and Biography because Dave Pelzer (The author) tells his story about his childhood and how he got abused by his mother because she had alcohol problems. **

= Character List = Aggie ** - A girl that tormented Dave and many times said that he should ‘’drop dead’’ **

Mr. Hansen ** - The principle at Daves school, He is interested in Daves bruises but takes no action against them **

Miss Moss ** - Dave’s second grade math teacher **

The Nurse ** - A nurse who is frequently looking at Daves bruises and cuts but also takes no action against the abuse although she does feel bad for Dave **

Catherine Pelzer ** - Daves mother, She is an alcoholic and an abusive mother to Dave only. The book is mostly related to her and Daves stories **

Dave Pelzer ** - The main character who is abused by his mother Catherine **

Russel Pelzer ** - Daves younger brother who was born when Dave’s abuse was at its worse **

Stan Pelzer ** - Daves younger brother who is a year younger. When Dave was held back in school they became in the same grade **

Steve Pelzer ** - Is Dave’s father would always try and stand up for Dave but would never go against his wife Catherine **

Officer Smith ** - The policeman who takes Dave away from his mother **

Miss Woods ** - Daves teacher who was at the meeting when Dave was taken away from his mom **

Mr. Zeigler ** - A teacher that encourages Dave to turn in his mom about abuse ** **(Novel Guide)**

= Theme and Inference/Analysis =


 * The Theme for // A Child Called It //is " What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" because Dave Pelzer got Abused throughout the whole book by his mother and all the abusing made him stronger. The purpose of this book was to tell the reader about child abuse and dealing with it in his life. **

= Favorite Quotes =


 * 1. “Childhood should be carefree, playing in the sun; not living a nightmare in the darkness of the soul.” **
 * (Dave Pelzer, A Child Called “It”-98) **
 * This quote is said by David. He says it because he hates his life. He is wishing that he could just have a normal life and be a normal kid but as you keep reading you will realize that it is impossible for him to do that as long as his mom is around. **


 * 2. “Gripping my arm, Mother held it in the orange-blue flame. My skin seemed to explode from the heat.” **
 * (Dave Pelzer, A Child Called “It”-28) **
 * This quote shows how cruel is mom is. It shows some of the sick and messed up games that his mom liked to do to David. Putting his arm in the flame was one of the worst things his mom did to him. **


 * 3. “It is important for people to know that no matter what lies in their past, they can overcome the darkside and press on a brighter world.” **
 * (Dave Pelzer, A Child Called “It”-97) **
 * This quote is said by david. He says it because he overcame everything that his mother put him through and even if you feel that there is anything bringing you down you can always overcome it, no matter what. **

= Literary Terms = Symbols
 * School - Dave talks a lot about school being his escape from his mom. School is always the place that brings Dave safety and happiness **
 * Grocery Store - Dave was always being starved by his mother and would often run off to steal food from other kids or the grocery store just to survive **

(google images) Conflict
 * The conflict for Dave was man vs man. Dave often had to deal with the abuse his mother was giving him **
 * Dave’s other conflict was man vs self. Dave was always fighting to survive the abuse of his mother he had to overcome it and tell someone which can be a huge struggle for a child who has been abused almost his whole life **

Resolution
 * Eventually the school faculty catches on about the abuse going on in Dave’s home. We never find out who really turned Catherine Pelzer in but we the reader do understand that someone did after the police took Dave away **

= Connections = Movies An American Crime Trailer media type="youtube" key="4zXBML55O08" width="425" height="350" = An American Crime is about two girls that get left at a single mother’s house while their parents go away for a while. This mother already has six children and does not care that the two girls are staying with them. What the girls do not know is that the mother of six is insane and abuses her children and eventually takes one of the new girls and traps her in the basement. This is like David’s mom in A Child Called “It”. David’s mom abuses David until one of the teachers at his school calls child services. Once child services sees what his mom is doing they take David into another home. =
 * (youtube)**