A Child Called It is a heartbreaking yet inspiring memoir that tells the story of a young boy's struggles with unimaginable abuse and his unwavering will to survive. The author's ability to convey the trauma and terror in a simple yet stark manner is awe inspiring. It is an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you feeling both heartbroken and hopeful. Highly recommended for readers interested in survival stories and memoirs.

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• West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA) for Older Readers (2005)
• Soaring Eagle Book Award (2000)
• Lincoln Award (2005)

As a child Dave Pelzer was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother, a mother who played tortuous, unpredictable games that left one of her sons nearly dead. She no longer considered him 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 dogs' bowl. The outside world knew nothing of the nightmare played out behind closed doors.Dave dreamed of finding a family to love him and call him their son. It took years of struggle, deprivation and despair to find his dream and make something of himself in the world. A Child Called 'It' covers the early years of his life and is an affecting and inspirational memoir of one child's determination to survive.

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