A Child called "It"
By irishmist
@irishmist (3814)
United States
May 8, 2007 9:10pm CST
Did anyone read this book? My daughter passed the book on to me, and warned me about some of the things that were in the book. This book is based on a true story. A mother who was a total horror to only one innocent child. This woman who once cared for her family changed from day to night, and for some reason focused on only one child to abuse. The courage of this child to survive, I can only fantom. This woman was a drunk and a lunitic. Her husband was no better. Though he did try to help the child.. He was weak. In my opionion, ( now I don't condone violence) but he should of slapped her or show her some mesure of athority. He should have stepped up to the plate and took charge and acted like a man. He was a wimp. This woman ruled the house , but yet was afraid of being found out for certain things. She starved this boy from food, his every attempt for food found out. She dressed him in rags. She'd beat him everyday. Made him eat vomit, made him drink ammonia & bleach., there is a lot more. Made him stand for hours in the basement & the garage with no food , only to be summoned to do chores. He was a slave. This is truly a heart breaking story. She abused him starting at a very young age. The story is based on the childs life from age 4 to 12. Thats 9 years of abuse. This book has made a total impact on me. What do you think?
2 people like this
22 responses
@just2crazygirlz (2479)
• United States
4 Nov 07
Yes, this book was very disturbing. I work at a child advocacy center. I advocate for children who have been sexually abused or severely physically abused. I also advocate for their non-offending caregiver. This little boy's case was the 2nd worst documented case of child abuse in the state of CA. And California is huge. But notice the word documented. This means that tons of child abuse goes on everyday that is not reported. So sad. These children are beaten down until they do not know any different. The same thing happens to women who are involved in domestic violence.
The questions that popped out at me with this book is, why did she choose dave as her whipping boy? Why didn't she abuse the other children also? I have read the second book in the series also, The Lost Boy. This book follows Dave to adulthood. There is a third, but I have been unable to find it so far. I will keep looking. The third book is about Dave when he is an adult. I am hoping that the answer to my questions lies somewhere in the third book. Otherwise, I do not know what to think. I must know the answer to my question though. Otherwise I just do not understand. How can you beat only one child when you have 4 more? I would never beat any of my own children & I only have 1 so far, but why did his mother only choose one? What was different about him?
1 person likes this
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
5 Nov 07
I haven't figured uot myself why she did that to david. They were a loving family and then she just went off the deep end. Not to mention she was drinking booze everyday. The father was a weak SOB as well. He could of stood up to his wife and put an end to the abuse. I read the second book as well. I haven't read the third book yet. Perhaps I will look online for it. One of his brothers got to be the sencond whipping boy. He wend through the same thing as David did. We don't even know about the other boys. I hope she burns in Hell.
@just2crazygirlz (2479)
• United States
5 Nov 07
In the second book, Dave runs into one of his brothers at the school. He never comes out and says it in that many words, but i think his mother moved on to that brother after he left. But again, why this boy when you have 4 other children. I can't wait to find the 3rd book. I'm hoping I get some insight from the 3rd book in this area.
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
20 Oct 07
I read A Child Called "It" a little over a yr ago in 2.5 - 3hrs..I read it again this past summer...It takes A LOT for a book to move me so intensely but this one certainly did! I've been planning on reading the rest of his books and his brothers book but havent had the chance yet...
another good on (very tough to read for me so I've still not finished it) is When Rabbit Howls....also very disturbing but definately a recommended book..
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
5 Feb 08
The woman who co-wrote the book (her personalities did actually) is from the Rochester area originally..Truddi Chase was her name..Like I said, its a very difficult read (it still is for me and i've STILL not finished it) but its a really good book...
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
5 Feb 08
I will look up when Rabbit Howls online. I'm always on the lookout for good books to read. especially at my job as it is boring at night, when the residants are all in their rooms and it is quiet.
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
5 Feb 08
I was just looking for some info for you on it and came across this which I'd never come across before...I'm just reading it now and I REALLY wish I could have seen that actual show..but I'm not an Oprah fan and never have been...Wonder if I could find it online though..
http://www.oprah.com/tows/vintage/past/vintage_past_20010803_b.jhtml
@LavenderPower (274)
• United States
20 Oct 07
I have read the book, very moving and emotional. But children in our world are living this everyday...This is just one victim, that was willing to step up and make awareness to it, to help break the cycle.
It is amazing how it is the natural instinct in WILD ANIMALS for a mother to love and protect her young, but then there are some of us that can honestly say we would have been better off being raised by wolves.
Sad isn't it? But this is the World that we live in today...It's up to us to break the cycle and make the change for the next generations!
www.LavenderPower.org for Domestic Harmony
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
5 Nov 07
There is way to much abuse going on today in our world. I have to wonder why people do this kind of thing. what makes them tick in their brain..
@TigerPower (84)
• United States
5 Nov 07
They're SICK! And they get away with it. Some are even protected instead of the vicitms. When that happens that encourages them even more. It's like riding a rollercoaster for them. The Thrill of getting away with it.
@xXxMikesWifeyxXx (3072)
• United States
2 Feb 08
was a really good book. the lost boy,a man named dave and his 4th is help yourself. you should check these out... ive met him hes a wonderful and succesful man, i feel so horrible knowing he had to go through this :(
@travibabiesgirl (1690)
• United States
24 Jun 08
I have not read this book but it sounds very interesting. I am looking it up online now. I may have to get the three books to read. I love true stories but I have a feeling this one will be a heart breaking inspirational book. Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to get them to read.
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
28 Jun 08
Yes the book was heartbreaking, I had a hard time reading about some of the horrible things she did to him.
If you like true stories you might like "Every Move You Make" It is a true story about Gary Evens, and he lived in my city Troy NY. He was a career crimmanal and a killer. It's a really good read, and it has pictures as well.
@travibabiesgirl (1690)
• United States
28 Jun 08
I love true stories better than any other read. I will for sure check those out. Thank you so much for sharing. Can't wait to get started om them.
@dutchwomen3 (1)
• United States
23 Jun 08
yea, i read that book you should read the book about the brother (i can't remember the name of the book) but it is one of the younger brothers. and it talks about how when the one boy was able to leave the house the mother needed a new servant and slave.
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
28 Jun 08
I wanted to read that book as well, but I can't seem to find it. I read the first 2 books, but there is still a third book out there as well.
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
2 Aug 07
Wow I didn't know his brother wrote a book. What is the name of the book? I would really like to read it.
@MysticalMom73 (5)
• United States
10 May 07
My heart broke for this little boy. It's amazing he survived. I read this a couple months ago when my baby was a month old. Not a good book for post-pardom Moms. I would love to read his other 2 books. This is still in the best seller section of the used book store I go to. The clerk said they can't keep it in! I look at my 3 children and it makes me sick to think a Mother could do the things she did and for the father to stand by, then leave without protecting the kids. Sad, sick people.
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
10 May 07
My youngest grandchild is 4, and when I look at her I can't imagine how he survived. Some of the parts in the book were so hard to read.
@serialmommy (639)
• United States
4 Dec 10
I read this book a while ago. I also read the follow up books. There were parts I yelled at the book because of the hurt I was feeling for the boy. I grew up in an abusive home, however it was nothing as severe (or at least it was severe in a different way) as what that boy went through. I am so happy that he found someone to listen to him, to help him get away from that situation. Sadly there are many children who are just stuck in places like that, children who die from situations like that simply because they get lost in the system.
@mrsbrian (1949)
• United States
9 May 07
OMG I read this book a few years back and have never gotten over the sick feelings it left me with,I am such a softie for kids and could never think about mistreating on let alone doing the things that woman who called herself a mother did tho that poor boy ,and now that I think about it she wasnt a mother she was a monster! Now that I am older I have a hard time reading books like this or watching movies that have these kind of things in them.
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
30 Jul 08
There were parts in the book that I could barely read as it was really sad. We just had a simalar case in the city I live in, and it really remined me of the book.
@LAWise520 (275)
• United States
9 Jul 07
Those three books were three of the most amazing real life stories I've ever read. I'm not apt to cry often and they made me cry for him. He lived through hell and came out on the other side like the Phoenix. I truly admire him.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
1 Dec 10
hi irishmist go on and read the Man called Dave it will make you cry adn smile and l augh as he had an indomitable courage to survive and
tell his childhood story and his adult story, I think there is one mor after the Man called Dave. But his story made me ill and sad and cry then laugh and smile too.He won out over that horrible mom. I agree the father was no better. do read the next two books as it is well worth it really.
@marga1433 (90)
• Philippines
6 Dec 10
He has my empathy. The story is so heart-warming and definitely has a great impact on me as a parent too. How heartless a person could be for treating a boy as such? He should ave been taken cared of, not maltreated...
@maybebaby (1230)
• Canada
7 Nov 07
A Child Called IT was one of the best books that I have ever read. It is so brutally honest about the life of a boy that was so abused it's hard to believe in some parts. I saw an episode of Oprah where the author of the book wass on and spoke about his experience with his mother and it was just as horrifing to hear as it was to read. It really is an incredible book and I reccomend it to many of my friends.
@curiousgal (143)
• United States
7 Nov 07
I have not read the books yet. I would love to read them though. I am a mother of two young boys. I can't stand it even when my kids get hurt. I don't see how anybody could do anything to harm their own children. Parents are to take care of their kids and to keep them safe. I will have to be on the lookout for those books.
@curiousgal (143)
• United States
7 Nov 07
I have not read the books yet. I would love to read them though. I am a mother of two young boys, but I would never do anything like that. I can't stand it even when my kids get hurt. I don't see how anybody could do anything to harm their own kids. Parents are to take care of your kids and to keep them safe. I will have to be on the lookout for those books.
@BabyGurly1745 (302)
• United States
28 Jul 08
I read this book also when i was in middle school! I read it in like 2 days and that was the fastest i ever read a book. It was so sad. I can not believe how a mother can treat their child like that. I also read the lost boy and a man named Dave. This is a nightmare and he was brave getting out of this situation. I could NEVER imagine living in a place like that. That was truly hell on earth.
