This book takes a deep look into a true story of the most horrendous child abuse case in California history. The man that authored it is also the man who lived through it – Dave Pelzer. He is now an amazing individual who is using his past to help others rather than feel sorry for himself. The things he lived through and the punishments his mother invented for him were so cruel. As I read his story, I could not fathom her mentality or thought processes – how could she come up with these horrid, hellish ideas of torturing him? How could his father be so passive and watch as his son was physically abused to the point of death and starvation? Why was she so mean to her firs-born son, but chose to treat her other younger sons with respect and dignity? It is impossible to understand. I am going to read his next book, “The Lost Boy, which is a sequel to the first book. He said many questions that may rise in your mind as your reading the first book, would be answered in the next one.

I am glad that I have read this book, and would recommend it to anyone having questions about child abuse. It would especially be good for teachers to read, since there were signs that could have been noticed or picked up on regarding Dave earlier on in his abuse cycle.

This book is a page-turning, heartbreaking, anger-inducing read about the author’s childhood enduring horrific physical and mental abuse. This is part 1 in a trilogy, in which he tells us about his early childhood up to around age 10 or 11. This story will make you really upset and angry at abusers and people who just stand by and watch abuse happen to helpless children.

I do not recommend this book if you were physically or mentally abused as a child unless you know what you are getting into.

Some scenes are graphic in nature.