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Bookworngurly
Good read
Even though this book made me tear up a number of times I would highly suggest you read it. I felt like i was there with him the whole adventure and must say I couldnt put it down. I thought that he would tell some one about his pain but he puhed it al down and lived through all the ridicual he faced. He was brave and scared. Two qualities that never seem to go together. In this case it does.
Arianna Dante
Not a factual story!
This is NOT an autobiography. The author made the entire story up! Remember when it was on Oprah's list of novels to read; she praised the book and the "man" who endured this abuse. However, it was not a man but a CHARACTER. The entire story is fictional!
Editor's Note: Although there has been some debate the truth of this book, it is is generally held that the book is largely factual. Some newspapers have questioned this; however the author continues to claim it to be true, and has been supported in this by his brother and former schoolteacher.
Michelle
Still a CHILD
When do we recognize a child as old enough to find out that there is abuse in the world? When the child grows up to become an adult, or when they become shocked by a book such as this that it shows them that their world is not as innocent as they might think? One out of these 123 reviews of this book says that she does not want children reading it because "the shock value for young readers is high. It definitely robs one of their innocence." Kids will grow up whether we want them to or not, and by reading about one child who lived through this suffering for so many years and survived it gives anyone an insight into their own life. Many reviewers say that they see that their hard times are now a blessing compared to what David Pelzer had to live through. We can all learn positive stuff from reading this book and find that we can be grateful for everything that we have.
This book was written for a fifth grade level, and the author took out a lot of the more important details about his childhood, but I still recommend it, if you have the stomach for it. Remember the box of tissues!
Chris
Wow...
Well...heh this book hit me in several spots. It was very emotional and it impacts you so much that it'll make you cry every time you think of how horrible that would be. Just think about how grateful we should be when we compare ourselves to David Pelzer. I am very sorry for what he has been through. Now there are a couple reasons why I gave his book a 3 rating. One he uses very simple sentences and doesn't EXPLAIN! He must explain why his mother got so angry so suddenly and why his father totally rejected him when, I am sure, he could have done so much about it. I just wish he told more and then it would one of the greatest book I would have ever read. But other than that I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
Richard Berg
Bunch of BS
As a child social worker for CPS and a licensed psychotherapist working with abused children for 15 years I found the book hardly credible. I feel the story was exaggerated and embellished. This man's story is bigger then life, and hardly believable. There are children that have to live with severe abuse. However there have always been measures in place. As mandated reporters teachers and school nurses have to report to CPS if they suspect abuse. There would have been a flood of reports from neighbors, school staff, and doctors through out the years of abuse. Why does the writer not talk about foster care. No mention in the book as how he made it. Was he not placed in foster care along the way. Also there is no one mentioned in the book that can be corroborated, only his account. I find it impossible to believe.
Terry
I have doubts.
I work with neglected and abused children. This story seems implausable to me. The neglect and abuse described here, plus constant food stealing at school, should have triggered responses from school officials much sooner than the author would have us believe. He was twelve when removed from the home and so we're to believe that six or seven years of stealing food at school, covered in bruises, wearing the same ragged clothes,... and the school does nothing? In San Francisco? In rare circumstances, mothers do starve children, but they rarely get away with it once children are in school. And this kind of abuse is usually given to step children, but this child is being raised by both his biological parents in an intact family. The father, who is portrayed as a meek man, allowing his wife to starve and abuse the child, was actually a fireman, ...not a profession for the meek. The parents are now dead, and cannot defend themselves. According to Wikipedia, one of his siblings says the book is a farce and wrote a book called, "Dysfunction for Dollars". The authors grandmother also disputes the abuse.
mamasocks
sentimental con job
This book just did not ring true to me. Admittedly, the writer pulled at my heart strings but I feel there was much exaggeration and imaginary acts on his part. Reminds me of James Frey. Hope I don't get shot in the leg for this opinion but I felt I saw through all the tears and sorrow and that it was written to sell copies.
Cherish
No depth
I had put off reading this book for years, not sure if I could handle the sad and horrific details of the story. After finally reading it recently, I learned that it is just that- horrific details, and little else. There is no formation or shape of an actual story. From the beginning, the reader is literally bombarded with surreal descriptions of one unspeakable act of abuse after another, and left reeling by it. It's as if the author intends to gain empathy from the reader through the "shock and awe" effect, not in a moralistic way.
It's not that you don't feel for the kid; but so much more could be gleaned from this tragic story if the narrative had rhyme or reason. Instead, it is page after page, (after page) of in-your face-atrocities, with no insight of the mother's psyche or background at all. Yes, she's a drinker, but she's Carol Brady with her other kids. And why is that? We never find out or even get a clue.
More plot holes and unanswered questions abound. Why did it take 8 years before teachers did anything for this boy? Why weren't the abuser's other children considered endangered and taken away? Why was the mother never brought to justice or at least investigated?
A story loses credibility and power when so many questions are raised for the reader, and so few are visited or answered.
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