One of my favorite places in the world is a book store – usually Barnes and Noble. I often will visit just to soak up the feel and smell of books. It’s good for my soul. Often I’ll see books that peak my interest, but I will go months or years without actually purchasing them. One such series is the one by Dave Pelzer about his abusive childhood and the struggle to overcome the abuse.

The Child Called It is the first of the trilogy. Pelzer chronicles his life from 4 – 12 years old. The abuse that he reports is extensive and graphic and I must admit that I found myself scrolling through the worst of it with barely a scan. It was just too difficult to read the details. The idea that a child can be abused this horribly and survive to be a functioning member of society is a testament to the power of resiliency and perseverance. People have questioned if Pelzer’s recollections are accurate, but even if only a fraction of it is true, it’s still horrific. The first book ends with Pelzer finally being rescued by the teachers and other employees at his elementary school. After almost a year of concern and documentation, they finally contacted the authorities about his abuse. It is difficult to remember that there was once a time in our society where such abuse could occur without any legal recourse for intervention.

Pelzer’s second book The Lost Boy chronicles the years after he left his parents’ home until he turned eighteen. The underfunded and understaffed foster care system is featured in this book. As Pelzer details the struggles of making his way in new homes and new schools, he highlights the many adults who have devoted their lives to helping children just like him. He realizes that the foster care system doesn’t get the respect it deserves and acknowledges that it saved his life. Pelzer displays a single minded desire to survive that was instrumental in him ultimately being accepted in the U. S. Air Force after his eighteenth birthday.