by Dave Pelzer (Author)
Dave Pelzer's story is the story of a child brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother: a mother who played tortuous, unpredictable games - games that left one of her three sons nearly dead. Dave had to learn how to play his mother's games in order to survive because she no longer considered him a son, but a slave; and 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. But throughout Dave kept alive dreams of finding a family to love him, care for him, call him their son. It took many years of struggle, deprivation and despair to find his dream and then to make something of himself in the world. This book covers the early years of his life and is an affecting and inspirational look at the horrors of child abuse and the steadfast determination of one child to survive despite the odds.
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 148
Edition: 11th. Impression
Publisher: Orion
Published: 10 Feb 2000
ISBN 10: 0752832220
ISBN 13: 9780752832227
Book Overview: New York Times bestseller - in the chart for an astonishing 65 weeks In the Publisher's Weekly Top Twenty for 35 weeks An inspirational story for survivors of abuse, childcare workers and parents 1 million copies sold in the USA and around the world - translation rights sold to Holland, Japan, Denmark, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Germany and Taiwan Author will be available during the week of publication and ChildLine and the NSPCC will be combining to create major media interest