--- product_id: 221574 title: "A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive" price: "€ 17.80" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.be/products/221574-a-child-called-it-one-childs-courage-to-survive store_origin: BE region: Belgium --- # True survival story, timeless impact 4.7/5 from 16,860 reviews Bestseller #3 Child Abuse A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive **Price:** € 17.80 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🔥 Dive into the unforgettable true story of survival and courage that everyone’s talking about! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive - **How much does it cost?** € 17.80 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.be](https://www.desertcart.be/products/221574-a-child-called-it-one-childs-courage-to-survive) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Raw, Unfiltered Courage:** Experience the brutal reality and inspiring survival of Dave Pelzer, a story that challenges and uplifts like no other. - • **Unmatched True Story Impact:** Ranked #3 in Child Abuse books, this gripping memoir is a must-read for those who value resilience and courage. - • **Critically Acclaimed & Loved:** With a stellar 4.7-star rating from over 16,000 readers, it’s a proven emotional powerhouse that resonates deeply. - • **Empathy & Awareness Catalyst:** Perfect for professionals seeking to understand trauma, resilience, and the human spirit’s strength in adversity. - • **Conversation Starter & Social Impact:** Join a community of readers who champion awareness and change by sharing this unforgettable narrative. ## Overview A Child Called It is Dave Pelzer’s harrowing memoir detailing one of California’s most severe child abuse cases. This bestselling paperback, ranked #3 in Child Abuse books, reveals the brutal reality of his childhood and his extraordinary resilience. With over 16,000 glowing reviews averaging 4.7 stars, this powerful narrative is both a heartbreaking and inspiring testament to hope, survival, and the human spirit. ## Description This book chronicles the unforgettable account of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. It is the story of Dave Pelzer, who was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother: a mother who played tortuous, unpredictable games--games that left him nearly dead. He 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." Dave's bed was an old army cot in the basement, and his clothes were torn and raunchy. When his mother allowed him the luxury of food, it was nothing more than spoiled scraps that even the dogs refused to eat. The outside world knew nothing of his living nightmare. He had nothing or no one to turn to, but his dreams kept him alive--dreams of someone taking care of him, loving him and calling him their son. Review: heartbreaking page turner - A Child Called It is a heartbreaking page-turner that was hard to put down. The true story is emotional and shocking, and it made me feel many different emotions while reading. Even though some parts were difficult to read, the book showed the importance of hope, courage, and never giving up. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy powerful true stories that leave a lasting impression. Review: Great story of survival & strength of the human spirit - I bought this book a couple years ago but never had a chance to read it til recently. Very sad story of a little boy in a dysfunctional family who was horribly mistreated, neglected, and abused by his mentally ill and evil mother. It's amazing he survived and didn't turn into a serial killer or something. His mother was a real piece of work and sadly was never made to pay for her crimes, but his brothers were creeps, too. Gramma wasn't any better. So sad that this tormented child had no one to turn to and no one he could trust. My childhood wasn't all sunshine and roses, but I can't imagine living with the daily horrors this little boy was forced to endure. I'm glad that some of the people at school finally started to pay attention and made an attempt to help him, but it was too little, too late. Thank God he was eventually removed from this hellish environment by age 12. I have since read the other 2 sequels to this book and Dave's other books. (He needs a better editor.) I hope sharing his story has been cathartic for him. It seems his life as an adult has not been easy or without heartache, but I pray God will give him perfect healing and release him from the pain of his unfortunate past. He is a survivor. I hope the people in his life will quit taking advantage of him and that his years will be peaceful and full of joy and happiness. I want to recommend a couple similar true abuse/survival stories by authors in the UK that were better and even more compelling: 1. Peter Roche's book "Unloved" will break your heart! He was pushed out the door and made to fend for himself while he was still in diapers. The pitiful photo on the book's cover is a picture of him taken as a baby that was used as propoganda by the UK in their attempts to make a show of helping the poor and needy back in the '60's, although they did not help this poor child or his family in the least! How this little boy survived and lived to tell about it, I will never know, but I'm so glad he did. It should be required reading for anybody 14 and up. We all have so much to be thankful for, while this child had nothing and no one to love him. I read his book while on the beach this summer and I couldn't put it down. Finished it in a day. 2. Kat Ward's series of Keri books (there are 5). Her childhood in the UK was horrific. Her mother was evil incarnate and her step-father was just as evil. She was mistreated in the worst possible ways and when she was finally able to tell someone she trusted, her mother made sure nobody believed her and made her life a living hell. Even once she was in the system, she was not safe from abuse or from her mother's cruelty. I bought the Kindle versions and read through the entire series in a week's time (they were each around 500+ pages long). I didn't get much sleep that week, but couldn't put them down. She is an excellent writer and made me feel like I was right there with her the whole time. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and am anxiously hoping she will put out a part 6. ## Features - Dave Pelzer, A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive, paperback ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #2,407 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #3 in Child Abuse (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 16,860 Reviews | ## Images ![A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71coj5flmZL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ heartbreaking page turner *by A***R on July 30, 2026* A Child Called It is a heartbreaking page-turner that was hard to put down. The true story is emotional and shocking, and it made me feel many different emotions while reading. Even though some parts were difficult to read, the book showed the importance of hope, courage, and never giving up. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy powerful true stories that leave a lasting impression. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great story of survival & strength of the human spirit *by B***S on October 1, 2015* I bought this book a couple years ago but never had a chance to read it til recently. Very sad story of a little boy in a dysfunctional family who was horribly mistreated, neglected, and abused by his mentally ill and evil mother. It's amazing he survived and didn't turn into a serial killer or something. His mother was a real piece of work and sadly was never made to pay for her crimes, but his brothers were creeps, too. Gramma wasn't any better. So sad that this tormented child had no one to turn to and no one he could trust. My childhood wasn't all sunshine and roses, but I can't imagine living with the daily horrors this little boy was forced to endure. I'm glad that some of the people at school finally started to pay attention and made an attempt to help him, but it was too little, too late. Thank God he was eventually removed from this hellish environment by age 12. I have since read the other 2 sequels to this book and Dave's other books. (He needs a better editor.) I hope sharing his story has been cathartic for him. It seems his life as an adult has not been easy or without heartache, but I pray God will give him perfect healing and release him from the pain of his unfortunate past. He is a survivor. I hope the people in his life will quit taking advantage of him and that his years will be peaceful and full of joy and happiness. I want to recommend a couple similar true abuse/survival stories by authors in the UK that were better and even more compelling: 1. Peter Roche's book "Unloved" will break your heart! He was pushed out the door and made to fend for himself while he was still in diapers. The pitiful photo on the book's cover is a picture of him taken as a baby that was used as propoganda by the UK in their attempts to make a show of helping the poor and needy back in the '60's, although they did not help this poor child or his family in the least! How this little boy survived and lived to tell about it, I will never know, but I'm so glad he did. It should be required reading for anybody 14 and up. We all have so much to be thankful for, while this child had nothing and no one to love him. I read his book while on the beach this summer and I couldn't put it down. Finished it in a day. 2. Kat Ward's series of Keri books (there are 5). Her childhood in the UK was horrific. Her mother was evil incarnate and her step-father was just as evil. She was mistreated in the worst possible ways and when she was finally able to tell someone she trusted, her mother made sure nobody believed her and made her life a living hell. Even once she was in the system, she was not safe from abuse or from her mother's cruelty. I bought the Kindle versions and read through the entire series in a week's time (they were each around 500+ pages long). I didn't get much sleep that week, but couldn't put them down. She is an excellent writer and made me feel like I was right there with her the whole time. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and am anxiously hoping she will put out a part 6. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Courageous young boy! *by D***N on August 20, 2026* Wonderful book but very sad. David is such a courageous young boy to have endured what he has! I am looking so very forward to receiving the other 2 books of this trilogy. I would DEFINITELY recommend ordering all 3 books! ## Frequently Bought Together - A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive - The Lost Boy: A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family - A Man Named Dave: A Story of Triumph and Forgiveness --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.be/products/221574-a-child-called-it-one-childs-courage-to-survive](https://www.desertcart.be/products/221574-a-child-called-it-one-childs-courage-to-survive) --- *Product available on Desertcart Belgium* *Store origin: BE* *Last updated: 2026-09-16*