Child Called It by Dave Pelzer

Dave Pelzer’s book, A Child Called It, is a work of fiction. If you have ever seen young boys who had a bad childhood because of their uncaring mothers, you would enjoy reading A Child Called It. 

This book is a real life event about David, a nine year old boy, who gets beaten by his alcoholic, mad, heartless mother. She would not feed him for days! Many times on his way to school David would either stop by a store or he would have to steal his classmate’s lunches. His mother was so evil that one day she tried burning him in the stove! Thankfully, his father came home or else she would have burned him to death! 

His father was usually away because of his work. The father was miserable with the mother too, as she was an alcoholic, lazy, angry woman. David was so horrified of his mother he could not ask for help. Sadly, he had to deal with all his mother’s unfair games. 

If you would like to find out what other crazy things David’s mother made him endure, I recommend you read A Child Called It.

Deicy A.

House Rules by Rachel Sontag

Through the book, House Rules, Sontag tells the unbelievable story of her family and their struggle trying to deal with her father’s obsessive and controlling ways. If you've read the book, A Child Called It, by Dave Pelzer and found it to be an incredible book, than chances are you would enjoy reading House Rules as well. However, unlike the book, A Child Called It, House Rules does not involve physical abuse but instead emotional abuse. Rachel Sontag is writing about her family’s struggle while also demonstrating emotional abuse can be as severe as physical and sexual abuse. House Rules tells about the life of Rachel Sontag, a ten year old girl living with her sister, Jenny, her mother who is a social worker and her father who is a well-respected doctor. Rachel is the type of daughter any parent would love to have. She respects others, does well in school, is involved in activities and does everything she is told to do. While she would be the perfect daughter to one, her father wishes she was never born. Rachel’s father is extremely strict even on topics most wouldn't notice. She is forced to have short hair and nails because, according to her father, it gives her a more respected view from others. If she ever disobeys, she must write him a well written apology letter. This is one of the few unbelievable things he does that makes Rachel feel as if she is in a prison with no escape. If you are curious to find out what else her father makes her go through, I recommend you read House Rules.

Ariana E.

Hole In My Life by Jack Gantos

Jack Gantos’ book, Hole In My Life, is one of the first biographies he wrote. If you like to read action and suspense this would be a good book to read.Jack moved a lot during his last year of school so it was hard for him to finish that final year. After he graduated, his family was going to move back to his home town which was Puerto Rico. He did not like this idea. He wanted to go to college in Florida because in Puerto Rico it’s not as good as Florida. Months later he decided to come back on his own and rent a place

with a family friend and make some money so he could start school and do what he always wanted. Things started to get difficult and he just couldn't make enough money so he decided to get involved with some wrong activities. This would take about a month sailing a boat with one other person but once this job was done he would have enough money for college plus some extra money to waste. Everything worked out well and he was about to get paid his money but that’s when he ran into some cops who had been looking for him. Everything ended up going to waste and he got nothing.

Edwin S..

House Rules By: Rachel Sontag

House Rules is a very popular book for students who like Psychology. One of the things you learn about in Psychology is abuse and all the affects it has on the people who get abused and also the people who are around all the abuse. This book is a very good example of how emotional and mental abuse can affect people and their behaviors. Rachel, her sister Jenny and her mom were all victims of mental and emotional abuse. Their father was the one who attacked them mentally and physically. You never find out in the story what causes it but if you know the general reasons for being abusive, like he is, you can pick up on some of his past that has caused him to be the way he is. I would have to say this is a very good book for people who want to learn and see real examples of abuse. I do think anyone can read this book. You can read it even though you might not know anything about mental or emotional abuse. I think you would get different reactions to the book because of the content described and this book will open your eyes to realize people actually go through this kind of stuff. For example, some people might think the father is just very strict and some people might say he is crazy. I think this book would also be popular for any mature audience because this book does get a bit graphic in the middle of the story when Rachel is in the foster home. The audience needs to be able to handle the hardships Rachel faces when she leaves home, goes to college, then drops out of college and tries to start a new life without her family, except for her sister Jenny. I would say any reader has to be prepared to not be able to put down this book. Once you start reading, it sucks you in and you want to keep finding out more and more about what is going on at that moment.

Andrea S.