After reading A Child Called It, I bought this book. It seemed so clear to me that if someone could go through Dave Pelzer's childhood and learn to be productive and happy, there weren't any excuses I could use. I liked that he speaks to how we can all move toward greater happiness and fulfillment, no matter what our current circumstances. It's a hopeful but practical message. I turn to this book when I'm feeling frustrated or discouraged. I've also shared it with other people I know when they have been struggling. It's such an important message that gets lost too often in our negative culture.

I bought this book for my girlfriend because she constantly has self-esteem issues, most of them being non-existant, but still she worries. I bought this book because it really does tell you to "help yourself." Her past was filled with drama, and memories of the past arise every year somewhat around holidays, and that really bugs me. This book really helped her to move on with her life, and keep in mind that it's not your fault, but pick yourself up and go. "Forget about everything else," is a good message she got from this book. No matter what has happened to you, there is hope and courage in something around you; you just have to find it. Most of the time, as this book teaches us, it's right in front of you. Definitely a good book for those low on self-esteem.

through a series of three books, dave pelzer recounts and rewrites the tragedies of abuse he endured throughout his childhood. his mother, a raging alcoholic who constantly abused dave, his father, a strong firefighter who abandoned dave and his family were two events depicted in the books. The severe abuse that he barely lived through as a young child. From broken arms, to being stabbed and nearly starved to death. Forcing ammonia down his throat, and trapping him in the bathroom with toxic chemicals were a few games his mother liked to play. He writes about the struggles with being rescued and taken to ''homes.'' He talks about the struggles he had within the foster homes, and the the struggle to be accepted. These books show that he really is a survivor, and the help to show others that if he can survive some crazy, and traumatic things, we can too.

After reading Dave Pelzers other book "A child called it" I had returned it to my high school teacher. In the meantime, when I was looking for more credit ( I was in an accelertated program )and I was given assignments for each area to complete in High School. For Literature/Reading I had to chose 3 self help books. After reading "A Child called It" I discovered his other book on our little shelf in our corner. I grabbed it hoping it would be as good as his first book. Granted, It's a great book and i liked it, but it wasnt as touching as his "A Child called It".

Instead of talking about his past and what solely happened back then, He talks about what he's got now, how he looks as the glass half full rather than half empty. He talks about how he doesn't hold a grudge to his own mother for doing this to him, rather him thanking her for him having such a happy life now.