The Lost Boy

I love this book so much. While I have some problems with how "The System" was done back then, that has nothing to do with how awesome this book is. I just got really angry when his mother was able to see him and be able to know where he lived. Of course, that could of been how it was in the 70s and why was she never arrested for the crimes she committed. That's something that can't be changed, it just frustrated me. But again, this is an amazing book. Any person who works with abused children should read it because it'll make you think about how you work with children and anyone who doesn't should too because foster care should not be such a taboo. It may not be pleasant to know about what happens to children, but turning your back on it doesn't make it go away.

I love reading these books! It is so nice to get the story straight from the victim and not the media. I can't believe his mother or father for that matter were never charged with abuse. I will continue to read David's series of books. I am so glad he was able to overcome all the horrible things he went thru and made a huge success of his life when so many would have been defeated and given up. It is a real pleasure to read about his accomplishments.

I just graduated with my BSW & feel like I’m being pulled to work with children. I was recommended A child called “it” in an effort to prepare myself and read the entire thing within hours. It was absolutely heart breaking, but I couldn’t put it down. I immediately ordered the second book, and read it within hours today. Currently waiting on the third book to arrive. I love that it includes perspectives on foster care from individuals who were part of his life, such as his foster mom and a teacher!

Wow. What a terrible child abuse story but what an amazing man Dave Pelzer is to overcome such horrible atrocities in his childhood and life then grow up to share his story, help others and become an award winning author and public speaker! I have all 3 books he wrote on the subject of his childhood thru becoming an adult and recently purchased "A Brother's Journey" by Richard Pelzer about one of Dave's sibling and what he went through after Dave was removed from the house and his brother took his place at the hands of a terrible, cruel monster... their Mother! This book, "The Lost Boy", covers Dave's life until the time he's removed from the house at age 12. Prepare yourself because it's horrifying the things this poor boy went through... Dave captures everything in vivid detail which makes this book a page-turner you won't be able to put down... I read his first book, "A Child Called It" in a little over one day I was so engrossed in it and needed to know what happened, then what happened next, which is how I bought this book and the 3rd in the series, "A Man Called Dave". This book I also read in a little over one day... it's a book you won't be able to put down - actually, I highly recommend you buy all 3 books because you won't be able to stop reading until the very end, when he makes it to adulthood and becomes settled in life and has his 2 loves - his wife and son. Excellent choice to buy - but like I said, get all 3... I'll comment about his brother's book once I finish reading it...

An amazing story! It is so well written, I couldn't put it down. Dave is an incredible survivor. I love his story telling style. He was such a brave little boy. Having lived myself with a lot of foster children in our house, it was good to hear his side as a foster child. Many of the foster children in our home were well cared for and loved by our family. I am sad to say that some were not. His additions at the end of his story about foster care, and the 'system', provides important information for the public. Thank you for bravely sharing your story.

As a survivor of child abuse myself I recommend this memoir to every survivor of child abuse. Learning that Dave had a successful life after being abused helped me to feel better and to have more hope for a brighter future for myself.

This book is a follow up to Pelzer's first book. Although it's not a fun read because of the subject matter, I found it extremely worthwhile. I would recommend it to anyone seeking a greater understanding on the effect of an abusive home on a child and how the experiences they have there don't necessarily cease when they're moved to another location.

After reading A Child Called It, I knew I had to read more of David's story. I had to find out what happens after he is rescued from his mother's house.You would think that things would finally start to get easier for David now that he is free from his mother's tyranny, but they don't. He just gets a new set of problems. The Lost Boy chronicles his life from age 12 to 18, and his search for a home and for people to love him.Just like with A Child Called It, I read this book in one sitting. I simply could not put it down until I knew that David was going to be okay. I was so sad reading about what he has to go through as a foster child, especially how he just wants to be loved.Ultimately, the book ends on an uplifting note. David's courage and strength of character are to be admired. He simply never gives up! I will most definitely read the third book, A Man Named Dave. I just have to know more about David's journey. I would recommend this book to anyone. It's a fast, moving, powerful read.

Having just read The Child Called It, which was a great book, I wanted to find out what happened next, after realising that the world was darker then than even I knew. This man has had the worst possible mother and father; and also brothers who joined in with his abuse. However this book shows he has ridden above all of them to become a great man, who thinks of others. Shade to the brothers who have tried to belittle and make less of his experience, they did not walk in his shoes. I'm glad we live in times where this sort of thing is brought into the open more and made easier for a child to get help. Having been the victim of a different type of childhood abuse, I can testify that it's not easy to turn out good like Dave. I wish him all the best in whatever he does with the rest of his life.

To say I enjoyed this book would be wrong , it is a true story of one boys life struggling to be loved by his peers . It reveals life as a foster child which at times was very hard and difficult for Dave and his many foster parents . Once again I have read the book in three days , now I want to get to know Dave as an adult .

In this book, you see Dave grow up and then into a wonderful young man. He had a terrible childhood with his vicious mother. Thank goodness for his roster parents. They were all amazing

The second book in the trilogy book , A child called ' It '. Wow I couldn't put all these books down what amazing story of a young boy fighting to survive after his rescue from abusive alcholic mother who emotionally and physically starved him and her ' Games ' she played that left one of her sons nearly dead. She no longer considered david as her son but her slave , now in foster care david's new fight to survive as he is placed in and out of five different foster homes he feels ' unworthy of love ' and ' his shameful past ' yet not giving up on finding a 'real family ' to love and be loved. David is a brave young boy who I just wanted to hold tight and tell him that he's safe now and everything will be okay.

This book continues where "A Child Called It" left off and we enter a new stage of Dave Pelzer's life. I was continuously surprised by the attitudes and lack of support for a boy with a history such as Dave's. It does seem that children who are put in care get a label that is impossible to shed, no matter how little they are to blame for their circumstances. I admire Dave Pelzer for telling this story as he comes off much less as a victim in this book than in the first one, but it's nevertheless an important story to tell. And I applaud him for the fact that he does not cast any blame on society. He humbly accepts his destiny.