Dítě zvané "To" - Příběh zápasu o přežití – Pelzer Dave (2023)

The book is a testimony to one of the most severe cases of child abuse recorded in the history of the state of California. The mother of little Dave beats him, starves him, and makes him a slave to the family. The boy has to sleep in the basement, and every meal, which usually consists of nothing but disgusting leftovers, he has to fight for, while his own mother tries to take his life. Although he grows up in a family with multiple children, he is the only victim of these cruelties. Even though the boy wears rags, smells, and steals food from other children at school, those around him remain dismissive and indifferent for a long time... The child called "It" speaks not only about the horrific situation of one American child but also about his will to survive. The author of the afterword is the well-known British writer Torey L. Hayden, who addresses, among other things, the topic of abused children in her novels. Dave Pelzer, who experienced severe abuse in childhood, entered foster care at the age of twelve and became a member of the United States Air Force at eighteen. Today, he is dedicated to raising awareness in support of child victims of abuse and was one of the torchbearers for the Olympic flame in 1996.