Dave Pelzer

David James Pelzer (born December 29, 1960) is an American author, best known for his memoir of childhood abuse, A Child Called "It". Pelzer is the son of San Francisco fireman Stephen Joseph Pelzer (1923 - 1980), who was of Austrian and Irish descent, and Catherine Roerva Christen Pelzer (1929 - 1992).

Controversy

Questions have been raised about Pelzer's works and their authenticity. In a 2002 New York Times article, Pelzer's younger brother, Stephen Pelzer, cast doubt on some of the abuse allegations in Dave Pelzer's writings. However, according to the books Pelzer wrote, Pelzer's brother were alleged to have been complicit in many, if not all, of the acts of child abuse.

Supporting Pelzer's story is schoolteacher Athena Konstan of Salt Lake City, who wrote, "In my 31 years of teaching, David Pelzer was the most severely abused child I have ever known.

His brother, Richard also supports his story, and has written a book himself, A Brother's Journey, which chronicles his own abuse.

CBS had initially planned to make a movie based on his writings, to be released in 2003. For unknown reasons, the project was later scrapped.

Pelzer brothers in birth order

Dave's Book Names	Real Names	Richard's Book Names
Ron	Robert S. Pelzer	Ross
Stan	Stephen J. Pelzer Jr	Scott
Russel	Richard B. Pelzer	Richard
Kevin	Kenneth E. Pelzer	Keith

Works

Pelzer has written a number of books:

• A Child Called It (1995) ISBN 1-55874-366-9
• The Lost Boy (1997) ISBN 1-55874-515-7
• A Man Named Dave (1999) ISBN 0-452-28190-3
• Help Yourself (2001) ISBN 0-452-28276-4
• My Story (2002) ISBN 0-7528-5371-6, Compilation of A Child Called It, The Lost Boy, and A Man Named Dave
• The Privilege of Youth (2004) ISBN 0-525-94769-8
• Life's Lessons (2004) ISBN 0-00-714691-4
• Help Yourself for Teens (2005) ISBN 0-452-28652-2

Awards and recognition

• JC Penney Golden Rule Award (1990)
• California Volunteeer of the Year (1990)
• Ten Outstanding Young Americans (1993)
• Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (1994)
• National Jefferson Award (2005)

References

External links

• Dave Pelzer's Personal website