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A Child Called It

What is a child called it?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Author Dave Pelzer[1]
Genre Memoir[5]
Publication year 1995[1]
Setting Daly City, California[4]

A Child Called "It" is a 1995 memoir by Dave Pelzer about the child abuse he says he suffered from his mother, who dehumanized him by calling him "it" [1].

Context

A Child Called "It" is a first-person account of Dave Pelzer's childhood, detailing the physical, emotional, and psychological abuse he endured from his mother [3]. She dehumanized him by calling him "it" instead of his name [1]. The memoir was published in 1995 and is set in Daly City, California [4]. Pelzer is eventually freed after teachers and police intervene [6].

Documented claims

  • The title reflects the dehumanization and abuse Pelzer experienced. [2]
  • Pelzer's mother stopped using his name and called him "it". [1]

Questions and answers

What does the title "A Child Called It" mean?

The title reflects the dehumanization and abuse Pelzer suffered, as his mother called him "it" [2].

Who wrote A Child Called It?

Dave Pelzer wrote the memoir [1].

When was A Child Called It published?

It was published in 1995 [1].

Sources

  1. A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer | Summary, Quotes & ... — study.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Themes and Significance of the Title A Child Called "It" — enotes.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. A Child Called It Study Guide | Course Hero — coursehero.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer Plot Summary — litcharts.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  5. A Child Called It — pluggedin.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  6. A Child Called It Summary and Study Guide - SuperSummary — supersummary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Culture