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October 27, 2006
A Child Called It
My 14-year-old daughter and her friends were reading A Child Called It. I hadn't read it, but as they all breezed through it, talked about it and requested the sequel -- I couldn't resist. It's an autobiography, written by Dave Pelzer. It is Pelzer's story of the severe abuse he suffered at the hands of his mother. It was painful to read, it was so utterly heartbreaking. Not only was he abused at home, but he was victimized at school as well. I kept thinking, though -- why did Mr. Pelzer write this book for young adults? As I finished the book, I found a poem by Cindy Adams. The poem holds us all responsible, as it tells us that there is something all of us can do. According to Dave Pelzer, 1 in 5 children are physically or emotionally abused. That means that many of us may know someone who is. Let's never forget that there's something we all can do.
I Never Knew
I never knew how bad it was;
I heard it did exist.
I was appalled at this crime
That robbed youth
Of their "special" time.
I never knew how bad it hurt;
The bruises and scars aren't seen.
And why somewhere along life's way,
The brutality of abuse
Has made you pay.
I never knew how you felt;
Your self-esteem so low.
I only knew you crept away,
And never let your feelings show.
I never knew what I could do;
That I could help somehow.
That all you needed was a friend;
Just someone to be your pal.
But now I know that I can help;
I can make a difference, too.
I'll stand with you; I'll shout with you,
And the rest can't say, "I never knew."
Cindy Adams
Posted by Michele at October 27, 2006 1:09 PM
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Comments
I don't know why students love to read about child abuse, but they do, usually in 7th grade. Perhaps reading about someone else's misfortune makes their own difficulties seem less severe. Another book like A Child Called It that is popular is Robert's Don't Hurt Laurie, and Werlin's The Rules of Survival is also good.
Posted by: Ms. Yingling at March 7, 2008 12:44 PM