The Lost Boy by David Pelzer. Health Communications Inc., 1997. Genre: Autobiography
The Lost Boy is the sequel to A Child Called It. In this book you follow David through his life from age 12 through 18. David has to face many unfair things in his life. He has to first overcome the fear of betraying his mother and telling the family secret in court. Only then is he able to be freed of the ties he has to his former abuse. This nonfiction story is filled with struggles and triumphs. You watch David become more self-confident in a safe environment. You follow him through the difficult task of making friends when you're automatically not accepted. He searches for the love of the mom that he never had, and is always searching for answers as to why his mother abused him instead of the other sons. David's past led him to his unstable life as a foster child, with many psychological problems. Despite all of that, David's story of overcoming circumstances is inspirational.
"The Lost Boy stands shgining as the premier book on the unique love and dedication that social services and foster families provide for our children in peril. Dave Pelzer is certainly a living testament of resilience, personal responsibility and the triumph of the human spirit."-John Bradshaw
Dave Pelzer grabs your interest from the very beginning of the book and manages to keep it. He conveys how he felt and what he thought at that time in his life using simple vocabulary. He writes about situations that makes you feel sorry for him as well as situations where you just want to yell advice to him. The author doesn't write as if he is looking back on what happened, but like he was reliving it. The ups and downs of David's life and the development of the character remind you that David is a real person. This book is a lot like his previous book, A Child Called It, except it's nowhere near as depressing. In A Child Called It you were wondering if David would even survive and a lot of the descriptions were enough to make your stomach flip. In this book you are filled with hope for David and after the previous book you're dying to find out what happens in Dave's life next. If you liked A Child Called It I highly recommend reading The Lost Boy.
"I could feel that tear reach my lips, tasted the salt and let the tear dry on my skin as the sun baked through the windshield. I wanted to remember that tear not as a tear of fear, anger or sorrow, but as one of joy and freedom" (38). Although I'm usually not a fan of nonfiction books, especially biographies, Dave Pelzer's books are en exception. His writing style and inspirtational story make it very interesting. I would love to read the sequel to The Lost Boy.
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excellent book. I've heard that it's required reading in high schools these days...Kind of strange..
ReplyDeletethe author's overall impression of the book was the she really liked it
ReplyDeletethe author noticed that the author doesnt write as f he's looking back at it but reliving it. its is really descriptive.
the author did pick an interesting passage because it shows how happy dave was when he found out that he no longer has to live with his abusive mother.
i already read this book but i would reread it because it's interesting to read about how he overcame his obstacles and struggles.
The author's overall impression of the book was that she generally liked the book and its author.
ReplyDeleteThe author's writing style is to write like they are reliving the scene. This is a very descriptive way of writing.
The author picked an interesting passage from the book. It describes Dave's happiness when he found out that he would be leaving his abusive mother.
I read a Child Called It and i personally found it to be a depressing book. I would not read this book because i don't like depressing books like this one.
Like i said before, i wouldn't read this book because it's too depressing.
1. The reviewer's overall impression of the book was a depressing.
ReplyDelete2. The reviewer says that the author grabs her attention using how he felt at the time in which the event was happening.
3. The reviewer did pick an intersting quote because it shows that the author is descriptive and spoke of dave's liberty.
4. I think this book review is a great review because it gives the basics of the book without giving away what happens.
5. I would consider reading this book because i read the previous book in the series and it was a great book.
1) The reviewer loved the book she read the first one and was not disappointed with the sequel.
ReplyDelete2) I don't recall the reviewer mentioning the writing style.
3)Yes the reviewer did, it showed the emotion the author put in whilst writing the story.
4) Followed all the criteria.
5)) No, way too depressing for me!!
1. The reviewer thought that the book was well-written and liked it.
ReplyDelete2. The reviewer noted that the author wrote using vocabulary that he would have used at that age.
3. The quote chosen showed all the emotion that Pelzer felt during this time.
4. The book review was great because it didn't give away all of the story but was effective in showing how the reader liked the book.
5. I don't think I'd read this book because I'm not really a person who reads kind of depressing books.
1. Kaitlin's overall impression of this book was that she really enjoyed it enough to read it again.
ReplyDelete2. She says that the author writes as if he is reliving or looking back at the events that happened. He uses simple vocabulary that a person that age at the time would have used.
3. Yes she did. I think it was a very good example of the emotion written in the story.
4. The review was very good because it gave an overview and Kaitlin's opinion about it but it did not give away anything.
5. I am currently reading "A Child Called It" so when I finish I will probably be interesting in reading the sequel.