A child called "IT"

I know this book has been mentioned on this site before but I don't think it has ever gotten it's own thread.
I just finished reading it and I can honestly say that I don't think I have ever been as profoundly affected by a book as I have been by this one. I can't even begin to tell you how many tissues I went through. This book, not for the weak of heart or stomach, is an important literary journey that many people need to read. It calls a MAJOR issue into light and teaches a lesson we all should learn.
Pay attention to kids you know, that are around you, that you don't know or that you pass...You just never know which one is going to need your help.

Re: A child called "IT"

I felt the same after reading that. If you're looking for another book along the same vein, read One Child by Torey Hayden. You'll never put it down.

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Both of these books, "A Child Called IT" and "One Child" were amazing. I don't know how anyone can read either one and not be affected.

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I've never felt so nauseated while reading something as I did while reading this book. Just horrific.

I wanted to find him and hold him forever. I wanted to find his 'mother' and beat her over and over again.

But I'm so happy that he survived and is living well.

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Years after reading it, looking at you post the title still gives me an ill feeling.

It's so sick that children live like this.

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I thought it was very well written and I just cant believe what a MONSTER his mother was to him

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After reading all your reviews, I checked Amazon and read a small bit of the book, How sad. I have ordered it. Cant wait for it to get here.

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This was an excellent book.

Did you read the other two books he wrote? I read the second one - I think it was a "A Lost Boy". Also very good. He discusses his life in foster home, etc.

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He wrote three books, the lost boy and I think the last one was called A Man Called Dave.

I have never cried so much reading a book!!! But they were truly great books!!

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I've read all three and am so disgusted at how that woman treated her own child!

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I also read all 3 of his books. I read the first one through blurry eyes as well.

Deb, books like this really do stick with you for the rest of your life.
The first book I read that was similar to this one (but not as bad) was called
They Cage The Animals At Night, and I read it in middle school ! and it stuck with me for many, many years.

and this story happened to me years later,and this book was very vivid in my mind at this time..

When I was 17, I was volunteering for an organization that needed chaperones, they took orphaned children (or children who's parents were in jail) they took these kids out every weekend, right here in NYC, LI. Beaches, parks, etc.

Well one boy (I was "assigned" to him for the day, I was his "buddy") was telling me he was so lonely and just needed someone to talk to. It broke my heart, seeing his beautiful blue eyes, totally speaking from his heart. 13-14yrs old, and just wanted someone to talk to. They even went into the souvenir shop (I think we were at Jones Beach or splish splash) and he bought me, I cant remember if it was a bracelet or something.. It totally touched my heart, I wanted to cry. He barely had money to eat.

Well, he asked me (with no wrong intentions at all, totally good kid) he asked if he could have my phone number just to talk. He mentioned how he went from foster home to foster home, and never had anyone to talk to). Of course I asked the Supervisors of the program if this was ok (I kinda thought it would not be, but this kid totally made me feel terrible, like I was dumping him on the side of the road if I said "no you cant talk to me".. so I was in an akward position. I figured maybe they had a "mentor" program where we would meet at the headquarters of this company, in NYC)... Of course the Supervisor said absolutely not (can TOTALLY understand why)... They were actually a bit rude to me saying, we were so close in age, maybe he saw me as a girlfriend, you cant trust these kids, etc....
I remember sitting on the bus on the way home, seeing blurry the whole way, and just thinking about how different one life can be from another...
and why this sweet blonde hair blue eyed boy had to be so sad...

So these types of books always touch my heart.

I read another one, I CANT remember the title. iF someone knows it PLEASE TELL ME, the title was something along the lines of a Classified ad, like "Wanted: A Mom and Dad" and this family in Upstate NY, took in a foster child, who was incredibly mean and disrespectful to them (he had been through a lot
) and they stuck through it and raised him to an adult.
A year or 2 later (I read this about 6-7yrs ago) I had wanted to write them a letter and could not remember the title of the book.

Of Torey Hayden's books, I read "Beautiful Child" WOW. She's an outstanding teacher, and author (PatsBrat, I think you had told me about her books )

Message edited 7/8/2007 10:06:45 PM.