Dave Pelzer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dave Pelzer
Dave Pelzer

David James Pelzer (born December 29, 1960)[1] 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), who came from a Mormon family.

Contents

[edit] Controversy

Questions have been raised about Pelzer's works and their authenticity.[2] 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.[3]

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."[4]

His brother, Richard also supports his story, and has written a book himself, A Brother's Journey, which chronicles his own abuse.[5] he has also written a true account of his own brothers lifestyle.

[edit] 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

[edit] Works

Pelzer has written a number of books:

[edit] Awards and recognition

  • Ten Outstanding Young Americans (1993)
  • Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (1994)
  • National Jefferson Award (2005)[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "California Birth Index", www.ancestry.com : "David J Pelzer, b 29 Dec 1960, San Francisco County, mother's maiden name Christen"
  2. ^ Dave Pelzer - The Child Abuse Entrepreneur - Slate.com
  3. ^ Pat Jordan, "Dysfunction for Dollars" New York Times, July 28, 2002
  4. ^ San Francisco Chronicle, Jerry Carroll, July 15, 1998 "The Beaten Path: Author David Pelzer chronicles a nightmare childhood"
  5. ^ Richard B. Pelzer, A Brother's Journey, Richard B. Pelzer, Warner Books 2005
  6. ^ "Dave's personal website", http://www.davepelzer.com


[edit] External links