* Review round ups * Major consumer advertising campaign * Reading copies available * Available as audio books

The story of Dave Pelzer is a legend of our times: the shattering tale of the child called 'It' who was forced to live in the basement. His mother was the perpetrator of the horror, but she had a willing accomplice. It was Dave's brother Richard - the author of this book.
When Dave was twelve the police removed him from the household, but the cycle of abuse continued. Mrs Pelzer had a new target for her crazed, alcoholic wrath. The hunter became the hunted -- at the age of nine.
This is his story. Recounting the warped dynamics of a family riven by abuse, he reveals his guilt at being the abuser, his scarring at being abused, the complete lack of questioning within the family about what was happening -- and even the twisted respect the boys had for their mother. Richard became the target of his mother's artillery of insanity, the victim of savage beatings leading to hospitalization, the boy denied clean clothes, the one who 'deserved' whole bottles of hot Tabasco sauce poured down his throat . . .

"It is my sincere hope that Richard's story will help others with an unfortunate past to become productive, responsible and fulfilled adults" - Dave Pelzer, brother of Richard.

"Gut-wrenching recollections of the horrendous years-long abuse inflicted on the author by his alcoholic, emotionally disturbed mother" - KIRKUS REVIEWS

"Compelling stuff." - HEAT

"Pelzer makes us aware of what can happen behind closed doors" - WOMAN AND HOME