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Book Review of A Brother's Journey : Surviving a Childhood of Abuse

A Brother's Journey : Surviving a Childhood of Abuse
reviewed on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7


If you haven't read David Pelzer's book(s) before, you should read them before you read Richard Pelzer's (or at least read D.P.'s first book, "A Child Called IT.")

I am glad I read this book, as it definitely gave a different perspective on the home situation that David Pelzer introduced us to in his books. It's been a number of years since I read David Pelzer's books, but the story has remained in my mind ever since. I didn't need to read them again to recall the horrible things that took place at the hands of their alcoholic mother.

At any rate, this book definitely gave me a good understanding of what took place in that home after David ("IT") was taken and put into foster care. Richard took his place as the new "It" being abused in the Pelzer home. The only qualm I have with this particular book is the ending. I feel almost as if I was left hanging, without any official closure. We are left with Richard as a teenager, having just been the victim of his mother's abuse once again, and that's it. He comes to realization that he can't/won't take the abuse any more, but he came to that realization several times in the book, and always backed down. I am left to assume he finally stood up to her, but how? When? What happened? Did he move away with his family? Did he report her? Did he see "IT" ever again? There are a lot of unanswered questions. Maybe he's planning to write another book.

At any rate, it's a good read for those who have read David's books.