A BROTHER'S JOURNEY by Richard B Pelzer

The story of David Pelzer is a legend of our times: the shattering tale of a child called 'It' who was forced to live in the basement; 'Him' the other children were taught to hate; the 'Freak' who wasn't allowed to speak. His mother was the perpetrator of the horror, but she had a willing accomplice. It was David's little brother, Richard - the author of this book.

When Dave was twelve the police removed him from the household, but the cycle of abuse continued. At the age of nine, Richard became the new 'It'.

This is his story. Recounting the warped dynamics of a family riven by abuse, he reveals his guilt at being his mother's confidant, 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. Within the environment of near-cannibalistic survival she created, Dave was the prey. Richard's role, in order to keep the heat off himself , was to keep blaming Dave. But Dave's departure removed the scapegoat. Richard became the target of his mother's artillery of insanity, the victim of savage beatings leading to hospitalization, the boy denied clean clothing, the one who 'deserved' whole bottles of hot sauce poured down his throat.

Ultimately the only way to survive was to escape.

Soft cover, good condition. Pen inscription on the first page.