The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer is a story that proves that a way to happiness is longer than the majority of people imagines. This is the second part of the heart shattering autobiographical novel A Child Called “It” that is focused on hardship of readjusting to normal life after long-term emotional and physical abuse. It seems that every word of the story can make even the most unemotional and unsympathetic person cry, for sufferings of a little child who, regardless all the pain, still loves his mother and dreams about her approval, can’t help but fill readers’ hearts with great sadness.
Roerva, the mother of Dave, turns a life of her own son into hell on Earth for no reason at all. Of course, there are plenty of reasons for her to behave irresponsibly, but none of them can justify her actions. Her example is a reminder of the importance to be extremely serious about mental health. Her addiction to alcohol and her own problems – a husband, who doesn’t seem to be interested in her anymore and whatnot – evoke abnormal cruelty in her and that anger, dissatisfaction with herself are directed at Dave. She needs professional medical help, but gets none. It is difficult to find words to explain her actions, for the things she has done and her inhumane behavior are disgusting, but if Dave finds enough strengths to forgive her, the readers have to try to be repulsed by her a little bit less. Parents should be always aware of the fact that their children are neither their toys nor boxing pears nor their property, any form of physical or emotional abuse is unacceptable.
Dave struggles to understand what he has done to deserve his mother’s hate. The problem is that he remembers that she can be kind, loving, attentive and everything a mother should be, not to mention that she doesn’t mistreat his brothers, so it has to be his fault. It is clear as a day that Dave has nothing to do with it. He tries to find an explanation from a point of view of a sane person when his mother is clearly ill. In spite of all the suffering, Dave doesn’t hate his parents. On the contrary, he dreams about their attention and wants to be approved. It is highly important for him to be accepted and loved. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get love from the source he expects, so Dave has to look for others.
Dave Pelzer’s story is definitely going to help boys and girls like him, the ones who are rejected their family love and have to fight for their lives every day. It is not only about pain, this novel is about hope and love. Dave doesn’t have happy childhood, but he works hard to have a happy life now. He finds love and creates a family he has always dreamt about, the one that is full of love, happiness, respect and everything he used to need as a kid.
