Re: [LM_NET] Hit: Child Called It

[Doyle_Tony <tdoyle@MUHSD.K12.CA.US>]

Back in 2002 I participated in the discussion about the veracity of A Child Called 
It.   It is, and has been for many years, one of the most popular titles at our 
school.  And that is without me really promoting it in any way.  I read the book 
and disliked it and found it difficult to believe.  So I was eager to find evidence 
that it was not true.  I spent a lot of time searching databases and the web in 
general for information about Pelzer and his books.  The only evidence is that one 
article from the NYT Magazine.  I have not done any research on the issue since 
2002 but it doesn't sound like there is any new evidence.

As librarians we should be the last ones to pronounce the book false based on one 
unconfirmed quote from one journalist.  A journalist who, by the tone of his 
article, seemed predisposed to dislike and discredit Mr. Pelzer.  It is a  memoir 
based on childhood memories so there are bound to be inaccuracies and 
misperceptions.  But given the amount of time that has passed since the first 
publication and the enduring popularity of the book I would think that any 
intentional lies would have been exposed by now.  

Pelzer's books are staying in the biography section of my collection.

Tony

--------------------------------------------------
Anthony Doyle, Teacher Librarian
Livingston High School
Livingston, CA
tdoyle@muhsd.k12.ca.us

What am I reading now? http://lhsblog.edublogs.org/whats-he-reading-now/

"When I read about the way in which library funds are being cut and cut, I can only 
think that American society has found one more way to destroy itself." (Isaac 
Asimov, from his autobiography I Asimov)

The contents of this message are private and are intended for the recipients named 
in the To and CC fields.  You may not forward this message without the expressed 
permission of the author.  The contents of this message are the work of the author 
and do not represent the opinions or policies of the Merced Union High School 
District or Livingston High School.
________________________________________
From: School Library Media & Network Communications [LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On 
Behalf Of Christina Paniccia [buffcat02@YAHOO.COM]
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 5:15 PM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: [LM_NET] Hit: Child Called It

Hello Everyone!
I wanted to thank everyone individually for responding, but did one general 
response instead. It appears that most everyone said that Dave Pelzer's family, 
especially one of his brothers, disputed David's books around 2002, saying that the 
abuse was false. There also doesn't seem to be any evidence or documentation that 
could confirm whether the books are true and reliable.  However, it was also 
suggested that if the abuse was false, California's Child Protective Services would 
have caught on and realized that Dave was lying.

I  also compared Dave's books to James Frey's book, "A Million Little Pieces". I 
had several responses suggesting that Dave never said that the books was false 
(even though his brother/family said that the books were false), where James said 
that he made up some of his book. Others even suggested that Dave's books were more 
similar to a situation that happened with Mommy Dearest.  Others even suggested 
that they though that Dave was even on Oprah, discussing the debate of whether his 
books were true or false.

Many suggested that I try to look in LM_NET about Dave's "Child Called It" for 
information because there was a debate around 2002 on LM_NET. I was even given 
these websites:

http://etude.uoregon.edu/winter2006/craft/

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/28/magazine/dysfunction-for-dollars.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/28/magazine/dysfunction-for-dollars.html?scp=1&sq=%22dave%20pelzer%22&st=cse

One last thing: I was told by several people that the book seems to be always out, 
and it doesn't matter whether the books are real or fiction. Several librarians 
keep their Child Called It books in the  Biography section, while others have the 
book in the general Non-Fiction. In my middle school library, it is in the 
Non-Fiction. I also can't keep it on the shelf. It is a very popular book because 
the students can identify with the abuse Dave endured. I was even asked to get the 
book "Fat Stupid Ugly: One Woman’s Courage to Surviveby Debrah Constance as told to 
J.I. Kleinberg, and Foreword by Penny Marshall. I haven't bought it yet, but will 
consider it..

Thanks to everyone again..You saved me a ton of time and aggrivation trying to 
search for information!

Christina

Christina Paniccia, Librarian
Donovan Middle School
Utica, NY 13502

buffcat02@yahoo.com





"I really didn't realize the librarians were, you know, such a dangerous group. 
They are subversive. You think they're just sitting there at the desk, all quiet 
and everything. They're like plotting the revolution, man. I wouldn't mess with 
them." --Michael Moore





--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, you send a message to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER:
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET
2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL
4) SET LM_NET DIGEST

 * LM_NET Help & Information: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/
 * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
 * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/join.html
 * LM_NET Supporters: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/category/links/el-announce/

--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, you send a message to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER:
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET
2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL
4) SET LM_NET DIGEST

 * LM_NET Help & Information: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/
 * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
 * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/join.html
 * LM_NET Supporters: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/category/links/el-announce/

--------------------------------------------------------------------