As a child, Dave Pelzer was brutally beaten and starved by his mother. The world knew nothing of his living nightmare and he had nothing and no one to turn to. But his dreams kept him alive - dreams of someone taking care of him, loving him and calling him their son. Finally, his horrific plight could no longer be hidden from the outside world and Dave's life radically changed."The Lost Boy" is the harrowing - but ultimately uplifting - true story of a boy's journey through the foster-care system in search of a family to love.

About the Author

Dave Pelzer is recognised as one of America's most effective and respected communicators addressing corporations, conventions and health/psychology/primary care workers. His unique accomplishments have garnered personal commendations from Ronald Reagan and George Bush. He was selected as torchbearer for the 1996 Olympic Torch relay. He has dedicated his life to helping others help themselves.

Prizes

Dave Pelzer's memoirs have been No. 1 bestsellers on both sides of the Atlantic in hardback and in paperback The sales for A Child Called It alone are in excess of half a million copies to date - the mmp edition is still No.1 on the bestseller list 6 months after publication The US edition has been a New York Times bestseller for over two years Over a million copies have been sold around the world and it has been translated into twenty languages Dave Pelzer is a hugely promotable author, recognised as one of America's most effective and respected speakers A Child Called It was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and Dave Pelzer was named one of the 10 Outstanding Americans '[Pelzer] lets you see what was going on through the eyes of the child he once was but, because he has doggedly taught himself not to hate, his voice is never shrill or hysterical. It is this cool tone that makes what he has to say even more compelling' The Times

Reviews

Following A Child Called It (Health Communications, 1995), which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and appears frequently on high school reading lists, this is the second in a planned trilogy from motivational author and speaker Pelzer. Here he tells his story from the time he left his abusive mother and alcoholic father, through his experiences in five foster homes and juvenile detention, and how he eventually made it into the Air Force. He was a defiant, rebellious boy who, despite his background and personality, managed to endear himself to many guardians, social workers, and teachers. Pelzer writes in an honest, sometimes rambling, style; he is never bitter, and his story will find many sympathetic readers. However, he leaves many questions unanswered (which may appear in the third book), dealing with his adult-life relationships, his son, the mother of that child, and the ways he turned his life around. This is sure to be popular among students and readers who await a sequel to A Child Called It. Well recommended.‘Linda Beck, Indian Valley P.L., Telford, Pa.