A Brother's Journey

by Richard B. Pelzer, Joshua Gates (Read by)

The story of Dave Pelzer is a legend of our times: the shattering tale of the child called 'It' who was forced to live in the basement. His mother was the perpetrator of the horror, but she had a willing accomplice. It was Dave's brother Richard - the author of this book. When Dave was twelve the police removed him from the household, but the cycle of abuse continued. Mrs Pelzer had a new target for her crazed, alcoholic wrath. The hunter became the hunted. 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 the abuser, 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. Richard became the target of his mother's artillery of insanity, the victim of savage beatings leading to hospitalization, the boy denied clean clothes, the one who 'deserved' whole bottles of hot Tabasco sauce poured down his throat.

With an introduction and afterword by the author.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Psychology, Abuse, True Crime, Biography Memoir

Audio CD

First published September 5, 2000

Reviews

[MissSusie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've read A Child Called It you should read this book. It is told from the perspective of David's younger brother Richard who was his mother's "Little Nazi" when David was in the home and after David was taken away he became It.
The things that went on in this home just boggle the mind I hope that something like this would not be able to happen in this day and age, that they took one child away and left the rest in the “care” of this insane woman is just unfathomable.
This story will break your heart as Richard deals with the beatings and mental abuse from his mother but also the guilt of his part in what happened to David. That any of these children grew up to be productive members of society proves the existence of the human spirit.

[Jen Donnelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dave's books were really good, and this just...wasn't. Richard seemed to repeat himself over and over. I hate that he went through so much, but I had pretty much heard all about it in Dave's books.

[Liza Fireman · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is such a waste of time. I read it to get the brother's perspective of the situation and story in A Child Called "It", written by Dave Pelzer, the brother of the author.
Richard doesn't even talk about the abuse of David, he is very busy being angry at him, because he is now in the that position and he needs to face his mother. He was the tattle-taler before, and now he is angry because the victim has disappeared.
Richard seemed to repeat himself over and over. And his story is not that interesting. I will probably stay with many question marks about the Pelzer family (did everything that was described in Dave's book actually happened?). I feel for them, but highly recommend to skip this book.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't help but notice some of the glaring contradictions to his brother's book. It seems to me as if this is a sort of 'hey, don't forget about me! I was abused too!' book. While he admits that his brother had it MUCH worse than he ever did, it seems to me that he wrote this in hopes of convincing others, and mainly himself, that he isn't a bad person for instigating and adding to the abuse of his brother. I don't know how I feel about him, but I certainly hate the mother even more now. I honestly am saddened that she was able to live to old age and die naturally...

[Kewpie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This might be a good suggestion for readers who can't get enough of Dave Pelzer's stories. This book retells the Child Called It story and continues afterwards. Richard Pelzer discusses witnessing the abuse of his brother and then having the abuse turned towards himself. The pace is slower and it is not as well written. It still offers an interesting perspective.

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Richard B. Pelzer is the younger brother of David Pelzer, author of the incredibly inspirational story of survival detailed in his personal memoirs, beginning with "A Child Called It".

Richard's memoir is a must read for anyone who has been moved by the story of his brother David, as it provides an important point of view in this story of horrific abuse--that of a sibling who first participated in the family's abuse of David, and then after David was removed from his abuse environment, as the new recipient of his mother's alcohol fueled rage. Unfortunately, there is no dramatic resolution at the end--although he is able to escape from his emotional attachment to his abusive mother, physically he was not able to escape from the nightmarish environment she provided.

What is so incredibly shocking is that the Social Service system would have allowed that mother to continue to raise any children in the house after they deemed her unfit to have any contact with David. Certainly, the abuse that Richard suffered could have and should have been prevented by authorities who knew better.

[Sarah Vigue · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 an excellent read!

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was difficult to read, the writing was not the best, he could have used a good editor, I have some doubts as to the legitimacy, and at times I literally had to put the book down and take a few deep breaths for fear of being sick. Still, his details and descriptions are vague or underdeveloped at times, leaving the reader to wonder what is he talking about, what really happened, or what happened next? Richard frequently repeats himself, and at times I got the feeling that he was trying very hard to maintain a connection to David and his book, why that is I have not decided yet. Is he trying to benefit from his brother's fame, or is the connection simply the shared experience? I was also really disappointed with the ending of the book, it was abrupt and left a lot of questions unanswered, too many, which makes me think a second book is coming, or was expected, like David's.

Throughout the book I was so frustrated I wanted to scream. Having worked with abused children I know first hand how difficult it can be getting CPS involved, but this case should have been easy to prove. Even if CPS wouldn't get involved there are things that could have been done to help. I know of an abuse case involving a similar situation where the school staff came together to help the child. The staff got clothes for the child which they kept with the nurse, every day when the child got to school she went to the nurse bathed if necessary, brushed her hair and teeth and put on clean clothes. At the end of the day she went back to the nurse and went back to her tattered clothes so the parent wouldn't find out. While I applaud the school staff for getting David out of the house I have to say they failed Richard miserably and should be ashamed. I applauded Ben for taking Richard under his wing, thank God Richard at least had someone watching out for him, unlike David. I wonder what ever came of that relationship and Ben. I also hope that the brother Scott never had children. I honestly do not understand how a system could fail so badly not once but twice. I remind myself that it was a different time etc... But the bottom line is did the authorities need a death to occur before they stepped in? If they let abuse as obvious as what happened to Richard slide, imagine what else got by. I guess the good part is times have changed, laws have changed, though sadly not that much because every day thousands of kids are still abused and no one helps them either.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading A Boy called IT, A Man Named Dave, and The Lost Boy I had a lot of questions that were left unanswered. For example why did Dave's mother only abuse Dave? I found this book by Richard Pelzer and it was like a continuation of where Dave left off. Unfortunately, once Dave was removed from the home his mother turned the abuse on to another child - Richard. This book explains from Richard's point of view what he went through as a child and what his mother did to him.

I read the book in less than a day. It was just as good as Dave's books, but not as gut wrenching. His writing style is slightly different from Dave's. In other words, if you think you will sit and cry your way through the book (as I did for Dave's books), it won't happen with Richards book. You still feel the pain that he went through but not like your right there living it with him (as was the case with Dave).

I also like how some parts overlapped from Dave's books. Things Dave described, instances or situations that Dave described, Richard describes also from Richards perspective.

The hardest part to the reading was if you read Dave's book first (as I did) than read Richards book, the names of the brothers have been changed. Dave used one set of names for his brothers and Richard used a different set of names for the brothers. That was a bit confusing at first figuring out who is who.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another view from Davids brother Richard on what went on in that abusive home with their mother/monster. A captivating story on childhood abuse that went on for years with more than one child involved. Sad but reminds people that reading such a story makes it real and instils in one to help stop this sort of parental abuse on their children whom they are supposed to protect. A very good read. Contination saga of this poor family.

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not quite sure why I read this. It was quite disjointed and didn't really seem to have a point, other than describing the horrific abuse the author endured.

[Michele Brack]

In some ways it was good that I read this right after A Child Called "It". It was fresh in my memory and any of the facts that were written in one book, I could easily compare it to that last book.

In other ways, I think I should have waited a little while. I think I held such sympathy for David that hearing any other tale, even if it agreed with it, was difficult for me. I know that a part of my brain was thinking that Richard deserved what he got, and I know for a fact that that is wrong, wrong, wrong. No one deserved that. Still, a selfish little part of my brain wanted him to suffer like David did. Does that make me a horrible person?

This book was not really as detailed as the other, but the feelings evoked were similar. More than anything, it re-iterated the fact that the mother was very, very sick and that the figures of authority in and around the area where these people lived was despicable. The police in the area only took away the one child from an abusive, alcoholic parent with no income and a history of violence? They left four other boys there with her? And the other people around ignored the behavior as it was repeated a second time? Teachers? Principals? Doctors?

What the fuck was wrong with this town?!

I understand that it was San Francisco in the 70's, but holy shit...

Also, one thing that didn't sit right with me was the ending of the book. You never learn what happens to Richard. He's still living with her at the end of the book and you never find out if he stays until he leaves for college, or if he gets out sooner, or if the mom moved on to yet another son with her abuse...

I need to know these things, guys. For science. And my own piece of mind (AKA: my creepy case of Schadenfreud).

I think I'm done with books about child abuse for a while. (Edit: That's a lie. I have one more to get through right now. Don't judge me.)

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a sequel of a sort to A Child Called It . A Child Called It follows the true story of David Pelzer as he survives the abuse at the hands of his mentally ill, alcoholic mother. David is moved from his home at age 12. A Brother's Journey follows David's brother Richard. Richard becomes the new scapegoat for the mother's abusive rages after David is removed from the home. This story is particularly interesting because Richard offers a glimpse of the twisted role siblings can play in abusive homes. He is used as a pawn in his mother's games against David, all the while knowing it could just as easily be him. The story is also horribly sad, since the reader knows David was rescued from the home, yet no one offers that same escape to Richard. I recommend this book if you have read A Child Called It or the other books written by David Pelzer.

[Renee Watson]

HEARTBREAKING STORY

This story gives a heartbreaking personal look into child abuse during a time when no one stepped in to help. The ending w Aaron s disappointing though..I wanted to know the rest of the story(that's all I'm saying to prevent spoilers). I read all of his brother's(Dave Pelzer) accounts of what happened to him, and I was always curious about what happened to Dave's brothers when the was finally taken away,and this novel answered many of the questions for me; however, the needing of this novel has left me with more questions...

[Katrinada Salih · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, the book was sad

[Kristen Kennedy]

Can you imagine living in a house where you are abused and call your brother “It”? In A Brother’s Journey the protagonist, Richard, was forced to abide by his mother’s rules and live the secret life of abuse along with his brothers. David had it the worst out of them all and was referred to as “it”. He was forced to eat out of dog bowls when he was allowed to eat, not go to school, rarely bathe, sleep on a cot, and receive the multiple beatings everyday. This book follows an eight-year-old boy who has no idea that he and his brothers are abused. He thinks they are just being disciplined and David being the one abused. This message shows us that anyone you see could seem normal, but you never know what happens behind closed doors. Richard B. Pelzer is a terrific writer, so his emotions throughout the story shine through the words.

The theme of A Brother’s Journey is easy to identify. Pelzer was showing a constant message of treat people the way you want to be treated because you never know what the future will hold. David was abused the worst of the four brothers. Richard was the second youngest in the family. He was terrified that he would one day become David’s replacement and get treated the way he did. Because of this, he constantly reminded his mother that he was the alpha male over David. For example, Richard tattled to his mom about anything he could think of. Richard’s fears came true one day when David was taken away and Richard slowly started taking the place of David. That is why Richard should have treated his brother how he would have wanted to be treated had he been in his place at the time. In addition, if the boys’ mother had treated them the way she wanted to be treated they would never have been abused in the first place.

Richard Pelzer wrote A Brother’s Journey as a narrative writing style. The whole book is about his childhood growing up in an abused household. Because it is written in first person, the reader is able to put themselves in Richard’s shoes and experience the hardships during that time. For example, when he describes laying in bed, fearing his life, trying to act asleep while his mother comes into his room at night. Unlike most authors, Richard isn’t afraid to tell the whole truth. He admits that what is did was unbelievably wrong. Also, he doesn’t deny the fact that he often wet his bed because he wasn’t allowed to get out of bed without his mother’s permission. His writing style is effective because of his ability to provide exquisite detail into retelling his childhood. This helps the readers to visualize what Richard is going throughout in the book.

I am very surprised how much I enjoyed A Brother’s Journey. I don’t usually find nonfiction books that exciting, so I went into reading it thinking I wouldn’t like it. However, I got the complete opposite reaction from it. It was fast paced, interesting, and a quick read. Because of this book, I think I will look into reading a lot more nonfiction books in my free time. I thought it was awesome that I was able to hear the true story from the person that went through it. It made it such a more unique book. If I was to change something about the book, I would want to know a little more about their dad and what actually happened to him. After reading this book, I would like to read A Child Called “It”. The book follows David and his point of view growing up in the abused household. I would highly recommend this book to anyone because it will help you realize just how good you have it compared to some people.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard is one of David's older brother's. Richard was used by their mother to get at oportunities to abuse her youngest even more. Richard and the other brother (as so unamed) did do much that they made sure Dave got blamed for as children, if for no other reason to protect themselves, this is the story through much of their childood with their mother. After David got removed by child services, Richard and the remaining son became the sole point of torture, neglect and abuse by their mother. She didn't have her youngest and most vulnerable boy anymore so she turnned her sigts on the older two. At this point I do not believe their father was in the picture anymore. I think he left them before Richard was put in foster care. Given how controlling his wife was, and he didn't know how to handle it, he didn't even come home on his day's off, and much of the off time was spent in bar's. It got to the point where he barely spent 10-30 minutes a day at home because of his wife. Why did he not take action. Back then, 1973, it would not have been difficult for him to file for divorce and get custody of his own children. Given how unstable his wife was, she most likely would have never been able to fight for the boy's herself. Her appearance reflected her instability and ancoholism. As far as I can tell, considering the boy's much younger childhood (late 1960's) was blissful with talk of a brady bunch type life, the fact that their mother changed so drasticly tell's me that she got hit with an onset of some serious mential disorder that wasn't yet known. She went from being a plain jane classic clean, loveing mother and wife, to an alcoholic, abusive, caniveing mother and wife, almost over night. What does that tell you?

[Anne Hawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the book that David Pelzer's brother, Richard, wrote about his ordeal after David left home. When David was there, Richard functioned as Mother's Nazi." He tattled about every little thing Richard did and often lied to get him in trouble. Several years younger, his mother groomed him from the time he could talk.

After David left, Richard became the outcast and as he became more and more abused, he felt terrible about the part he played in his brother's life. Eventually, he became "The boy," and finally, "It."

What I can't understand is why the Social Services didn't keep tabs on this mother after the terrible abuse David suffered. When he was taken from the home, it seemed ludicrous to not check on the other children. When the same teachers saw Richard begin to come to school in the same filthy old clothes, starving and with bruises all over just like David, why didn't anyone do anything? I realize it was a different climate in the 70's, but it seems bizarre to ignore what was going on.

As adults, these brothers have only met one or two times and there is some antagonism between them. It seems clear that Richard did suffer abuse, but there is some question as to how much. However, it seems to me that the mother spent the biggest portion of her days torturing David and I can't see that stopping after he was removed. She was filled with so much anger and it had to have a target.

Different people have tried to link her with a specific mental illness and seem to lean towards Borderline Personality Disorder. This book tells more about her relationship with her own mother and there seems to have been some abuse there. Whatever the pathology, she was never prosecuted and lived out the rest of her natural life.

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Brother's Journey is a sequel-esque book, following up in an abusive household that A Child Called It (David) was able to escape when he was 12. The book is told from the younger brother's viewpoint: how he treated his older brother and what happened after his brother left. This book was not as visually/emotionally engaging for me as A Child Called IT. When I read that book I ached in knowing what type of horrible child abuse happened within the household of an alcoholic, possible mental illness, mother with a rarely seen father. Richard chronicals his take on how he was his mother's "Little Nazi" helping cause and report David's wrongful behavior to his mother (This included eating when he wasn't supposed to.) It is amazing that this type of child abuse happened/s and that both brother's survived. In the book, Richard explains the abuse his brother received and how it and his leaving impacted him. It was interesting to see how his child/adolescent mind grew so twisted and confused due to his mother's abuse. After reading the book and coming to the last chapter, anxiously awaiting to see just how Richard escaped or survived, the book ends. For that, I gave it a 3. I wanted to know what kind of man he became and how he dealt with the physical and emotional abuse. Even more, I wanted to know what became of his mother.

[Emily Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I Liked

The boys in the Pelzer family went through undeniable horrors. Seeing David's story through Richard's eyes was fascinating - and it was also interesting to see how Richard survived when he wasn't (unbelievably) removed from the home.

I'm currently going through foster care classes and reading Richard's perspective of abuse was enlightening for me. No, his reactions to his brother and his mother, etc, were not healthy - but that's the truth. Children who are enduring regular trauma, abuse, and neglect do not have healthy and normal responses to reality.

What I Didn't Like

While I am thankful for Richard's sake that he was able to write this book and free himself from some of the weight that these awful home secrets must have burdened him with, I wish he had been able to work more closely with a ghost writer or better editor, as there were a lot of repetitive sentences and errors.

The ending - how I wish it could have gone on another chapter, another few pages. There wasn't a real conclusion that left the readers amazed at Richard's resilience. Rather, the story ends with him still in his mother's abusive care.

[LindyLouMac · Rating 2 out of 5]

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5...

This book tells more about the abuse suffered by the Pelzer boys at the hands of their Mother. This time the tale is told by David’s younger brother Richard. It once again horrified me that their mother was able to act, unstopped by the authorities in such a drunken, violent and mentally unstable manner. Especially as it sounds from what Richard has to say that they lived in a respectable suburb of San Francisco and the neighbours were well aware of what went on behind closed doors. After David was removed from the family home when Richard was only eight years old he became the main victim of his Mother’s cruelty. For years he suffered and when he reached fifteen he was taller and stronger than her and still taking it all when by now he could have stopped her with his physical strength. It was then he realised that all his life he had been desperate for his mother to love the little boy called Richard.
Why oh why is this sort of heartbreakingly cruel situation still happening time and time again even in today’s more aware society.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading A Child Called It, I thought it couldn't get any worse. I was wrong. The Pelzer's mother continues her torture and abuse upon her son Richard once David is removed from the home. The abuse is often different than what David suffered, but horrific nonetheless. Some details may be difficult to read for some. Similar to A Child Called It, you see how Richard developed coping mechanisms to live under the torture his mother inflicted upon him. The book is written with the insight Mr. Pelzer has gained over many years, but makes me question if he truly understood as a child the severity of his mother's mental illness. He does make it clear he understood how she was an alcoholic and the role it played in her abusing him. I would have liked to see a more conclusive ending where he, at the very least, shares how he managed to escape his mother's grasp and learn to function as an adult.

[Dayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was some controversy about David's account - some siblings said that he had exaggerated and was lying in order to get attention and make a career out of his suffering. This book confirms David's story, as his brother saw events the same way. David was abused by his mother and also by his other siblings.

This book also shows how people in similar situations can have very different views on life. David doesn't believe in God. He believes that God never helped out of his abuse (it was David's own admissions to the school officials that saved him). His brother, however, does believe in God, and that God played an active role in his situation with "the mother." Both brothers had hope, courage, forgiveness and strength, even though one was only relying on himself and the other knew he had God to guide him.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing,the will to survive these children had. Richard B. Pelzer is the younger brother of David, who wrote, " A child named it", "Lost Boy" and a "Man Name Dave." Richard went from the position in the family of their mothers little partner in crime taunting " IT" ( David) to "IT" himself after David was finally removed by Social Services after years of hanis abuse was endured. Richard became the focus of her attacts as a result of untreated mental illness and alchol abuse. Although three other brothers remained in the home with Richard, and endured some abuse, it was nothing compared to what he had to endure. This is a true story that takes place in the 1970's, and is frieghtning to know that only one of these children were taken from the care of this very sick women.
I am hoping for another book by this author, since he left the ending open and his writing was so riveting.

[Vanessa Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did like this book. I don't read at all but this book opened up my eyes. I just have to find the right subject and I’ll click to it. I liked this book because Richard told us what he went through and he was so strong to write about it and publish it out to the world to read. Letting others know what you’ve been through in the past is very hard and also very emotional. He did very well on explaining hes feeling. The way he clarified his feelings it made me feel like I was there going through it with him. I clicked on some of his sentiments. The one thing I least liked was the way the mother acted towards Richard. It made my heart ache. At first it was a difficult understanding but I reread a few chapters to comprehend it more.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books about life in the Pelzer household are difficult to read. It is hard to imagine the type of abuse that went on. Having read Dave Pelzer's books, I found it that much more interesting to read Richard's explanation of why he treated his brother the way he did--and the guilt and struggles he had when David left and his mother began to abuse him instead. I "remembered" a lot of the incidents in this book..some from Dave's point of view, but I also think I may have read this one when it came out. Still, it was an interesting but sad re-read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by the brother of Dave Pelzer, Richard tells the story of his betrayal to his brother by becoming a "Little Nazi" often making up lies to his mother so that David would get more beatings. Though this was a matter of survival in a house full of unspeakable abuse, Richard has never truly forgiven himself. Once David was removed, Richard became the prime candidate to receive regular beatings, believing it was punishment for his treatment of David. This is a very personal book.

[Cathy Schnabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very difficult to ready. It is an amazing story of survival in the most horrid of circumstances. I recommend anyone who works with children, should read this book. I would especially recommend this for teachers and law enforcement officials. It just helps all of us to be aware of circumstances and the need to stand up for children.

[Maggie Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As daft as it sounds, it took me a long time to actually read this book, after reading the Boy called it collection I was so angry I couldn't bring myself to read his brothers book. However I'm glad I did, I think you forget sometimes what it's like to be a child & the things we see as so obviously wrong now, seem so different when you're a child.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as well written as his brother's memoir A Child Called It, but for those who liked A Child Called It, you should read this one as well. I know that some think Richard capitalized on his brother David's success with A Child Called It, but Richard's story is worth reading. I'm amazed at the popularity of these books with teen readers.