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David
The mother of a six-year-old boy describes his struggle to survive after he received third-degree burns on ninety-eight percent of his body.
226 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 28, 2011
Oh my word, this is the best book I have ever read!! I first heard about David when I was in 7th grade. I was going to a private Christian school and my school library had the book but I didn't get a chance to read it but then I saw David on the news and on a documentary when his dad was being paroled. He is my age but I didn't know anything about the incident when it actually happened. I finally read the book just now at age 35 and WOW! I highly recommmend it.
I liken it to "Joni" by Joni Earecksen Tada. "David" will make you cry but it will make you smile too. You won't be able to put it down. It will break your heart but it will melt your heart as well. It is about a little boy's triumph over tragedy. People can be cruel but they can also be kind....David faces many obstacles in his road to recovery but God is faithful and David continually bounces back. I feel like this "little boy" (who was/is actually my age) has become a friend. I have found a kindred spirit in this child and in the hearts of the kind people in this book. There is also his mom, Marie, who is his advocate and best friend, her fiance, John, Ken & Judy Curtis--a wonderful Christian couple who introduce them to Christ, then there is the Buena Park Police Dept who work tirelessly to keep David and Marie safe, and even set up a find to raise money to pay his medical bills (!), the hospital staff who took care of him, Reggie Jackson, who took time out of his busy schedule to visit David regularly both in California and also when David was transferred to Schreiner's in Boston!!! Also the people across the nation who reached out to offer emotional, financial and spiritual support. You will feel like you have made a bunch of new friends. I could not put the book down but I didn't want it to end. I did not want to say good bye to my "new friends"! I think David is doing well today, I did see him on Larry King after Michael Jackson died and he looks good! I hope he and his mom write another book. David is a trooper and a real inspiration to others!
I liken it to "Joni" by Joni Earecksen Tada. "David" will make you cry but it will make you smile too. You won't be able to put it down. It will break your heart but it will melt your heart as well. It is about a little boy's triumph over tragedy. People can be cruel but they can also be kind....David faces many obstacles in his road to recovery but God is faithful and David continually bounces back. I feel like this "little boy" (who was/is actually my age) has become a friend. I have found a kindred spirit in this child and in the hearts of the kind people in this book. There is also his mom, Marie, who is his advocate and best friend, her fiance, John, Ken & Judy Curtis--a wonderful Christian couple who introduce them to Christ, then there is the Buena Park Police Dept who work tirelessly to keep David and Marie safe, and even set up a find to raise money to pay his medical bills (!), the hospital staff who took care of him, Reggie Jackson, who took time out of his busy schedule to visit David regularly both in California and also when David was transferred to Schreiner's in Boston!!! Also the people across the nation who reached out to offer emotional, financial and spiritual support. You will feel like you have made a bunch of new friends. I could not put the book down but I didn't want it to end. I did not want to say good bye to my "new friends"! I think David is doing well today, I did see him on Larry King after Michael Jackson died and he looks good! I hope he and his mom write another book. David is a trooper and a real inspiration to others!
June 18, 2010
Very very sad story. What this boy went through, no child should ever endure. And the punishment for his father was nowhere NEAR hard enough...lock him in a burning room see how he likes it. Let carpet melt on his skin and see how he feels. GAH!!
February 20, 2022
This book broke my heart and lifted my spirits at the same time. I definitely recommend it to anyone that has or hasn't heard about David and his amazing courage after his father tried to kill him.
October 22, 2025
Growing up we all heard of his story on the news in California . I was lucky enough to know him personally for years as well. It was so touching to read about his mom’s perspective and how she advocated for her son. Amazing woman. And how he loved baseball and got a 44 jersey from Reggie Jackson one of my dad’s favorite players. Dave was an amazing human who loved everyone. In our many talks I helped to inspire him to get into art in Vegas. He was a dear friend and I miss him. Finally decided to read the book. Had it for years. On my dark days I think of Dave and I get up and go to the doctor. He influenced me also. To be kinder, help others, enjoy my days and be closer to god and music. NIN
September 4, 2016
Good story. My teachers read it to my class in elementary school not long after it happened. I am the same age as David so it hit home at that time.
The story itself is amazing....the odds survival, the way he just wanted to live, the devastating discovery of figuring out who did it to him, and the recovery. David is still alive today.
I decided to re-read it as an adult because I was always intrigued by the story. I love non-fiction books and memoirs about overwhelming challenges and people who beat the odds.
The only thing I struggled with in the book (other than the fact that anyone could do this to a 6 yo child!) is I didn't feel like it was exceptionally well written. Although clearly from her heart (and as much as I LOVE "in the moment", emotional writings..journaling), I felt like it was a bit disjointed. The author kept going back and forth to various memories that seemed to come out of nowhere and sometimes I'd get lost. A lot of things were repetitive. Although I understand the memories DID come back that way in reality, I felt like it either needed to be a journal-type of book, or summarized better to flow a bit better to tell the whole story. But, it was good that she was very open about her feelings, the ups and downs, and celebrations of even the littlest things. I appreciated her honesty and not sugar coating the realities and the long process of dealing with the anger towards God, her husband, and even those who were caring for David at times.
The story itself is amazing....the odds survival, the way he just wanted to live, the devastating discovery of figuring out who did it to him, and the recovery. David is still alive today.
I decided to re-read it as an adult because I was always intrigued by the story. I love non-fiction books and memoirs about overwhelming challenges and people who beat the odds.
The only thing I struggled with in the book (other than the fact that anyone could do this to a 6 yo child!) is I didn't feel like it was exceptionally well written. Although clearly from her heart (and as much as I LOVE "in the moment", emotional writings..journaling), I felt like it was a bit disjointed. The author kept going back and forth to various memories that seemed to come out of nowhere and sometimes I'd get lost. A lot of things were repetitive. Although I understand the memories DID come back that way in reality, I felt like it either needed to be a journal-type of book, or summarized better to flow a bit better to tell the whole story. But, it was good that she was very open about her feelings, the ups and downs, and celebrations of even the littlest things. I appreciated her honesty and not sugar coating the realities and the long process of dealing with the anger towards God, her husband, and even those who were caring for David at times.
July 19, 2011
I vaguely remember the news story of David Rothenberg. I was very young when it happened, but I recall bits about the boy who was badly burned. So when I saw this book in a thrift store a few weeks ago, I bought it. And read it last night in one marathon sitting, with a box of tissues and whole lot of emotions.
I started crying in the middle of chapter one, and I cried through most of the book. And it wasn't just because of the awful, awful thing that happened to David. It was the heart and soul and emotion that came through from Marie, his mother and co-author of the book. It was both stark and vivid, joyful and painful.
Many parts of graphic and difficult to read, especially if you are sensitive to children in pain. But it was also a story of hope and of survival against overwhelming odds. And faith. Some of us wouldn't be here without faith in someone/something.
I started crying in the middle of chapter one, and I cried through most of the book. And it wasn't just because of the awful, awful thing that happened to David. It was the heart and soul and emotion that came through from Marie, his mother and co-author of the book. It was both stark and vivid, joyful and painful.
Many parts of graphic and difficult to read, especially if you are sensitive to children in pain. But it was also a story of hope and of survival against overwhelming odds. And faith. Some of us wouldn't be here without faith in someone/something.
March 29, 2013
This happened when I was in high school. I remembered seeing the picture of David from the cover of the paperback in a magazine back then. It is of course an unimaginable horror followed by great strength. I googled David, but only found out that he has changed his name twice and that his father got out of prison in 7 years. Sadly, I wonder if David changed his name to hide from his father or us.
March 5, 2011
This story was very sad it told of a boy who had to endure many tormenting things that his father had inflicted on him. The one major thing was when he was burned people thought he wouldn't survive, but this story also tells of how he never gave up and survived.
September 20, 2013
David Rothenburg literally went through hell the night his father set his hotel room on fire using an accelerant. What this little boy and his mother went through no parent could imagine. The will and strength of all parties is extraordinary.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews