The Privilege of Youth : A Teenager's Story of Longing for Acceptance and Friendship

Dave Pelzer #2.5

by Dave Pelzer, J. Charles (Narrator)

More than six million readers can attest to the heartbreak and courage of Dave Pelzer’s story of growing up in an abusive home. His inspirational books have helped countless others triumph over hardship and misfortune. Now this former lost boy who defeated insurmountable odds to emerge whole and happy at last takes us on his incredible odyssey toward healing and forgiveness. In The Privilege of Youth , Pelzer supplies the missing chapter of his as a boy on the threshold of adulthood. With his usual sensitivity and insight, he recounts the relentless taunting he endured from bullies; but he also describes the joys of learning and the thrill of making his first real friends―some of whom he still shares close relationships with today. He writes about the simple pleasures of exploring a neighborhood he was just beginning to get to know while trying to forget the hell he had endured as a child. From high school to a world beyond the four walls that were his prison for so many years, The Privilege of Youth charts this crucial turning point in Dave Pelzer’s life. This brave and compassionate memoir from the man who has journeyed far will inspire a whole new generation of readers and listeners.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Psychology, Autobiography, Abuse, True Story

MP3 CD

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

An author best known for his 1995 memoir of childhood abuse, A Child Called It.

At the age of 12, Dave was removed from an abusive home and placed in a series of foster homes. In 1979, he joined the Air Force and later became an author of memoirs and self-improvement books.

A CHILD CALLED "IT" IS COMING TO THE BIG SCREEN.

August 2017 - We are very excited to announce that writer/producer David Goldblum of Conscious Contact Productions has acquired the film rights to Dave Pelzer's, #1 New York Times bestselling book, A Child Called “IT” which was on the New York Times Best Sellers List for a record breaking six years. Tamlin Hall, whose film Holden On has won multiple awards around the country is attached to direct. Dave Pelzer is adapting the screenplay alongside Goldblum and Hall. The movie is in pre-production, with production set to begin in Spring 2018. A-List talent are already circling the project. Be sure and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates. https://www.facebook.com/AChildCalled....

Reviews

[Courtney M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Pelzer has experienced a truly extraordinary life. He nearly died several times by the hands of his mentally disturbed alcoholic mother.Years later, it was found that his case of child abuse was one of the most gruesome and extreme case that has ever taken place in California. This book, The Privilege of Youth , was not about his abusive childhood years, but about him trying to relive the years he lost while trying to become an adult.

I gave this book a rating of three stars. In some parts I felt like it was moving slow, but the book really made you think about your life and how much you should appreciate it. Even though David Pelzer went through as much as he did when he was a kid, he still looks at his life with optimism. Pelzer never had the childhood that his friends had, but as he got older he realized that he had to grow up. Pelzer wrote “Part of me just didn’t want to grow up, “be a man”, and become responsible. As hard as my childhood was and as much as I had pushed myself to survive and move on, I began to have serious doubts on making it out there” (Pelzer 163). What I really liked about the book is that Pelzer always tried to make the most of each day, and tried to influence others to do the same.

This book, for me, was an eye-opener. It showed me that you should live every second for what it’s worth, and that there are people out there who have it worse than you do. Having going through so much, David Pelzer never lost hope. Now, he goes around trying to inspire people being abused that there is another option, and that they should never give up on their lives even if others do. David Pelzer is truly an inspiration to people everywhere.

[Kathy Hiester · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great encouraging story about a young man who triumphs ove life difficulties. This book will provide you with the feeling that all things are possible and that no matter what is going on in your life, someone else has it tougher, and someone else has survived worse. In this case it is Dave who has survived worst things than most people. It inspires you because he talks about his struggles and that no matter how hard life gets for him, he will be successful. He truly proves that if you really want to be triumphant, it can be done.

This is a story of heroism. He shows his heroism because he always seems to overcome obstacles. He doesn't let anything get him down. He seems to have a attitude that if something doesn't kill him, it only make him stronger. That shows us how brave his thoughts and actions are. I truly recommend this book because it will motivate and make you see life from a different viewpoint, in a more optimistic way.

5 Stars

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is educational to those in the educational and social work field, its helps a teacher or social worker to understand how a youth may act on order to get acceptance from his peers. It also helps from the standpoint of how a child feels when being bullied at school.
I find all of Dave Pelzer's book to be inspirational. This child endured so much more than any child should ever have to and then instead of breaking, had made such an impact on many people around the world. Dave Pelzer is defintely a hero!!

[Jay Rain · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rating - 6

A little lacking on the emotion & is more of a money grabber than a compelling read - it does not offer anything new; Appreciate the strong bond that is missing in today's keep to yourself community

What I find questionable is how authors can remember verbatim, conversations that happened decades ago; Pelzer gets exposed as a weak writer & you realize that it is his story that was the sell

[Trisno Samosir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dave Pelzer yang merupakan pemeran utama sekaligus pengarang buku ini, menceritakan sendiri bagaimana perjalan hidupnya untuk diterima dilingkungan-lingkungan barunya.

Ya, dia seorang anak asuh yang harus pindah dari satu rumah ke rumah lain. Bagaimana dia mempertahankan diri untuk tidak terikat ke satu keluarga dan berusaha menyesuaikan diri di lingkungan barunya adalah topik utama dalam ceritanya ini.

Pesan-pesan atau petuah yang disampaikan oleh orang-orang yang lambat laun menerima Dave di sebuah lingkungan baru membuat dia menjadi orang yang sukses dalam karirnya. Sebelumnya banyak yang tidak meyakini bahwa dia akan menjadi orang yang sukses. Tetapi dengan keteguhan hatinya dia berusaha melakukan sesuatu dengan sungguh-sungguh.

Bekerja serabutan dimanapun untuk mengumpulkan biaya hidup kedepannya setelah 18thn itulah yang dia lakukan pada saat dia memasuki senior high school sampai akhirnya dia tidak melanjutkan studinya.

Saya sangat suka buku ini karena memberikan semangat dan mengajarkan kita untuk serius/sungguh-sungguh menekuni apapun yang kita kerjakan sekarang ini. Semua orang memiliki kesempatan untuk sukses dan kita tidak boleh anggap remeh terhadap orang-orang hidupnya kelihatan menderita karena sesungguhnya mereka memilik kemampuan pertahanan yang cukup tinggi.

Recommended to read :)

[Kelsey D · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author Dave Pelzer went through a tough childhood with his mentally disturbed alcoholic mother abusing him. Later it was found out to be one of the worst cases of child abuse in the state of California. But this book was mostly about him growing up in out of foster homes and trying to fit in like a normal high school student. Some people would say he lived a truly extraordinary life and now sharing his inspirational stories with the world in his books like The Privlage Youth.

Throughout the book I felt that certain parts the pase moved slow and at some parts of the story got a little boring. But other than that what I like about it was that it was very discriptive and you always understood what was going on. Also it showed me how precious life is and that we shouldn't take life for granted because some kids don't get as lucky and get the sane things we get. But Dave Pelzer didn't look at his life as awful as it was he looked at in a positive way. By working hard he was able to Become part of the armed forces and got hand picked to midair refuel the highly secretive SR-71 Blackbird and the F-117 Stealth Fighter. Also by his successful books he wrote about his life.So I would recommend reading this book to anyone looking for a inspiring, eye opener, and touching book like The Privlage Youth.

[Myndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book after "The Lost Boy" so as to read the story of Dave Pelzer's life in a more chronological order. I enjoyed hearing about the true friendships he made as a teenager after having such a rough start in life and always feeling like he wasn't good enough. I enjoyed hearing about his wife and son. Of course the book was heartbreaking as well, but I don't like to give spoilers, so be prepared for some sadness amidst all the teenage shenannigans. I'm really glad that I picked up "A Child Called It" again and then continued to read the works of this brave man.

[Erika · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was OK. It sounded like the author just threw it together while he was on the road and doing other things. Almost like it was obligatory. The only sections that were truly exciting were those where he described his daredevil stunts in slow-motion. There were a few of these, and that is where this author shines.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this book at all. If you are like me and a fan of Dave Pelzer you already read the first three books he wrote. This book was a recap of them all with little change or new insite. The only time I would fined it useful to read this dook is if you have not read the other three books.

[Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book...I have read all Dave Pelzers books and liked them all. Thought it was nice to see so many follow ups with A Child Called IT. To see the effects on a life from that kind of abuse.

[Conner Holtrust · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a powerful book!!! Love these books!

[Jazmine C · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like the book at all it just didn't catch my attention I was frustrated because I really liked the other books but this one really wasn't that good

[Imani Vellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dave Pelzer writes as a man about his experiences in Foster care, and about the struggles he had to face while growing up in his shoes. The purpose of the book was no secret. He wants to change the world and as an adult he is doing everything in his power to make sure child abuse stops. The way the book is formatted wasn't the best with the topic being so mature. I expected the word choice to be more advanced. The sentences are short and clear there is not much of an underlying theme or a story plot. The Privilege Youth is more of a straightforward book about Dave's struggles with his family and his foster families.
I don't have much of a favorite character do to the fact that Dave is really the only prominent character in the story. We learn about his sons and wife but not to the depth in which I would want to see. It would be interesting to see the relationship between his whole family since he is an adult now, does he forgive his mother for the abuse? Does he blame his father for abandoning him? These types of answers would create a story plot which would make the story a bit more interesting.

[Mery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ini buku ke empatnya Dave Pelzer :)

Waktu di buku 3 kan memang sudah berakhir, dan di buku 4 ini flashback ke masa2 Dave berusia 17tahunan.

Sekali lagi sosok muda Dave buat aku kagum.
walau dia termasuk pemuda yang 'nakal' tapi semangat mandiri nya bikin aku seneng.

dia menyukai tantangan, dia menyukai kebebasan. dan keluarga asuhnya pun menyayangi dia.

dia juga mempunyai teman-teman yang kompak yang selalu bersamanya

[Travis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Someone stop Dave Pelzer already. Yes, "A Child Called 'It'" was very good, but this just seemed like he's milking the lousy first half of his life for all it's heart-rending, depressing details just to get another book deal.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have read any of Dave Pelzers books, you will want to read them all. You will feel attached to him immediately and have to know what became of him. This book answers more questions. Read the books in order.

[Tineke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't impressed by this book. It felt preachy and unreal. Conversations were verbatim (which to me sounds unrealistic to remember after so many years) and vocabulary and sentences of the different characters felt stereotypical or just plain unrealistic. I am not a fan.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what an inspiring story about how a boy who grew up in a tough situation was able to turn his life around and share his story to help others deal with the same things.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've read "A Child Called 'It'", "The Lost Boy", and "A Man Named Dave" but you have yet to read this one I encourage you to do so.

[Jamie Wyatt Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel that I now know everything there is to know about Dave Pelzer's life. I have read every book he has ever written and I find all of them equally as fascinating.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shocking and confronting as are all his books. However, you can't help but feel happy after reading it.

[Allyson Maclay · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really enjoyable to see how a few people can really change the way someone views life

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I read A Child Called "It" I was hooked by this author and his story. His writings show how strong his spirit was despite all odds.

[Giselle Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

PERSONAL RESPONSE:
I liked the book, The Privilege of Youth , by Dave Pelzer because there was a lot of action. I did not like this book because of how David was treated throughout his childhood. David’s friends treated him horribly during and outside of school. I thought this book was not a good book because it was very sad.

PLOT:
David Pelzer was a kid who tried to put his life together at a young age. David traveled across the country and now he was an adult in this book. He gave motivational speeches to children who struggled in life as he had. He hoped to give the children the help that he never received when he was a child. David was engaged and had a son at this point. His fiancee told him Dan Brazell had died. Dan was a man who cared a lot about David. He was more of a father to David than his biological father. When David tried to sleep that night, he flashed back to the years when he was a teenager. He remembered that nobody wanted to date him because he was a foster child. David had two really good friends named Mike Marsh and Paul Brazell. They spent their afternoons exploring the neighborhood. Dan was Paul’s father who gave advice to David and helped him out. Paul helped Davis when he was almost eighteen years old and was worried about what would happen to him when he was on his own. David made a terrible decision to drop out of school and work full time. He just wanted to earn money so he did not go hungry again. He used to always go hungry when he was a child. He did not understand that he needed a diploma to have a good future. Paul and Mike convinced David that he had potential in him. He decided to finish high school. David had a successful career and later served in the Armed Forces.

CHARACTERIZATION:
David Pelzer was the main character of the novel. He was abused by his mother from the ages of four through twelve. David overcame the abuse and lived a good life.
Paul Brazell was David’s best friend and they always hung out in their neighborhood. They always had car races in the neighborhood.
Mike Marsh was David’s best friend. He always told David to do what was right and David could count on him when he had problems.

SETTING:
Most of the story took place during David’s flashback in Dale City, California during the 1970s. In the 1970s, the United States did not have the same laws as today. The laws have changed a lot from the past. Most of the story took place in David’s home and foster homes around Dale City. The setting was important to the plot because David felt like he did not belong anywhere until he finally moved to a good foster home.

THEME:
The theme was survival based on David’s flashback of his childhood in the book. David had to survive throughout his childhood on his own. He also survived being bullied at his school. He would always be so quiet and never really had friends. The kids always picked on him until he moved in Duinsmoore. He made real friends and actually had a good life. David believed in himself and made a better future for himself.

RECOMMENDATION:
I thought a good audience for The Privilege of Youth would be high school boys and girls. It was not a challenging book. I thought high school girls and boys would be able to understand the book. I thought teenage boys and girls would like this book because it was a true story about a little boy being abused by his mother. I do not think anyone younger should read this book because of the violence.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read the other books written by this author so I wanted to read this one too. I am glad that while he was living in Duinsmoore, Dave Pelzer was able to find friends and a family - he certainly deserved it! I am shocked though that the dealership he worked for would let him drive home fancy cars at his age!

[latinabooklover]

I respect that this author using his life story for his writing. But this book is too repetitive from it’s prequel in my opinion and not from enough different perspectives. I guess for someone who hasn’t read that one then this book would be better for them. That’s why no star rating from me.

[Crystal M · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book basically just goes into more detail about his teenage years in foster care and the trouble he got into than the last book did. I found it fairly boring.

[Chy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Pelzer’s memoir of life in the neighborhood where he spent his teenage years. There are the usual antics he and his friends get into and there are some great people to get to know in the land of adults.

What sets this apart is Pelzer’s position as a foster kid, coming out of a series of foster homes after being taken from his abusive mother. It’s great because he’s so normal for a teenage kid. Or, at least, he wants to be. Nobody’s actually “normal.”

At the beginning and in every bit of text pertaining to the author, everyone likes to point out how Pelzer is a motivational speaker now. I wish they’d left that out. I kept looking for the preaching in the book and I think that searching devalued my experience.


And I’ll tell you what I really think:

Scenery/Setting: Was I taken back in time? Yes. Did I see the community, the people and even the cars in the driveways clearly? Yes. It’s simple, like an old sitcom. Perfect for the situation.

Characters Portrayal of the People: I think they said it better than I did; there are notes from some of the people who played a part in Pelzer’s life at the end. They go over what they thought of life in that neighborhood, what they think of Pelzer, and what they think of Pelzer’s portrayal of those days.

We should all be so lucky as to have the beer toting, philosophizing, and strong personality of Michael “The Sarge” Marsh giving us advice and support. Or the close friendship of David Howard. Or, for a boy who really missed his father, the nurturing of Dan Brazell.

I really did feel like I got to know them as Pelzer knew them growing up.

The Story: I’m not accustomed to reading memoirs like this. It is a random smattering of events and even as a coming-of-age story, it lacks any real sense of progression—beginning, middle, or end. Or aging. I kept wondering how old he was in certain events and when he’d tell me, I was always a little surprised.

I know with nonfiction, that you have to go with what you’ve got, but I feel like there are themes in everything. In this particular book, we start off with a phone call telling Pelzer of Dan Brazell’s death. The way that spurred Pelzer’s memory of the last time he saw the man he called Dad, then sent him into memories of Duinsmoore Way, made me think this was to be a story of how he became close to Dan. Now, that was a part of the story—a small part. But the main body dealt with Pelzer’s antics with his friends and his efforts to make sure he had a start in the world before he turned eighteen and left the foster care system.

I hate to say it out loud, but I would have preferred the story of exactly how “Dan” grew to “Dad.” Even at the cost of some of the other stuff. Because, while the other stuff was interesting to read in a “get to know you” kind of way, I need an arc. I need a purpose. Or else, I would prefer to go socialize for real, allowing a person to get to know me as I got to know them.

Overall: This is only the second biographical book I’ve ever read. And both were autobiographical. It’s just not my thing.

It’s also my understanding that Pelzer has written other accounts of his life and how he’s lived it. I wouldn’t mind reading them, but I doubt I’ll ever go out of my way to attain them. I’m glad that things turned out good for Pelzer, but I’ve known people with crappy pasts that have done the same thing he did. Only, I know them in person, so they’re more impressive to me.

The lingering questions: Is this really supposed to be…motivational? I’m honestly asking.

[Michelle Wong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever faced hunger when there is food in the refrigerator? Loneliness when you even have a family? Or even homeless when you do have a home? Well Dave Pelzer had faced through that horrible, unpleasant moments every single day he woke up in the garage with the newspaper twisted in his body because he did not have a blanket. Because his dramatic and diavolic mother considered Dave no longer as a son, but as an slave, an object, an nothing. Dave had lived in a large amount foster care homes. He felt like he didn’t fit in this world because he couldn’t stay in a foster home for long time and live like a normal person; that’s all he wanted, be a normal person. Dave is bulled at his neighborhoods and at school, every time he looked up he felt like a huge basketball sphere was thrown at his face and that would explode . In my opinion this book is a great book, one of those books where you learn a lot by reading it, those books when you read them you start realizing how the world really is.

Dave Pelzer is a teenager who has been in the foster care home since he was twelve years old. He was rescued from his evil and alcoholic mother who mentally and physically abused, tortured and almost killed him. He moved to a new neighborhood and met very nice people, people who changed his life dramatically; He met Dan, his foster father who always encourage him and gave him plenty of advices. Dave admired Dan from who he was, and how Dan treated him as his own son. Later he met David and Paul, two teenagers who became his best friends, two young kids who shared their life and adventures with Dave.

Dave was worried, terrified of when he was going to turn eighteen because by that age he cut off in the foster care program; and then he would be all on his own. And in order to not to starve a single night again, he worked full time in many jobs. He dropped high school in order to keep working and save enough money to know what his next meal is going to be.

People might not have the same opinion of this book, and maybe even in Dave's decision because he was really silly to drop school in order to keep his job. It might have been a good decision to work but not to drop the high school, your education; because nowadays school is very important for their futures and goals. Having a degree in college now matters a lot to find a good and stable job.

I admire Dave Pelzer because of his strength of overcoming his horrible past and the power to publish his auto biological book. I really recommend "The Privilege of Youth" because it makes you value on what you have and never look back and hide.

[Aimee O'Donnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel I chose for this quarter is, "The Privilege of Youth", by Dave Pelzer. This is based off of a true story and an experience that Dave went through as a young child. The purpose of this story was to inform the readers about his horrific childhood, and what it was like to be beaten so young and horribly by his own mother. Not only does he tell the story from his past childhood, but he also explains where he ended up after he was saved and where he is now. Dave wanted to let everyone know that things do eventually get better and no child or human deserves to be beaten.

The theme of this book is even if your doing it on your own, keep doing it because eventually you will realize that everything that happened in the past, can only make you stronger. For Dave, even after he had been beaten almost to death by his mother and was saved, he continued life with a smile on his face and it made him the person he is today. Dave expressed this throughout the whole book.

The style of this book is narration because Dave is telling a story about his life and the experience he had to go through. This story is written strictly in first person, all told by Dave. Just like Pelzer's other series to this novel, he tells the story in all of them and makes it very clear in each book about what he wanted to inform his readers.

In my opinion, I thought this was a pretty good book. I am not really into sad and depressing novels such as this one, however I found this particular book of the whole series the most interesting. Not only does Dave constantly repeat about his terrible past in this novel, but you also get to find out where he went after he was saved from his mother who was an alcoholic, where he went after foster care, and where he is now. Dave tells us how hard it was to accept people into his life again after being treated so poorly. I find this a very inspiring story, because it really made me think about how hard it would be to have to live with something like that for the rest of your life. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who has read the series.