| Plot Summary of The Lost Boy |
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"A boy searches for love from a family after being physically abused by his mother."
Jamie M., Resident Scholar
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"A nine year old boy escapes the violent beatings and emotional upsets of his mother. He resides in foster care where he is in and out of homes until the age of 18. While in foster care he learns how to be a kid."
Shannon , Resident Scholar
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"In "The Lost Boy," the story describes the period in which the bewildered child, haunted by the fear of being returned to his mad and alcoholic mother, is passed between foster care homes. For six years, David Pelzer was sent to over ten different foster homes; sometimes returning to the same home twice. David's desperate attempts to be accepted by his peers led him into a life of petty crime, which, including cruel tricks his "friends" played on him, included stealing, and ending up going to "The Hill." This was a nickname for "Hillcrest," a juvenile detention ceter for boys who did wrong. After overcoming a trial to be free from his Mother, David (at the age of 12), begins his long journey from recovering from years of brainwash by his Mother; stealing from local grocery and toy stores, and periodically going into a stage of badness and being mean and cold to others. David's life story has touched so many hearts in the world, and he has gotten very far in his life. If he had ust laid back and been abused, stabbed, and tortured by his Mother, he may be dead right now. To David Pelzer; The Man Who Survived. (He was released from foster care at the age of 18, and joined the U.S Air Force as an air crew member.)"
Amanda, Resident Scholar
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"The Lost Boy is an absolutely amazing true story of Dave Pelzer, which chronicles his years from 12 to 18 years of age as a foster child. This is book two of three and now I must go and read the other two books in the trilogy. I could not put this book down. I would recommend this book to everyone.
This will book will make you cry, it will make you mad, and at the end, you will be cheering and crying tears of joy for Dave. This book will break your heart and if you are a parent, you will be outraged at the abuse. Sadly, child abuse is so prevalent, and there are so many cunning, and devious parents out there, that some children do not get out and the abuse is "allowed" to go on and on or the child is killed.
Dave's strength, determination, and unbreakable spirit shine throughout this book. How he survived the brutality can only be called a miracle. It breaks my heart to read of such incredible abuse and one does have to thank the foster parents, social works and teachers in this child's life. Dave says, "It takes a community to save a child", and I wholeheartedly agree.
Dave takes you through his five different foster families during his adolescent years and his desperate determination to find the love of a family and a "home" propels him by not abandoning hope.
Dave's inner strength, courage, and fortitude are a shining inspiration to us all. God bless you Dave and the work that you are doing to help other children. Thank you for opening our eyes and sharing "your" story.
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Judith E. Pavluvcik, Resident Scholar
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"In the long awaited sequal to "A Child Called 'It'", David Pelzer's "The Lost Boy" is about his life as a foster child. David was put into many foster homes, and often put back into a previous one. He became desperate to fit-in with the kids at school so he started stealing, lying, and hanging with the wrong crowd. He soon found himself in "The Hall", or Hillcrest, a juvenile hall. After struggling to fit in, he finally was placed in a foster home where he stayed for the remainder of his years until he was 18, when he joined the Air Force. David Pelzer is an inspiration to anyone who reads his books. His constant will to survive is touching alone. Now, David does not have to worry about staying alive, or putting up with his mother's severe abuse. He has a wife and a son, and continues to help abused kids such as himself. David Pelzer is truly a hero."
Chelsey, Resident Scholar
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"The book "The Lost Boy" by David Pelzer is a heartwrenching tale about a young boy who goes through over ten foster homes in six years. David (the child in the book) was tortured by his mother. A social worker comes and takes him away. Because he was put through so many different homes in such a short period of time, David becomes hardened and is forced to go to a Juvinile Dentention Center. Finally, when he is 18, he is freed from the foster homes and goes into the world himself.
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Caroline, Resident Scholar
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"Imagine a young boy who has never had a loving home. His only objects are the old, torn clothes he carries in a paper bag. The only world he knows is one of isolation and fear. Although others had rescued this boy from his abusive alcoholic mother, his real hurt is just begining -- he has no place to call home.
This is Dave Pelzer's long-awaited sequel to A Child Called "It". In The Lost Boy, he answers questions and reveals new adventures through the compelling story of his life as an adolescent. Now considered an F-Child (Foster Child), Dave is moved in and out of five different homes. He suffers shame and experiences resentment from those who feel that all foster kids are trouble and unworthy of being loved just because they are not part of a "real" family.
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Jennifer Edlund, Resident Scholar
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"This book is about a boy named Dave Pelzer who grows up being abused and beaten by his raging alcoholic mother. He has spent his whole childhood struggling to find a place where he is accepted. He has been throughout several foster homes, sometimes repeating the same ones twice.
He was misled as a child and started to steal from the market to get food, lie to the people who cared about him most, and treat people very cold and mean. He ends up leaving the foster homes at the age of 18 and joining the Air Force. He really turns his life around for the better because growing up he didn't like being treated like that so he had to make some changes."
Kyle Vandehey, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of The Lost Boy |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Kids growing up/acting up?
Yes
Kids:
- committing crimes
- parental abuse
- orphan story
Family, hate
Yes
Struggle with:
- Mother
The difficult family member
- is mentally ill
- is a hitter
Phys disability/mental struggle?
Yes
Struggle with
- general search for meaning
Period of greatest activity?
- 1950+
Subject of Biography
Gender
- Male
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Ethnicity
- White
Nationality
- American (!)
How sensitive is this person?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Physique
- healthy but a geeky weakling
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 3 (some)
United States
Yes
The US:
- California
Century:
- 1980's-Present
- 1960's-1970's
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- explicit references to torture
Book makes you feel?
- concerned
Lot of foul language?
Yes
Commentary on society?
Yes
Unusual Style:
- a lot of flashback and forwards
- a lot of stream of consciousness
Story of entire life, or part?
- story of set of events during life
If this is a kid's book:
- Age 16-Adult
Autobiography?
Yes
Pictures/Illustrations?
- None
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life?
- 0-25% of book
How much is philosophy rather than life story?
- 0-25% of book
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