Describe the boy Dave in David Pelzer's book, A Child Called "It."

Dave is David Peltzer, a young boy who was horrifically
abused by his mother, in the book, A Child Called
"It".

As David's mother sinks deep in alcoholism
and possible psychosis, her abuse of Dave escalates. His father, who Dave had hoped
would rescue him, tries to intervene early on, but eventually escapes into alcoholism as
well. It appears Dave was abused more "actively" than his siblings; ultimately, Dave is
completely isolated from the entire family, while his mother even stops calling him by
his name, hence the book's title. She starves, burns, stabs and even tries to poison
Dave.

Dave, however, is determined to live. Not getting
enough food at home, he steals from other students' lunches, but when word gets back to
his mother, the abuse intensifies, and he is rarely fed. Dave does
his best to accomplish what is asked of him by his mother, including some, and
eventually most, of the household chores. The reader gets the sense that Dave tries to
be tough, and displays great courage, even in light of his age. It is easy to imagine
that many other children, under like circumstances, would not have survived a similar
situation.

It is only through the intervention of the
principal and teaching staff at his school, who notice signs of abuse, that Dave is
finally removed from his home.