A Brother’s Journey – Richard Pelzer

Review done by Hantie Hartzenberg

For more info on the book: A Brother’s Journey by Richard B. Pelzer | Goodreads

A Brother’s Journey

 
Mom has no one like David around to beat on anymore. I am more afraid of her than ever…I get in more trouble for anything I do or say. Now I find that I’m always in trouble and I don’t know why. Now that David is gone, I’m afraid that she will try to kill me, like she tried to kill him. I’m afraid that she will treat me like an animal like she did him. I’m afraid that now I’m her IT. The Pelzer family’s secret life of fear and abuse was first revealed in Dave Pelzer’s inspiring New York Times bestseller, A Child Called “It,” followed by The Lost Child and A Man Called Dave. Here, for the first time, Richard Pelzer tells the courageous and moving story of his abusive childhood. From tormenting his brother David to becoming himself the focus of his mother’s wrath to his ultimate liberation-here is a horrifying glimpse at what existed behind closed doors in the Pelzer home. Equally important, Richard Pelzer’s touching account is a testament to the strength of the human heart and its capacity to triumph over almost unimaginable trauma.
 
What I thought about the book
 
I have listened to a child called it, which is Dave Pelzer’s story. In Dave’s story the abuse was very downplayed, I am certain, because of various reasons. Richard, the younger brother, did not downplay the abuse. Although it was not as horrid as Dave’s experience, it was really bad. It took me about a month to read this story, not because I am a slow reader. It’s because of the sheer amount of violence that I had to stomach. People, if you are sensitive to this type of thing, DO NOT read this book. This is not for the fainthearted. I am not even kidding here. 
The book was excellently written. It ends with a type of cliffhanger, so you’ll have to read the next book called A Teenagers Journey. So for that I give Richard and the editors a huge star. 
As of what happened to Richard, we found a link that tells you what happened to him afterwards. You can click here and read the article:

Richard B. Pelzer – Wikipedia