Child Abuse In David Pelzer's The Lost Boy

David Pelzer is a victim of child abuse and that’s where the first chapter of the book takes place, illustrating the struggle he had to go through on a daily basis and his background from early life. Teachers that speak up about Dave’s situation are ultimately the ones who save his life as he’s taken by an officer to his new life in foster care. His life in foster care takes place in the prequel to the novel, “The Lost Boy.” The reader is then taken to a view from Dave as he leaves his home to start his life as a man in the air force. He wants to be a firefighter like his dad however he gets set back many times and has to become a cook instead for several years. He then finds out that his father is dying from cancer and goes to visit him in the hospital on his deathbed. David’s dream was to live on the Russian River with his father, so feeling a bit lost Dave visits his grandmother to hopefully find some answers to his questions about his past. He finds out that the way his grandmother was to his mother as well as to others including David, is the reason she turned into a terrible wretch. He visits his brother as well during his trip in Salt Lake City (where his family lives). He returns to his base in Florida after …show more content…
This is indeed suitable for Dave’s foster mother Alice who is extremely kind and caring. Characteristics of Alice include being kind and caring which perfectly fit Alice’s personality from the book, ‘“You look tired,” Alice said, rubbing my head during one visit. “Are you losing weight?”’ This quote shows her caring for David by the slight change in weight due to his dehydration from flying and her noticing shows that. Also being sociable which Alice shows by connecting very well by her friendship with Patsy’s mother Dottie may. “Alice and Patsy’s mother Dottie Mae had been friends for some time, taking trips to Reno, and Alice had stayed at Dottie Mae’s apartment for weeks at a time.” Thusely Alice is a fitting